Introduction

First of all, I would like to thank AMD for providing the tested Phenom II X4 970 BE processor sample, MSI for providing the 890FXA-GD70 motherboard and Links for providing the rest of the test setup.

Big day today for AMD. After few months of keeping a low profile, AMD is refreshing its whole processor retail offer from top to bottom. While introducing new and faster models with increased clock, AMD is keeping its top price bars, lowering the prices of existing models and introducing new, faster ones in their place, like the Phenom II X4 970 BE tested today.

Here we take a look at the fastest processor AMD ever shipped to the retail market: Quad-Core Phenom II X4 970 Black Edition, clocked to sky high 3.50 GHz and priced against Intel's very popular Core i5 750 model.

Packaging and Contents

We received our test sample in tray package, but the retail version packaging comes with AMD certified cooler, manual and three year warranty.