تریپل کور پردازنده 3 هسته ای - سی یی یو های سه هسته ای AMD Phenom X3 Triple Core CPU
Introduction
Just recently we took a look at the AMD K10 architecture in the form of the Phenom X4 processor, and while it doesn’t have the power and clock speeds to directly compete with the Core 2 on a clock for clock basis, AMD has one idea in mind; cost, that is where Phenom can’t be argued on.
With the top model Phenom costing around the $250 AUD mark, it’s a hard processor to go past, especially when you consider you can have it with either an AMD chipset to support Crossfire or an NVIDIA chipset to support SLI and Crossfire (that’s coming soon folks).
While the X4 is the more costly option (though in today’s world the cost of a $250 processor isn’t really that expensive), AMD is going to start shipping a cheaper option based on the same K10 architecture, and yes it keeps the Phenom branding, it’s a direct descendant of the X4, but with a few modifications.
On the chopping block today we have the new kid on the block designed to take over where the Athlon 64 X2’s price range is set. Help us welcome to the Phenom family the triple core X3. How well does it perform? Stick around while we find out!
Phenom X3 up Close AMD’s Phenom architecture is a step up on the K8 with a few major changes which we have already covered in our
Phenom X4 9850 review. The Phenom X3 continues on with this same architecture; there are no major changes to the architecture apart from some internal workings.
In the design process of the AMD K10 quad core setups, there is always room for error on the silicon level. Unlike Intel’s design of placing two separate dies on a single chip, AMD integrates all four cores on the same silicon wafer, which technically works better thanks to all the cores communicating together rather than two separate dies having to use an FSB to find out what each other are doing. Sometime during the manufacturing process, one of the cores can come out less than stellar, either a problem with the silicon preventing it from actually working, or it not working at its rated speed. This is where AMD has managed to salvage the production process.
The Phenom X3 is actually an X4 processor with one of the four cores disabled electronically; this allows the CPU to be salvaged in the process as well as AMD being able to offer a new line of CPUs at a cheaper price in the Phenom family. While triple core CPUs are new in theory, AMD is the first to actually bring it into practice. The main question is, will it be useful? - And how much slower will it be compared to an X4 based processor at the same clock speeds?
The Phenom X3 in design is no different from the X4 or any Socket 754, 939 or AM2(+) CPU on the market. AMD hasn’t gone for any dramatic changes in style; however, the dynamics of the processor are extremely impressive. Currently in the AMD line-up at launch there are to be three different X3 models, with more coming. The current range includes the 8450 clocked at 2.1GHz, the 8650 clocked at 2.3GHz and 8750 clocked at 2.4GHz. The model numbers follow the Phenom X4 line with a few changes; it is an 8000 series family, not 9000, however the second and third numbers stay the same to denote its speed and revision (anything with a xx50 number is B3).
The Phenom X3 is designed to be the more cost efficient brother to the X4. To that end, a few changes have been made. First off, the memory controller has been given a small hit. While it still supports DDR2-1066 modules when combined with a HT3 supporting board, its memory controller on the Northbridge has been slowed down from 2GHz on the X4 to 1.8GHz. This is so AMD is able to give the Phenom X3 a small percentage hit right out of the box. After all, we don’t want another Celeron Vs. Pentium II war happening; this almost killed Intel.
Phenom X3 is also designed to be a more thermal efficient processor than the X4. With X4’s coming in a 120watt TDP, the X3 processor comes in under 100watts at 95watt TDP. This makes it even better for low noise applications like HTPCs and office environments. After all, who wants to listen to the sound of fans running all day?
Cache sizes on the CPU have changed as well. First off, the L1 cache size of 128K (64K instructions and 64K data per core, or a total of 512K L1 cache per CPU) have remained intact. L2 cache has dropped from a total of 2MB on the X4 (512K per core) to 1.5MB (512K per core); this is due to the extra core being disabled, and since it’s no longer functional, the cache that core carries is simply not usable. L3 cache remains at 2MB shared between all three cores, so we have 512K less cache on the X3s compared to the X4 brothers.
CPU-Z 1.44.2 managed to pick up the Phenom X3 without any problems, it seems its been already written into the code. The revision we got with no surprises was a B3 stepping clocked at 2.4GHz out of the box. The HT Link on the X3 processor is clocked in at 1.8GHz, the same as the memory controller speed; this is how AMD is able to limit the X3’s overall potential.
ادامه در
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/13...pu/index2.html