AMD Phenom II Available To Distributors This Week 114
jdb2 writes "Fudzilla reports that AMD's Phenom II is already available to distributors, and will be available to sell to consumers in the week of the 29th of December. The Phenom II is AMD's consumer version of its 'Shanghai' 45 nanometer SOI process Quad-core Opteron chip and will reportedly ship in 3 and 2.8 gigahertz flavors corresponding to the model numbers '940' and '920' respectively. This first release will be packaged as a Socket AM2+ part which only supports DDR2 memory. The following month AMD is reportedly going to release a new '9x5' series of Socket AM3 versions which support DDR3 memory — these will be backward compatible with Socket AM2+ . This may be an inflection point for AMD if the Shanghai architecture lives up to the performance numbers from preliminary reports and if so it will no doubt also be a welcome belated Christmas present for the already salivating hordes of Tech Junkies."
125 watts! (Score:2, Interesting)
Concur.. (Score:5, Interesting)
In fact, we deal with both AMD and Intel servers, and under benchmarking conditions, we allegedly make the Intel parts exceed TDP.
The problem is that TDP became a marketing point and thus Intel abandoned the original intent. It was supposed to allow systems vendors to plan how many CFM and how good a heat sink would be needed to dissipate all the heat in a worst case scenario. To AMD's credit, they have a metric they call 'ACP' to indicate their analogous figure to Intel's TDP. I like that better in theory than just abandoning TDP.
That said, for Intel and AMD, I wonder what they consider 'typical' loads. In the end, a breakdown of what clock speeds and what percentage of time is in C1 and such would be appreciated to know what to expect. Knowing what the CPU uses at each clock, with about 0% of time in sleep states and near 100% would let me compare a bit better than a single oversimplified number.
Wait for 95Watt AM# (Score:5, Interesting)
AMD is standing behind and embracing the AM3 socket, the main feature of which is the addition DDR 3 memory support.
It should be noted that AMD has previously stated that while Socket AM3 processors will work in Socket AM2/AM2+ motherboards, not all AM2/AM2+ processors will be supported by AM3 motherboards. By this time the price of DDR3 RAM might have fallen to a point where itâ(TM)s affordable.
With Intel changing sockets like its going out of style, AMD has done an excellent job making their products extremely compatible between generations. As such, it's kept many "budget" PC builders somewhat loyal, including myself.
If you buy one of the current AM2+ socketed Phenom II CPU's, you have a very good chance that you will be able to throw it in a new AM3 socket motherboard when they come out before March'09.
None the less, I'm a fickle fool and will wait until AM3 is out... what's 2 more months anyway?
What are ye, nuts?! (Score:3, Interesting)
If you get one that makes it to the end of the 90 warranty period, count yourself lucky!
This summer I needed a socket 478 (don't ask... broke college student) mobo, so I went down to the computer shop down town. I told the guy I needed a motherboard, any motherboard, cheap and before the end of the day. The guy says, "Well, we've got a few biostar for $50". There was a very awkward silence for about 10 seconds and I finally said, "Ummmm... got anything else?"
"For $90 we've got one MSI left."
"Sold."
"Good choice; those biostar boards always come back to us." (or something to that effect)
Re:It will come down to clock speed. (Score:1, Interesting)
Well preliminary reports of the Phenom II look pretty promising. An OC'd Phenom II 940 at 3.85 GHz scored a 5,086 on 3DMark06[1]. While a Core i7 Extreme 965 CPU OC'd at 3.8 GHz scored a 6,608[2]. Now consider the Phenom II 940 is a AM2+ chip without a DDR3 controller which requires no motherboard upgrade for alot of people. Also the Phenom II 940 has been price ranged about ~$300[3] while the i7 965E costs $1,012.99[4] plus the motherboard/memory upgrade.
Just on 3DMark06/CPU cost ratio alone you get:
AMD 16.953 points per dollar
Intel 6.523 points per dollar
Looks like AMD is back.
[1]http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/23/amd-phenom-ii-processor-bought-benchmarked-coveted/
[2]http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/02/intels-core-i7-purchased-overclocked-benchmarked/
[3]http://www.nytimes.com/external/idg/2008/12/24/24idg-Retailers-beat.html
[4]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115200
Re:It will come down to clock speed. (Score:3, Interesting)