Tuesday, May 11th 2010
AMD Introduces Six New Athlon II Processor Models
AMD let loose no less than six new processor models in its value-mainstream Athlon II series. Spread across its dual-core (X2), triple-core (X3), and quad-core (X4) lines, the new models seek to displace existing ones from their price-points and hold key value market positions. Leading the pack is the Athlon II X4 640. Based on the 45 nm Propus die, the X4 640 has a clock speed of 3.00 GHz (15 x 200 MHz), with 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 GT/s HyperTransport 3.0 interface. Built on the AM3 package, the X4 640 supports DDR3 and DDR2 memory standards. It has a TDP of 95W. This chip is priced at $122. The second quad-core model is the energy-efficient Athlon II X4 610e. With a clock speed of 2.40 GHz (12 x 200 MHz), the X4 610e comes with half the TDP of standard models, just 45W. Energy efficiency comes at a small premium, with the X4 610e going for $145 a piece.
The triple-core Athlon II X3 series also gets two additions, with the X3 445 and X3 415e. The X3 445 is based on the Rana die (Propus with one core disabled), and has L2 cache of 512 KB per core. It is clocked at 3.10 GHz (15.5 x 200 MHz), and has a TDP of 95W. It is priced at $87. The energy-efficient X3 415e is clocked at 2.50 GHz (12.5 x 200 MHz), has 45W TDP, and is priced at $102. Dual-core Athlon II X2 chips get the same treatment, with a new fast and energy-efficient model, each. Based on the 45 nm Regor die, the Athlon II X2 has two physical cores with 1 MB of L2 cache per core. The Athlon II X2 260 introduced now, has a clock speed of 3.20 GHz (16 x 200 MHz), 65W TDP, and is priced at $76. The energy-efficient X2 245e is clocked at 2.90 GHz (14.5 x 200 MHz), and has a TDP of 45W. This one goes for $77. All prices are per unit in 1000-unit tray quantities.
The triple-core Athlon II X3 series also gets two additions, with the X3 445 and X3 415e. The X3 445 is based on the Rana die (Propus with one core disabled), and has L2 cache of 512 KB per core. It is clocked at 3.10 GHz (15.5 x 200 MHz), and has a TDP of 95W. It is priced at $87. The energy-efficient X3 415e is clocked at 2.50 GHz (12.5 x 200 MHz), has 45W TDP, and is priced at $102. Dual-core Athlon II X2 chips get the same treatment, with a new fast and energy-efficient model, each. Based on the 45 nm Regor die, the Athlon II X2 has two physical cores with 1 MB of L2 cache per core. The Athlon II X2 260 introduced now, has a clock speed of 3.20 GHz (16 x 200 MHz), 65W TDP, and is priced at $76. The energy-efficient X2 245e is clocked at 2.90 GHz (14.5 x 200 MHz), and has a TDP of 45W. This one goes for $77. All prices are per unit in 1000-unit tray quantities.
25 Comments on AMD Introduces Six New Athlon II Processor Models
I was hoping to see something about a 6 core Athlon II though...
Every Athlon II i've had was running way above voltage it needed (1.35/1.4v stock when they run stable at 1.0-1.15v) - meaning any joe who can undervolt, can get a 45W quad.
hope it doesn't vanish too fast as most people don't look on the "e" ending and don't buy a cpu at a premium for nothing they can see/understand.......
are those "E" good overclocker that the premium is reasonable?
Even the powersave modes are extremely high (1.1V in power save mode, wtf?)
On every AMD system I build, I install PhenomMsrTweaker, put powersave mode as a 4x multi and whatever the lowest voltage is (0.77 I think). Then I put regular mode at stock clocks, and drop the voltage down a few (at least below 1.2V).
newstuff.orconhosting.net.nz/wCalc.html
65W CPU suddenly becomes 45W CPU
hmm so these might not be a cut down Thuban? May be somebody will find it out.
But these are C3 chips and might clock even better (my thought).
:toast:
Athlon X2 vs. Pentium (Dual Core)
Athlon X3 & Phenom X2 vs. Core2Duo
Athlon X4 & Phenom X3 vs. i3
Phenom X4 vs. i5
Phenom X6 vs. entry i7
AMD hasn't been able to compete against Intel's crème de la crème but perhaps they don't want to bother. Right now, AMD is offering good products with a very compelling price/performance ratio and they're comfortably hitting the market segment that buys the most (not the most tech educated though).
But you should reconsider this as just quick calc cause it's for Thunderbirds :D and they were 180nm, Al-interconnects, Si .... even Tbreds/Bartons 130nm Si had Cu IC, and lower process bigger leakage ... in fact even if this calc comes from AMd K10 RevC/D/E datasheet i would took it with care
btw. so my 1.325V TDP65W would have so lower power savings than yours X2 245 :pimp:
If amd's RnD job would be as near as they PR stunts :rolleyes: You're pretty wrong cause any pii x4 is way better than any i5 on same clock (disregard better OC of 32nm intel CPUs) except i5 650 for special apps :D
And pii x6 kills any virtual 8-core i7 on same clock. The only advantage i7 has are X58/s1366 boards with extremely low latency and high memory bandwidth.
And i3 is somethinfg that even AthlonII X3 could overun .... the only bad thing is intel larger volumes and 32nm node that amd lacks as usual.
--edit--
i'm easy on zeroes please pardon me ..... in fact "special apps" includes whole i5 600 series i stand corrected :D
PII X6 are very good CPU's but certainly not superior to i7 9xx, according to benchs they're on par and it's difficult to determine a clear winner cause it depends on the application so I think the word 'kill' is misused in this case.