AMD Phenom X4 840

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Introduction

AMD astonished at the beginning with an unpredicted new releases. The Phenom X4 975 raise the bar of the flagship screw auxiliary and now sit at a remarkable 3.6 GHz. More, conversely, has not done so and so is the biggest uniqueness at first glimpse at this 840th day of the Phenom X4 It combines four cores with a clock of 3.2 GHz and has to offer under the hood for even more revelations. Sometime ago, AMD was first AM3 processors to the market chaos that. Among them were a Phenom X4 805 with 2.5 GHz and an 810 with X4 2.6 GHz - the 800 series. Sometime later, the X4 model was 820 with 2.8 GHz. All CPUs on the 800 series had an imperative frequent feature: instead of the full 6 MB L3 cache, on a "Deneb" processor based were ordinary, they stood only 4 MB. The Phenom X4 840 is now preparing to prolong this series - at least in name. The hood is lower suddenly, however, much dissimilar, as the Phenom X4 840 based on the "Propus" and has no L3 cache more. We have optimized system on almost all fronts and at one of our most important to the currently fastest graphics solutions recourse: the MSI GeForce GTX 580, MSI has made available to us is the future of images on the monitor stand in.

But also the other components we have massively revised. A "80 Plus Gold" power supply from Enermax with an efficiency beyond the 90 percent with a maximum of 600 watts provides enough power for in all areas. In keeping with the increasing environmental consciousness of the people we decided next to the highly efficient power supply as well as for good memory. The LoVo Kingston DDR3 modules operate at 1866MHz with only 1.35 volts, in 1333 or 1066 MHz are only 1.25 volts required. With these memory sticks is also the foundation for "bulldozer" of AMD set that supports such high speeds. IT IS one of using the same modules in the coming months, no way. In addition, we rely on our "Cooler Master Stacker RC-832" enable with its two integrated 120 mm fans in order to maintain fair and realistic comparison between the counterparty and simultaneously encountering any thermal problems the processors. Therefore comes as a unit cooler for all CPUs to continue the Noctua NH-U12P with NF-P12 fan use.The operating system continues to set on Windows 7 in the 64-bit version, which we have already updated to Service Pack 1 (RC), since this novel features such as "AVX" are supported.


Benchmarks

In the benchmarks, we again go the way of the tripartite (or better even quartering). For while theoretical tests can often attract a variety of innovations in the processor directly, the actual software is still a long way to go. Therefore, the strict separation of theoretical tests carried out to the real applications. The latter are, as usual, also feed into our final rating, while the theoretical tests are left out. At the games, we also share the field again. In the first part, we reduce the resolution in each case to the minimum, but keep the graphics settings on high settings without AA / AF. This will make the difference between the CPUs see the most.

Since none of today still plays in 640 × 480 pixels, we rotate the part on high resolution to the currently most popular format of 1,680 × 1,050 pixels and want to add AA / AF. Ultimately, the graphics card is more necessary - a GeForce GTX 580 but can still get enough air to make even here differences.

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3DMark 11

Also in 2010/2011, you come to 3DMark past while, seen and consulted, it is still always happy. The latest edition of 3DMark 11 is once more a visual treat and challenges even the fastest hardware enormous. Nevertheless, some results obtained in real applications do not always confirm, so we show this benchmark, but put him in the part of the theory test.

Cinebench R11.5

Cinebench is a cross-platform test suite, with which one can measure the performance of the computer. Cinebench is based on Maxon's award-winning 3D software Cinema 4D and consists of two components - the performance test for the graphics card and the CPU. We print out both the CPU and graphics tests, with only the CPU but flows result in the final rating of the theoretical tests.

WinRAR 4.0 (integrated)

WinRAR has been one of the most popular in terms of dissemination programs on the PC. The pack program in version 4.0 has to bring in this section, the integrated benchmark test behind them, the part for the practical application is presented in a separate section.

Performance Rating

In our rating as we break down in current years from and subsequent to the dissimilar ranges on. Flow into the final rating, as usual, only tests in the areas of application and games, all other segments will be issued discretely. First, we present here the consequence which has the highest content of reality, so all applications and games in a resolution of 1,680 x 1,050 pixels. In parallel, we give but also the rating, which in enlightening more in the future when the applications remain virtually the identical, but games will continue to optimize not only graphics but also on CPUs. Therefore, there flow the games in low resolution with no AA / AF. Finally, for all areas (applications, games) in low and high resolution, and recapitulates the theoretical tests and issued separately.

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Power consumption

The power is in our test track are given for the complete system. In this control, all power-saving attributes of the platforms are utilized, which includes Cool'n'Quiet, EIST, C1E and additional things. In the test under full load, the processors we rely on the good old Prime95 in the most recent version. Representing the Voltcraft meter at the end unswervingly at the outlet, we are losing in the following diagrams.

Temperature

In corresponding to measuring power, the fortitude of the highest temperature. This is read on both tools, and reviewed again by means of infrared thermometers.

The temperatures are to be compared across platforms only partially, between AMD and Intel processors is not possible. Especially with the AMD models is again and again that the values are there to be inaccurate, respectively, simply can not vote and must be measured it superficially with the thermometer. The real core temperature is expected for all AMD models are so much higher, which is why we attach to this analysis, no significance should be too high.


Undervolting

The new processors are indeed all of whom are no more huge power-hungry, but as usual is a little less power consumption. Because the manufacturers have their products always with great certainty and stability to work so completely trimmed. This is exactly what one can, however, take advantage of. Our Phenom makes X 840 instead of the usual 1.35 volts to 1.25 volts and stable. This results in a slight reduction in consumption is under full load, the value remains idle with effective power saving mechanisms unimpressed.

Overclocking

Because in today's society, greed is always horny known, is the overclocking an effective means to achieve with a cheap processor, the performance of a more expensive model. Our Phenom X4 840 we get a stable 4.0 GHz, but also need the already very high voltage of 1.6 volts. Accordingly profound is the power consumption of the processor.

A 50 percent increase in power consumption recorded in our system of overclocking just the processor to 800 MHz. Whether it is the few percent performance gain in real world applications / games are worth, each customer can decide for. We tend traditionally to clear "No".


Performance-Power Rating

Our performance-power rating is still in testing position. For now, we have selected as a power input for the absolute performance rating. Since this happened under suitable load, we set the highest power as a reference point, even if they do not like come into play in all applications. On request, we also give the maximum performance at inactive compared to the value and compared to the divergence in value between full load and idle. There, however, the error rate is much higher since, for example, the chosen motherboard affects much more. If it does, for example, five watts difference, from 180 watts under full load with only an insignificant fraction. In only 80 watts at idle, the factor was, however, a considerably greater role.


Conclusion

What does as much, consumed so much energy and costs as much as before from an Athlon X4 live? The new Phenom X4 840 of the 800 series. And this is no surprise. Finally, the new CPU in rather an Athlon X4 650, which provides more than two percent of the X4 Phenom 645, has a virtually identical idle and load consumption, and also with the previous 107 to 112 U.S. dollars of the Athlon X4 645 still almost the same cost. Why has used the manufacturer, an alien term for a manifest Athlon II infusion, we are left even after many test hours and talks with colleagues a great unknown. The statement of the PR agency, excellent value for money was the basis for us is in any case, no convincing justification - since in recent years, it was mostly the Athlon, which in our price / performance rating at the top was.

Looking at the new model without this designation glasses, it is therefore seen as the typical evolution, which AMD has taken place in recent months back. Every few weeks, donated by the manufacturer of the current model 100 MHz more without the new CPUs require more energy. This applies to both Today's CPUs. In terms of price / performance, the Phenom X4 840 top.