Four core processors followed hot on the heels of the dual core, and now there are even three core models. For the uninitiated, this begs the question, how are the CPU units placed physically. The explanation: In principle, it is a Barcelona core with just three cores activated. The AMD 780G chip set is very popular for use in cheaper PCs, multimedia computers or HTPCs (Home Theater PC) because it is lower in price than the Intel CPUs, as well as being lower on power consumption and functions. This platform now finally has a cheaper Phenom processor with more performance as well as the Athlon 64 X2.

Many users wishing to put together a lower cost PC or to upgrade used the Athlon 64 X2 in the past. Extremely low prices for the fastest 6400+ model gave the Athlon 64 X2 an unbeatable cost/performance advantage over Intel’s CPUs. Anyone not satisfied with performance, was able to use a quad core processor, but the added costs of these were too high for many users.
Now AMD has introduced the first three core desktops CPUs, the Phenom X3 8750, 8650 and 8450. With the X3s, the company has undercut the price for quad core models significantly. And the costs compared to the dual core models are attractively low.

Only very few applications are able to really make good use of the performance capabilities of a quad core processor which means that, generally speaking, the performance benefits are definitely not doubled up. The vast majority of programs only support two processors cores and, when this is the case, the computer is simply overworked by the application. If additional performance is required by the operating system, for the numerous applications running in the background such as Messenger, audio chat, video output on a second monitor or SHH encrypted downloads, the dual core application (for example, a 3D game) loses performance and runs at a slower rate. The third core is ideal for handling these additional tasks. It reduces the load on the other two cores and allows the dual core application to continue operating without disruption.
The Phenom X3 with the three processor cores makes the system capable of multi-tasking, but is considerably cheaper than a quad core CPU from AMD or Intel. AMD, in conjunction with the Phenom X3, is now in a position to offer a considerably cheaper PC system with more functions than Intel.

- Testing the AMD Phenom X3 8750, 8650 and 8450
- Phenom X3 With Three Cores
- Overview Of All Phenom X4 And X3 Models
- Thermal Design Power
- Thermal Design Power: Phenom X3 only XX Watts
- AMD Overdrive Tool
- Prices: Phenom X3 8450 at $146
- Complete X3 System For Just $494
- Performance: Compared to 2.40 GHz
- Performance: Phenom X3 8750 Only 4% Slower Than The 6400+
- Performance: Phenom X3 8450 15% Slower
- Performance: Phenom X3 8750 Versus Core 2 Duo E6550
- Test Set-up And Components Used
- Sofware Configuration
- Benchmarks And Settings
- 3D Games: UT2004, Prey
- 3D Games: Quake 4, Warhammer
- 3D Games: Supreme Commander, Serious Sam 2
- 3D Rendering: Cinema 4D, 3D-Studio Max
- Applications: AVG, WinRAR
- Applications: Photoshop, PDF
- Applications: Deep Fritz
- Audio Encoding: iTunes, Lame
- Synthetics: Sandra CPU
- Synthetics: Sandra Memory
- Synthetics: Sandra Multimedia
- Synthetics: PC-Mark
- Synthetics: 3DMark06
- Video Encoding: Xvid, Pinnacle Studio
- Video Encoding: Premiere, Mainconcept
- Video Encoding: HDTV, DivX
- Video Encoding: CloneDVD
- Results: Phenom - Fantastic Price, But High Power Consumption In Idle Mode
I still have faith the tide can always be turned, something you thought impossible with Pentium D vs AMD 64 X2. So it can happen again, if not I think we should make the EU take money from intel and give to AMD
Intel's interim solution was the Pentium D, which was basically taking two P4 and placing them on a chip. It didn't match AMD's performance, but it kept them in the hunt. AMD's response to conroe should have been the same; take two shrunken k8+x2 and place on a die. In this fashion they could have created some distance so that they could have come to a proactive solution to Intel's salvo.
Got this from AnandTech:
AMD doesn't have the resources to spin a dual-core Phenom die, so what better way of repurposing the quad-core die (especially if one core is defective) than to make a Phenom chip with less than four cores. Sure it's not the most efficient way to manufacture, but AMD doesn't have the luxury of producing a number of different Phenom die at this point. The triple-core Phenom strategy makes perfect sense if you're AMD, the question is: does it make sense if you're an end user?
very true
I think you mean to say the small Phenom X3 model, the 8450.
I'd like to see the sony 'core' put into action other than yellow dogs lunix or Mercury's blader...sweeeet. They have six unit ps3's making 1 tflop @ 19k! :}
For us that ussually read these pages, Fanboys and enthusiasts ( im in both categories ), this product is not for us. We are less than 1% of total users in the western world. Im a power user/tecnitian. But none of my family is. But all 4 of them (mom, dad, 2 bros) have 1 computer. So its seems a great marketing strategy where Intel can hardly touch. For its performance, seems a very good product. With a 780G Chip on it, looks to me like a hell of a platform. Nothing that Intel can touch atm. It seems a very nice (price/performace) platform for home use, bussiness side. I might fancy 500€ GPUs and 400€ CPUs and Mobos much more expensive than that im just 1. In my company for example we have above 500 work terminals, and this platform would fit right in IF we were going to remodel some. Seems like a very good strategy for once.
Yes, im a AMD/ATI Fanboy. But I tried to make a unbiased comment.
You people miss the market for this CPU, when an X3 8750 is paired with a 780G board, it's very viable. It will be even more so when the 790G boards arrive (i.e. that allow triple hybrid Crossfire).
At under $200 though, we think the Phenom X3 8750 could appeal to two completely different audiences, and for two totally different reasons. In the mainstream space, the Phenom X3 8750 could easily be used in a budget PC when paired with an AMD 780G-based motherboard. In that usage model, you could have an AMD triple-core with arguably the best IGP available to-date, versus an Intel dual-core with an inferior IGP. If you're planning to build a PC and use integrated graphics, the Phenom X3s and 780G make a great combo.
Considering how well the Phenom X3 8750 overclocked, and the relatively low price of AMD 790FX-based motherboards and DDR2 memory, the X3 8750 should also appeal to modders on a budget. In this space, the choice isn't as clear cut because Intel's recent price cuts and the excellent overclockability of its processors make them extremely attractive. However, AMD's platform is significantly more compelling than it was just a few weeks ago, thanks to the release of B3 Phenoms and these new tri-core processors.
http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/AMD_Phenom_X3_8750_TriCore_Processor/?page=9
More reviews:
http://www.nordichardware.com/news,7669.html
Yes, it will be marketed to OEM's where 3 is more than 2 in the minds of customers at Best Buy, but for a budget PC used for video encoding and other tasks where the 8750 does well against several C2D, it's a good deal.
Keep in mind that G35 is lousy. G45 may not even bring the H264 support that Intel needs in it's IGP. Two of our PC's at home aren't gaming PC's. One uses 690G and the other 780G. The 780G is clearly superior when encoding, playing back high definition video. Perfect for Blu-ray, now that prices for player only drives have dropped to near a hundred.
I like the Hot Hardware review because it includes an X2 4600+ (very few other sites include X2's lower than the 5000+ BE), so I can see how my year old CPU stacks up against the new B3's. Overall, it does well enough.
You people need to learn that not every enthusiast PC is a gamer's rig. My gaming system is budget, and I'm not sure whether it's worth it for me to go B3, or just wait for Deneb. I do know that it's worth it on our video oriented PC's. There, the 8750 is a clear winner.
I think you have it backwards. While Phenom may be boring to the enthusiast crowd, other than to diehard AMD fans, it is not boring at all to the Joe Average out on the street. Its exciting to him. After all, he can go into Best Buy and get a tri core AMD for less money than a dual core Intel, and that looks very good to him.
As for the idea that all AMD "can do is piss away money to release a product", they aren't pissing away money at all. Just the reverse. They have a given number of quad core CPUs that have a bad core. So they can either throw away the faulty CPU, or deactivate the faulty core and sell it as a tri core. This doesn't cost them anything to do, while it gives them a chance to make at least some money out of the product. The only failure here is that the tri cores are too expensive compared to the quad cores. Bring the tri core down another $50 and it would look like a fair deal. As it is, its too close to the quad core in price to make it worthwhile.
As for 45nm technology, AMD needs money now just to survive. It has to pay off creditors before it can do any R&D. So it sells what it has. Fortunately, AMD also has the ATI division which is selling video cards fairly well and with th upcoming 4xxx series cards, it may have a real winner. Also, it has the ATI chipsets which bring in money. But for the moment, income to pay off debts is the major need for survival, not making CPUs that will overclock great for the tiny amount of enthusiasts who like such things.
As for making two dual cores on one chip, a reasonable question is, why? Sure its cheaper than making a native four core chip, but why not just make a chipset that allows two dual core chips to be used? Oh yes, some people will remember the QFX and laugh, what a failure it was, yet the failure was not in the idea, but in the design and the high heat CPUs that were used. Even then, the design was OK for business useage, but not for gamers. So change the chipset design and use two dual core chips wired in to work like a single quad core instead of two dual cores. Should work, should be cheaper than making quad core chips, whether glued together or native. Problem is, AMD doesn't have any dual core chips which might work. A couple 5000+ BE chips would look good, but the built in memory controllers would become a problem. Could one chip have the memory controller turned off and then only one chip would control everything? Maybe, but I don't know that answer.
All that said, I think the tri core is good marketing of chips that would otherwise end up in a scrap heap.
I know what you mean. In US you pay 99.00 bucks for the GA-MA78GM-S2H, but if come down were i live, that it comes to be Argentina, you will pay at least 150 uss for it.
What is the price for a phenom 9500 here? 235 uss at least (not to mention that we are talking about the faulty B2 version).
What is the average salary here? 900 pesos argentinos = 300 uss. And that is the "official" date, you will find here that number is just a joke, because you have to earn at least 1000 pesos to be considered over the line of poverty.
I came to this page only to dream with a hardware i would afford in at least a year.
There is a crappy feeling about that the only page i can comment the tom hardware are the ones that are restricted only to Europe, Asia or North America... as far as i know, we live on same continent fellas...