Information about the AMD L3 cache

[ScarFace 01]

After our test of the Athlon X4 620 a few days we will again look at the cache server L3 cache and take our first foray into this realm Update treat yourself to a. As expressed here and there from our readers, was that we we selected dual-core CPUs due to their different L2 cache does not really have to compare, we have this part of the old article simply repeated again with new processors. The big news of recent days was the "Propus" core, AMD Athlon without L3 cache - marketed as the Phenom II Behind this lies a new code name, the, without reliance on the L3 cache. AMD, it is possible for some time very skillfully and efficiently, with as "little" a maximum effort to present models can be. Virtually all desktop processors this year based on only three different manufacturing masks. First and foremost is the "Deneb" mask, which is identical to that of the 'Shanghai' server processors. From this quad-core mask there is currently the most branch in the trade. There is for a complete series of the flagship Phenom X4 900, but also the variations with the model numbers 800, 700 and 500 come from her. The second mask is already available for the dual-core processors, codenamed "Regor" and most likely way for the new Sempron, the core must again do without a thought.

[Kallol]

The third and most likely be after the Deneb is the most important since a few days, officially presented mask. Finally, for this will not only four-core processors are drawn, the three Kerner "Rana" and low-power versions with a TDP of 45 watts can be expected. What makes the Propus (and already at the Regor manufacturing mask) is that chip area and number of transistors is significantly lower due to complete lack of L3 cache and the effective yield of a wafer is much higher than the Phenom II This is in addition to the customers (lower prices and lower power consumption) but also the ongoing costs of AMD to the best. Now that we have recently determined the impact of the L3 cache to the new dual-core processors, we focus today on the triple-and quad-core models. Especially with the quad-core models, this analysis is interesting because in addition to a completely bare processor without L3 cache, it is also the option of a slightly smaller cache.

[Umberto-Micro]

Not be noticeable, the lack of L3 cache when converting music, even when you convert videos are no significant differences. While packing the Phenom wins with WinRAR II a few seconds here and there, one or more. In the office sector, the battle between Athlon and Phenom II with two, three or even four cores is ultimately close to balance, slight advantages in the form of a second win in certain applications but can already be seen for the Athlon.

[Barsha]

When the power consumption can be determined only a limited result, as AMD quasi provides each processor with a different voltage. So it happens that an Athlon X4 is 620 without L3 cache at 1.375 volts at the start, while the Phenom X4 810 requires only 1.30 volts. This alone ensures that the Athlon back is not only in the performance behind the Phenom, even in the field of power he has left behind. Reveal themselves in the quad-core processors in the blue bar at the performance differences of up to 38 percent (at the minima and maxima even more so) in games at low resolutions and with little detail. Since this value is not an isolated case (see blurb) and confirm the processors in the same series and also with two or three cores and with higher or lower clock this result is not only once, we have thus appears that the Achilles heel found the Athlon-II processors.

[Mahendra varma]

Especially in games, the cache server makes a positive impact, with the quad-core processors even more than in the first tested processors with two cores. And in practice, does the fast memory, integrated in one of the new AMD CPUs, no such great cost. It follows, therefore, at the end of an interesting constellation. A processor with four cores is at the same clock as fast as a processor with three cores, but can rely on the L3 cache. As these two examples in the form of our Athlon X4 Phenom X3 710 620 and also priced at the same level, the customer remains even now spoiled for choice. For AMD CPU is likely to be favored with such a decision of the Athlon, with the leaves eventually earn more. Because the Phenom comes in any design known from the more expensive the Deneb and are being scaled down accordingly for the different market segments.