AMD releases new Phenom II X4 processors

  • By SarjuS, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 23, 2009 9:20 am PT

AMD started shipping the Phenom II X4 earlier this year and will now refresh the lineup with two new processors: the Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition and Phenom II X4 945. Both processors are modestly priced, with the Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition at $245, and the Phenom II X4 945 at $225. The...

AMD started shipping the Phenom II X4 earlier this year and will now refresh the lineup with two new processors: the Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition and Phenom II X4 945. Both processors are modestly priced, with the Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition at $245, and the Phenom II X4 945 at $225.

The 955 Black Edition and the 945 are clocked at 3.2GHz and 3.0GHz, respectively. Black Edition processors have unlocked multipliers to make overclocking easier for PC enthusiasts. The processors differ only in clock speed, and have identical specifications otherwise. The Phenom II X4 processors will come with 64K of L1 instruction and 64K of L1 data cache per core (512KB total L1 per processor), 512KB of L2 data cache per core (2MB total L2 per processor), and will also have a shared 6MB L3 cache.

The two new processors are based on AMD's AM3 socket but will also work in most AM2+ motherboards. Because they support both sockets, the processors also support both DDR2 and DDR3 memory, respectively found in AM2+ and AM3 socket based motherboards. Using DDR2 the processors will have 17.1GB/s of memory bandwidth, and using DDR3 the bandwidth jumps up to 21.1GB/s. Older Phenom II X4 processors, like the 940 Black Edition and the 920, use AMD's AM2+ socket.

AMD also bundles the Fusion and Overdrive utilities with the processors. Fusion helps to improve gaming performance by disabling scores of Windows services and slightly overclocking the entire system. AMD's Overdrive utility helps to automatically overclock the system and lets users apply those settings on an application-specific level.

The initial Phenom II X4 processors launched with higher prices than these new processors and proved to be great values. Like the processors before them, the Phenom II X4 955 and 945 will likely make for cheap and easy upgrades for owners of existing AM2+ platforms, while at the same time leaving the door open for an AM3 upgrade later down the road.

114 Comments

  • Excedra

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 2:42 am PT

    it rocks. but i7s better.

  • beymod

    Posted Jun 6, 2009 5:31 am PT

    thanks...
    http://www.beymod.com.tr

  • DeeCrutch

    Posted May 27, 2009 3:42 pm PT

    Folks, I am a system bulider and was an Intel guy for a loooong time (until they stiffed my cousin on his warranty for his P4). Now though, I am looking seriously at these AMD chips. I know the I7 is better, but with the expense needed to run one, AMD is looking damn good to me. I mean, you need more than $200 just for an I7 motherboard, let alone the chip itself! I haven't checked the prices of AMD's socket AM3 motherboards yet, but I don't imagine that it is anywere near that....at least I hope not!

    I'm not saying for absolute certain that my next system will have an AMD in it, but these prices keep up, AMD will have as good a shot as anyone.

  • Kelemhuma

    Posted May 17, 2009 8:00 am PT

    Gamenothing you have no idea what you are talking about. AMD Phenom processors are not slow at all offer great performance and bang for buck. I personally am using Intel chip. But have built two of these systems for friends. There is nothing slow about them. I recommend these chips all day long. My system specs Yorkfield 3 GHZ 295 GTX 4 gig Corsair 1066 ram OS: Vista.

  • The_Weekend

    Posted May 15, 2009 10:32 am PT

    Intel Core i7 anyday until AMD out does that!

  • xerotolerant

    Posted May 13, 2009 2:21 pm PT

    @ ashleyobrien

    Amen

  • gamenothing

    Posted May 6, 2009 2:41 am PT

    AMD Phenom II X4= SLOW!!!!!!!!!!
    Intel Core i7= FAST!!!!
    AMD is paying Gamespot everyday so to make AMD look good to rip us off!!

  • ashleyobrien

    Posted May 3, 2009 1:59 am PT

    your all forgetting one universal truth....what really matters is your choice of graphics card...dont try and argue with me..because once you get to a certain point..be it amd or intel...they all push the GPU so that it is no longer the bottleneck...and im sure that there is a combo out there that will match or beat my E8500 with gtx280 SLI...i just happen to like intel/nvidia more..thats all...it really doesnt matter what you choose...they all push pixels around pretty damn quick...

  • jeffreystark069

    Posted May 2, 2009 12:27 am PT

    I just built a new system with the AMD Phenom X4 955 with 6 GIG dominator 1600 Ram and it is a beast!!! I threw the new ATI 4890 in there too. Check out my link to see a vid of it. For the price it can't be touched, and I never used anything but intel before I got this system. Saving money feels great, especially when it turns out this good.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0EGlG3y1d4

  • Miladcemeteryma

    Posted May 1, 2009 8:02 am PT

    whoooooo!!!

  • shani_boy101

    Posted May 1, 2009 12:54 am PT

    @ Bhinder94
    i'm not a console fanboy and basically all the games i've gotten for the past 3 years have been for PC, and you had no basis to call me a stupid console fanboy.

    I just find it amusing that there are fanbases for something as exact as a CPU Processor.

  • IowOparPiykvar

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 4:06 pm PT

    I've seen some sites run benchmark tests comparing the Phenom II 940 to all the i7 processors and the Phenom II was beaten.
    I accept that, but being a die hard AMD fan, I am sticking to AMD. I hope these two new Phenoms at least match the i7s in the same price range.
    I plan on building myself a new computer soon, and I want an AMD at the core.

  • Abed_1990

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 3:44 am PT

    The i7 920 has a lot more value...i don't have to convince you or anything. just do your research.

  • Shade93

    Posted Apr 29, 2009 3:37 am PT

    Well these Jewels are surely better than the i7 920, since they are much compatible with older & Upcoming stuff. Actually I think that AMD provides great support for it's costumers & I like that.
    Besides, they are cheaper than all the i7s, and can reach a comparable performance, & I'm sure that no one is going to use all of it's power before a long time.
    It also has 8 (logical) cores, just like the i7, for a much cheaper price.
    AMD RULES

  • Olgark

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 9:15 pm PT

    Why buy Intel when an AMD will do the same thing for half the price ? AMD all the way for me always seen me through the PC's I have built.

  • lrkatzenstein

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 8:34 pm PT

    Hello guys... my name is Luciano and I'm from Brazil;
    Well, I don't know what goes on in other countries but, here, in Brazil, AMD "rules";
    And it's not only because of the price of the processor itself; the whole system of an Intel processor is much more expensive.
    Talking about prices: these processors you're talking about we pay a lot more than you do: at least 250% plus.
    You "should" not complaint about prices, my friends.. kkkkkk. And I think AMD rulez too!!!

  • ronnielanham

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 5:35 pm PT

    what price in aus dollars

  • naruto117

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 3:18 pm PT

    @superdavex3: Intel's headquarters is in Santa Clara California...

    Ultimately the tables are the same as they were before, Intel is superior with the i7 but a bit more pricey, whereas AMD is still good but more budget friendly. All I know is the i7 920 is a great deal for it's price, and it's worth every penny... more CPU power than most gamers will need for a looooong time.

  • superdavex3

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 1:48 pm PT

    after intel moved their corporate headquarters to china, i vowed to never give them another dime. they can go suck an egg roll.
    amd is the only way to go

  • Journeyman1984

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 1:38 pm PT

    is this as good as intel quad core?

  • msg-gol

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 12:03 pm PT

    lol this is nothing compared to I7
    Intel FTW !!!!!
    for those of you who disagree and want to start babbling about AMD PLEASE read this page for god sake
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_3

  • edenist17

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 11:02 am PT

    @ Blind0bj3ct ...
    Yes, the X3's are X4's with a deactivated core, but they have been deacvitated due to the core not being up to the required standard to run in a stable manner.
    It's a way to increase yield of the CPU's as the manufacturing process of the X4's [4 seperate die's on the chip, opposed to 2x dualcore dies on the core2's] creates a higher failure rate.

    Activating the 4th core on an X3 would not be a wise move......

  • venom55520

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 11:01 am PT

    spartan, you are seriously mistaken. the i7 in comparison to these chips is much more costly (in terms of motherboard and RAM) these chips have been seen at 4GHz on air cooling. if you use air cooling on an i7 the most you'll get is 3.8GHz IF you're lucky. there is no denying that the i7 performs much better, but for you to say that amd has "technical issues" that require "ludicrous amounts of money" to compare to an intel i7 is just plain dumb. please do your research next time.

  • spartan7860

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 7:57 am PT

    i still think intel is the superior brand for processors Amd just seems to have alot of technical issues that one must address and you have to shell out ludicrous amounts of money to get it compared to an intel i7 procesor

  • alistervk

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 1:31 am PT

    Like the processors before them, the Phenom II X4 955 and 945 will likely make for cheap and easy upgrades for owners of existing AM2+ platforms, while at the same time leaving the door open for an AM3 upgrade later down the road. Now this is forward thinking !!! If you want an I7 you need a new mobo and to get the most out of it you will need new DDR 3 ram . If you want to save money AMD is the way to go !!!

  • markop2003

    Posted Apr 27, 2009 12:49 pm PT

    L3 on the cache?
    Hopefully it's not running at standard L3 speed and they've made they're own level....

  • rocket_master

    Posted Apr 27, 2009 8:57 am PT

    I'm buying the AMD Phenom II X4 955 at the beginning of May. Can't wait.

    It's easily overclockable to 4.3 GHz using some fairly cheap coolers/compounds.

  • Deadly_Vengence

    Posted Apr 27, 2009 5:47 am PT

    Not the insane power of an Intel but neither is it the absurd price. AMD is good if you want a balance between usability and price. Seriously, a quad core 3ghz cpu for $250. That is a bargain. Also AMD is VERY avid about compatibility. Just look at the article, support for AM2+ and AM3. If AM2 wasn't so old they'd support it too. While Intel cores often require specific slots that you have to upgrade the motherboard.

    This is good for those who aren't insane enthusiasts but want good hardware.

  • Vasot

    Posted Apr 27, 2009 3:36 am PT

    Waste of money if you ask me...

  • Blind0bj3ct

    Posted Apr 27, 2009 12:17 am PT

    Meh, just buy a X3 and unlock the 4th core by Bios.

  • lrsp

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 9:05 pm PT

    I wish I had a quad core processor though I am not pc gaming enthusiast but it be cool to have one.

  • gamesare4me

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 8:13 pm PT

    Intel's chips are way overpriced. I really just don't understand how much speed some people need. these new AMD chips should more then be enough. If your running games and such which i do, and have no problems with the 9950 which is OC. Why would you pay $1,000 for CPU for your home PC? That is the real question. A thousand for 10 extra frames on your game is stupid. And again in less than two years something else will come out. I think AMD is on the right track. They were a little slow but I think they are turning a corner and doing it right.

  • Bhinder94

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 6:06 pm PT

    @ xrh
    ______

    It's been around longer than your idiotic console stupidity.

  • Bhinder94

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 6:03 pm PT

    @ shani_boy101 ______________

    Wow how dumb. Its obvious you know nothing of the hate we people with PC's have for each other. Even if it makes no sense, at least we try to be intellectual about it. (Unlike you retarded console fanboys, who don't even understand how the hardware or software you avidly support, preforms.) Yes, Intel FTW, AMD and all there other crap (ATI) suck like a supernova hitting the earth.

  • Bhinder94

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 5:59 pm PT

    AMD are terrible. Intel FTW. I'd like to see an AMD processor, match the speed of an core i7 965 Extreme. Ha, even if they manage to pull that off, they won't be anywhere near the speed of the new Intel Xeon.

  • naryanrobinson

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 11:34 am PT

    they may not be able to beat intel, but they can sure as hell beat them for a sub 300 processor

  • triad79

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 9:37 am PT

    yes a little more gain on AMD side but the i7 still out performs AMD in time the table will turn again ...hope this will cause intel to bring down thier prices a little cause man they charge to much !

  • cobra_units

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 9:19 am PT

    still cant beat intel for sure..

  • boyplaybox

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 3:59 am PT

    good timing,
    im in need really good cpu to start functioning properly

  • t_walk1

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 3:13 am PT

    currently have an amd dual core 3800+, about to get an I7 920 naehlem. I am switching not becuase of anything "bad" I encountered with my AMD but simply because of the benchmarks that the I7 brings with it. AMD is a solid company, but I go with teh numbers and right now they aren't in their camp.

    If that changes in teh future so will I.

  • User42011111

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 1:02 am PT

    very nice

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Apr 25, 2009 9:18 pm PT

    lol CPU fanboys. Now i've seen everything.

  • rgray34

    Posted Apr 25, 2009 5:01 pm PT

    The real truth here is when you think Intel your paying for the the name and With amd your paying for the bargain. Between the the two your getting the same products but amd saves you the cash. So if you like throwing all your hard earned money over to them then go ahead enough of amd bashing. I have a amd II 940 and it screams clocked to 3.5 So to the guy upgrading with the economy the way it is today go with amd and you wont regret it. Also to speed up your machine get a raptor drive that would help tremendous.

  • wolfliquid

    Posted Apr 25, 2009 1:09 pm PT

    AMD phenom II is the best!!!!

  • Mahoganyjoint

    Posted Apr 25, 2009 12:35 pm PT

    intel will lower now

  • jazzyrider

    Posted Apr 25, 2009 5:53 am PT

    AMD has the prices but they're late to the market...again. Guess I'll keep my Intel i7.

  • gamesare4me

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 8:53 pm PT

    Look its all hardware that goes in a pc. CPUs, HDs, Video Cards, RAM, MoBo. RAM plays a huge part in overall speed in a system as does the MoBo/Bios. It increases the FSB. A CPU doesnt make a system great, but makes it better. AMD ruled over intel for awhile a few years back and wont go away. Intel has always had the raw power of the market where AMD had price and efficient cpu's. HD speed is another one and of course we all know what the video cards do. I mean the video cards are enormous anymore and require so much power. Plus they have 2GB plus cards out there. Also the new MoBo's can support 24GB of RAM! Thats crazy if you think about it. Bottom line in 18 months or less something else will come out and blow the 955 and i7 out of the water. AMD has very good processors and are starting to pick up speed. Intels chips, specifically the P4, would constantly overheat. Keeping heat away is really a problem when you get higher clock speeds. Also solid state drives are good but i am not paying about $1,000 for a 250GB hard drive which is basically a bigger flash drive. Right now AMD is picking up steam and most software does not support or even use all the cores in a cpu. the i7 supposedly has 8 cores, at least that is what Intels selling point is. All in all, the new AMD chips and the 9950 which i have, our nice chips, which you can overclock at will. When putting a system together you have to think of all the parts not just the cpu.

  • digitalgator

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 8:52 pm PT

    Will have to wait and see when more data comes out, but looks good on the surface, still think the Intel i7's are overpriced.

  • TehEliteElite

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 7:22 pm PT

    You filthy potato fanboy! Potatos are dead, everyone knows that carrots are the future! *flames*

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!