Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition Tested

[btarunr]

In the weeks to come, AMD will introduce its triple-core processors based on the 45 nm Heka core, starting off with the Phenom II X3 700 series. One of the first SKUs in the series would be the overclocker-friendly Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition. Based on the Heka core, it holds three x86 processing cores, 512 KB of L2 cache per core and a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The chip is specified to run at 2.80 GHz (200 MHz x 14.0), and features an unlocked bus frequency multiplier. It comes with a rated TDP of 95W. Turkish website Donanim Haber put an engineering sample carrying its specs to test on both DDR3 and DDR2 platforms based on Gigabyte's GA-MA790FXT-UD5 and MA790FX-DQ6, to find out its mettle.



The new Phenom II X3-based test-beds were put through a series of synthetic and real-world performance tests that include Cinebench x64, PCMark Vantage, Fritz Chess 9, Everest, Hexus Pifast, and Far Cry 2. In its findings, it is seen that the overall jump in performance between the DDR2-1066 and DDR3-1600 platform is almost insignificant. The performance scales at pi-crunching scales fairly well with the chip overclocked. The overclocking potential of this chip, being a Black Edition variant, doesn't disappoint. The 2.8 GHz chip overclocked seamlessly to 3.70 GHz with Sunbeamtech Core Contact Freezer employed to cool it. The Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition is expected to release later in this quarter at an expected price point of 140€ in Europe.



The complete review by Donanim Haber, Google-translated to English can be read here.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[ShadowFold]

I'm buying one when I get a job

 

[Darknova]

So no performance difference with DDR3...well that makes my next motherboard choice easy enough (which ever I can afford at the time).

Looks like a phenomenal chip though, runs cool, reaches 3.7Ghz. Me likely

 

[ShadowFold]

Yea DDR2 FTW. Even if I had a lot of money for DDR3 I would just get a better processor or video card.

 

[mtosev]

4 core cpu with one core disabled. = X3

 

[Darknova]

Yea DDR2 FTW. Even if I had a lot of money for DDR3 I would just get a better processor or video card.

There's some pretty decent DDR3 kits for £100 now, so if I could afford a board and RAM I'd definitely go for it.

 

[crtecha]

Yeah im in no rush to use ddr3. Maybe I'm crazy though..

 

[suraswami]

This chip is already available in US. Check my thread.

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=84158

Nice to see positive reviews about AMD chips.

 

[Roph]

Nice to see black edition X3s. Though I'm assuming a Phenom X3 is an X3 because it failed some quality testing and didn't satisfy X4 standards? In which case overclocking performance might be hurt. Or am I wrong?

 

[PaulieG]

Nice to see black edition X3s. Though I'm assuming a Phenom X3 is an X3 because it failed some quality testing and didn't satisfy X4 standards? In which case overclocking performance might be hurt. Or am I wrong?

Usually not. It's usually just one weak or faulty core, which is disabled.

 

[cdawall]

hmm i'm tempted to order one

 

[newtekie1]

Very nice, I would like to see Intel counter this with some unlocked Core 2 Duo's, not that unlocking them would really help overclocking drastically on the Core 2's. Hopefully, this at leasts leads to some price drops.

Nice to see black edition X3s. Though I'm assuming a Phenom X3 is an X3 because it failed some quality testing and didn't satisfy X4 standards? In which case overclocking performance might be hurt. Or am I wrong?

Not really, usually the part that would hurt overclocking is also the part that is disabled.

 

[HolyCow02]

Damn! Got it to 3.7GHz with a 1.47 voltage! Hot damn!

 

[Darknova]

Damn! Got it to 3.7GHz with a 1.47 voltage! Hot damn!

1.47

 

[Binge]

So no performance difference with DDR3...well that makes my next motherboard choice easy enough (which ever I can afford at the time).

Looks like a phenomenal chip though, runs cool, reaches 3.7Ghz. Me likely

Technically there is more overclocking headroom with DDR3 with less voltage, but moderate OCs like 4.0-4.5ghz would do more than fine sticking with DDR2.

 

[TheScavenger]

Thats a great overclock! I can't to see what the quads can do!

 

[eidairaman1]

Technically there is more overclocking headroom with DDR3 with less voltage, but moderate OCs like 4.0-4.5ghz would do more than fine sticking with DDR2.

aint that the truth, you buy higher clocked ram so you're not technically overclocking it, just the CPU.

 

[J-Man]

I'm buying one when I get a job

Always low end with you

Get the 940, it's cheap. I could buy 3 of them.

 

[eidairaman1]

well depending on certain stuff the BE/FX is my choice.

 

[Hayder_Master]

great overclock , and there is not too much difference with phenom2 x4

 

[eidairaman1]

Always low end with you

Get the 940, it's cheap. I could buy 3 of them.

well to say this not everyone can afford the CPU you have in your sig let alone a Q9770, Intels ive noticed tend to stay higher in price.