AMD targets overclockers with Phenom II X4 955
AMD LAUNCHES its Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition chip today - its fastest ever quad-core processor - and is hyping the overclocking potential of the beastie.
The firm has managed to pump the 3.2-GHz part up to 6.5GHz using liquid nitrogen and expects spods to be doing the same thing in their basement bedrooms real soon.
The chip extends the power of AMD's Dragon platform and is launched today, St George's Day. You'd think AMD might be aware that St George is supposed to have slayed the dragon.
Some benchmarks show the $245 X4 955 outperforming Intel's Core 920 i7, which is nominally more expensive, but we'll be getting to the bottom of those claims later today.
AMD reckons it's easier to upgrade its chips than those of 'the competition' - a benefit of the Dragon platform.
A company spokesman said, "The competition has made a hard stop on with its new products where you pretty much have to upgrade everything to use the processor."
"With this line you can upgrade to DDR3 when you like, so you don't lose out on the cost of DDR2 memory," he concluded.
Power management features also have been upgraded and AMD claims that the processor draws 40 per cent less power during intensive use, as compared with the Phenom X4 955, and half the power when idling. µ
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40% less in use.
50% less idle.
And this is still a 125w part?
This doesn't add up, what am I missing?
Wow!
Update the article!
I mean the 955 draws 40 less power than the...... 955?
I see a hyperbola where power consumptios closes to zero.
Even those AMD engineers couldn't
have pulled THIS off...
CadilLAC
I do hope that the "spods" (?) don't use liquid nitrogen in any part of any basement, as it has the tendency to displace the air that we like to breath as it boils off. A main (first in the US) floor room with an open door to the outside is MUCH safer. I kid thee not about these things.
(Queue Robbie the Robot, with flailing arms)
http://www.cluboverclocker.com/reviews/cpu/amd/x4_955/p1.asp
A company spokesman said, "The competition has made a hard stop on with its new products where you pretty much have to upgrade everything to use the processor."
At least it's an gradual upgrade. The change from 939 to AM socket was much more abrupt and pissed off most AMD enthusiasts.
c'mon guys. this entire "nooo! new platform again" moan is kinda moot if you ask me. with upgrade cycle of anywhere between one and 3 years i find i always want to get new board as well and so far always did.it also easier to get rid of what you replacing if it is chip+board combo.
i doubt i could easily swap out years old AMdx2-4000 (my build pc) with this and get its full potential.
however those are very good news indeed. at the moment i happily use the awesome Q9450 but id' love to have viable options for my next build in a year or so. (previous phenoms were not up to the snuff unfortunatley)
hmmmmmmm. CPU price is sneaking towards 220 pounds for the 955BE. if you are thinking of buying a new board or upgrading your platform, i really cant see why you would choose this over a i7 920 and a cheap X58 board (cheap as in 150 quid!!! in my day, cheap...etc etc). it gets its lil botty spanked by the i7 920 still, and price with a decent AM3 790 board isnt exactly a world away from a 920 and a UD3R or foxconn renaissance for example
can not wait to lay my hand on one of these.. My husband for 55 years will hold the nitrogen hose while I browse the web.. Extreme shunny by