Thursday, August 13th 2009

AMD Raises the Performance Bar With Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition

Press Release by
btarunr
 Discuss (151 Comments)
AMD today announced the world's highest clocked quad-core processor for desktop PCs, the AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition processor. As an integral part of Dragon platform technology, this new processor features a stock frequency of 3.4 GHz, massive headroom, high-speed DDR3 memory support and AMD OverDrive 3.0 technology to deliver an enthusiast-class performance that fits into value-based budgets.

Since its initial launch in January 2009, Dragon platform technology has provided great performance at a great price. From the only company with unlocked CPUs and backwards compatibility for DDR2 memory, the AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition processor helps customers pay less for more, period. Available for a Suggested System Builder Price of $245, users opting for Intel may be paying more for less or equal performance.
With this platform, AMD is combining its fastest processor ever with the massive graphics processing muscle of its most powerful GPUs to enable the following features:
  • Record-setting overclocking capabilities
  • AMD OverDrive 3.0 tuning software
  • High-speed DDR3 memory support
  • Planned future DirectX 11 support for the latest games
  • AMD Black Edition Memory Profiles for custom experiences
  • Cool'n'Quiet 3.0 technology to enable improved efficiency and help keep your PC running cool and quiet

Related News

Add your own comment

151 Comments on AMD Raises the Performance Bar With Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition

#102
PP Mguire
Well in Finland they got the cpu to 7+ so id say for a while. i7 has a terrible cold bug meaning they cant go to -230c like Phenom II can.
Posted on Reply
#105
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
PP MguireWell in Finland they got the cpu to 7+ so id say for a while. i7 has a terrible cold bug meaning they cant go to -230c like Phenom II can.
Can you say "Gulftown?" :laugh:

32nm, hexa-core, early 2010. Larrabee could arrive about the same time. That's not to say a D0 chip won't beat that benchmark before then.


Why I brought up Larrabee is because that will be the first discreet Intel video card. Gulfstown + X58 or X68 + Larabee = equivilent to Dragon platform.
Posted on Reply
#106
PP Mguire
Except, this is here and now. That is later and possible. You cant compare whats now and whats later as a real argument. Thats like saying i could overclock my pentium 1 to 10ghz with absolute zero cooling in a vacum in 2020.....
Posted on Reply
#107
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
You had a figure to aim for, Nehalem owner's didn't. Now that there is competition, it is only a matter of time before someone steps up to the plate.
Posted on Reply
#108
PP Mguire
Except i7 CPUs cant go that cold to reach sustainable benching and cooling for that long a period of time. So to reach they would have to fix their little problem. This is probably why Intel had such a small booth at Qcon and AMDs was huge and they where doing public demonstrations of overclocking.
Posted on Reply
#109
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
AMD is desperate, Intel isn't. Intel doesn't need to flap their arms about to sell processors, AMD does.

Never say never. If someone wants to take the time to find Core i7's sweet spot, they will. Now that there is a target to aim for, they have an incentive to push them beyond 5 GHz.
Posted on Reply
#110
PP Mguire
AMD isnt desperate though. They are flying through processors like hot cakes whether or not Intel people want to believe this or not. Thats not the point though. I dont care about the politics i care about the hardware. Core i7 reaches its freezing point with nitrogen, AMD can go to ~ 6/7K and beyond. They can keep pushing but as long as AMD has the newer cooling techniques that can be used the extreme OCers that have AMD will prevail.

Of course most will find this argument moot but for the extreme OCers that really want to argue semantics over a processor taking it to the extreme to really see what its made of is where its at. Which is why im here right now.
Posted on Reply
#111
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
AMD's market capitalization is between $2 and $3 billion and their shares are selling for between $3-4 each. That is damn near bankruptcy territory.


Need I remind you that Nehalem shares kinship with NetBurst and NetBurst holds all the world's highest clockspeed records:
valid.canardpc.com/records.php?PHPSESSID=3d9cee294162f8d9faf6bc16af1b7fa2

Now that there is an incentive to push them, they will be pushed. They just have to remember to disable HyperThreading. :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#112
PP Mguire
Yea, and that top record is a single core processor and AMDs quads have peaked over 7 already. Thats a hell of alot more to cool and quite a feat to accomplish. The 965 records havent been recorded i guess since it was just the other day. Im wondering exactly how far they can really push it
Posted on Reply
#114
Assassin48
I would stop before infractions are given

Just be happy for AMD for a 3.4ghz x4

Intel will bring something new and it will go back and forth
Posted on Reply
#115
eidairaman1
The Exiled Airman
IDK this is AMDs first CPU to be at 3.4GHz Stock, 3.2 was hit with the X2 6400.
Posted on Reply
#116
Melvis
Just to show you the price difference here in AUS from AMD's top CPU and Intel's CPU

www.gamedude.com.au/prod_show.php?art_no=cpAMphenom2_965

www.xpmicro.com.au/cgi-bin/xpmicro/BX80601975.html?id=E9W6A27C

Seriously what one would you get if you lived here in AUS?

And for those who said there Mobo cant take the new Phenom's, then why didn't you spend the extra $20 to get the Mobo that can? You can get a good mobo here to take all the CPU's (even yrs ago) for a little over $100 thats like $80 US :ohwell:
Posted on Reply
#117
mixa
With all the antitrust shits that Intel has come out, its wonder that AMD didn't "die" yet, its heroic from their part that they are managing to make such a nice CPUs as they are doing it since first A64 'till PII.Only an idiotic Intel fan could deny it.Period.
Posted on Reply
#118
Hayder_Master
anyone try overclock it on air , how much max overclock expect on air with this cpu
Posted on Reply
#119
ShadowFold
hayder.masteranyone try overclock it on air , how much max overclock expect on air with this cpu
I've seen a few at 4ghz+ on air.. forgot where that was. I'd get one, but I just bought a GTS 250 and I'm in quite a bit of a financial mess right now..
Posted on Reply
#120
PP Mguire
Assassin48I would stop before infractions are given

Just be happy for AMD for a 3.4ghz x4

Intel will bring something new and it will go back and forth
It would be stupid for infractions to be given considering it wasnt a heated argument/debate. Probably why no mods said anything in the first place.

And it isnt pointless either. Who ever goes the fastest wins, nuff said. They intent to break the record of highest overclock and shatter all synthetic records as well. You cant possibly tell me this chip isnt full of win.

Posted on Reply
#121
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
I swear I've seen that guy on the left before. :confused:
Posted on Reply
#122
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
While holding world records is nice, it doesn't really help AMD any. It does increase their "street cred" a little among overclockers, but doesn't really help them in the long run. The general public doesn't even read about overclocking, and the ones that do don't care to do it. The general public doesn't buy high end either, both companies make the bulk of their revenue from mid-range. The dual-core, tri-cores, maybe low end quads. That is why AMD doesn't really care about the unlocking thing, because they need to make processors to fill the demand of the mid-range, and most of the people buying them won't bother to unlock them.

Holding overclocking records only marginally helps boost sales.
MelvisJust to show you the price difference here in AUS from AMD's top CPU and Intel's CPU

www.gamedude.com.au/prod_show.php?art_no=cpAMphenom2_965

www.xpmicro.com.au/cgi-bin/xpmicro/BX80601975.html?id=E9W6A27C

Seriously what one would you get if you lived here in AUS?

And for those who said there Mobo cant take the new Phenom's, then why didn't you spend the extra $20 to get the Mobo that can? You can get a good mobo here to take all the CPU's (even yrs ago) for a little over $100 thats like $80 US :ohwell:
Well of course, but the 975 also completely owns the X4 965 in performance....

If you look at the processor that the X4 965 actually comptetes with, the i7 920, the picture is a little different.

www.xpmicro.com.au/cgi-bin/xpmicro/BX80601920.html

And I think if I was in that situation, I'd save the $100 and go with the X4 810...
Posted on Reply
#123
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
FordGT90ConceptI swear I've seen that guy on the left before. :confused:
He's Sami "macci" Mäkinen. Legendary overclocker, AMD employee.
Posted on Reply
#124
Wile E
Power User
trt740Your statement in your case maybe true but it is far from the norm. Most budget AMD systems from the last three years can use current chips.. That cannot be said for intel, example, my friends computer I built is coming up on it's 3 years anniversary and it can take 83+ AMD CPU's, all the way to the current Phenoms
It is not uncommon for an AM2 board not to accept Phenoms at all, especially non-high end boards. Most of the original AM2 enthusiast class boards can accept Phenom, but not many of the budget boards.
trt740Sorry I don't agree, when all the components are factored I can build a AMD system for alot less and it will perform just about the same as any Intel system out. Also if your saying Asus, Gigabyte and Foxcon don't update their bios on older motherboards that's just flat out not true and those three companies make up about 70 percent of all motherboard sales world wide. Also in the real world the performance difference is not at all big, stock clock for stock clock. I have owned both systems with top end components and if you didn't tell me which one was in my computer, example a 945 DDR3 /940 DDR2 or a 920 DDr3 / QX9650 DDr2 I could not tell you what was powering my system. Now overclocked I would see some difference but even that's not giant in the real world. In a benchmark you would but not in the real world. In this case your GPU is more important. Why intel doesn't keep a socket compatible with a new cpu drives me crazy and why they don't sell cpus at or near their max potential for a reasonable price also drives me nutts. Can intel blow AMDs door off the answer is yes? Why they continue to FXXK people with their prices and let AMD hang in there I cannot tell you. The only thing I can come up with is if intel releases a I7 at 3.8ghz(stock clock) and prices it at 200.00 AMD might not exist causing a monopoly and the EU might ban them. However, as situation currently stands AMD is cheaper and the better bang for the buck.

I've used theses systems and maybe it just me but my last 4 upgrades (CPU/Ram/ Motherboard were a waste of money) My 295 gtx on the other hand is a beast and the only better option money wise was the 300.00 (new) 4870x2 mwave was selling.
I'd be able to tell you right away which system I was on. All I would have to do is fire up Handbrake or Mediacoder to transcode one of my files/dvds.

And AMD charged $1000 for cpus when they had the performance crown as well. So the top-end price argument is moot. Hell, before Core 2 came out, it was cheaper for me to build a mid-range dual core Intel system of similar performance than it was to build a 3800+ X2 system from AMD. (I still bought the AMD anyway).
Posted on Reply
#125
MomentoMoir
PP MguireIt would be stupid for infractions to be given considering it wasnt a heated argument/debate. Probably why no mods said anything in the first place.

And it isnt pointless either. Who ever goes the fastest wins, nuff said. They intent to break the record of highest overclock and shatter all synthetic records as well. You cant possibly tell me this chip isnt full of win.

img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/pp_mguire/Quakecon%2009/SNC00019.jpg
the overclocking was cool to watch even though i didnt stay long and understand it too well lol
this thread is amusing to me
Posted on Reply
Add your own comment
Nov 27th, 2024 04:54 EST change timezone

Latest GPU Drivers

New Forum Posts

Popular Reviews

Controversial News Posts