New AMD Phenom X3 Vs. Phenom X4

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Test Set-up And Components Used

Operating system: Windows Vista Enterprise

Unlike all previous charts, we have now changed the operating system. All benchmarks tests carried out by Tom’s Hardware in the future will be carried out on Windows Vista Enterprise. The Enterprise Version is only designed for use within companies, but produces the same results as Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate. We are, however, have to use the Enterprise Version as this is the only one with an Open License. This allows us to automatically activate Windows Vista for each modified test platform without needing to telephone the Microsoft activation hotline.

Windows Vista Enterprise

Hardware configuration

We have completely revised the hardware components, such as graphics card, sound card and hard drives, in order to provide current and realistic test platforms.

Hardware used

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System Hardware
AMD Platform AM2+(AMD 790FX)Gigabyte GA-790FX-DQ6 (Rev.1.0)AMD 790FX, BIOS: F3
AMD Platform AM2(Nvidia Nforce 5)Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe, Rev.1.03GNVIDIA nForce5, BIOS: 1001 (03/13/2007)
Intel Platform S775(Intel P35)Gigabyte P35C-DS3R, Rev. 1.0Intel P35, BIOS: F2o (05/11/2007)
Intel Platform S775(Intel X38)Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6, Rev. 1.0Intel X38, BIOS: F4 (09/19/2007)
Memory2x 1GB A-Data DDR2-1066+ Vitesta Extreme Edition
DVD-ROMSamsung SH-D163A , SATA150
Graphics CardFoxconn Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTXGPU: 575 MHzShader: 1350 MHzMemory: 786 MB DDR4 (900 MHz, 384 Bit)
Sound CardCreative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
Power SupplyEnermax EGA1000EWLATX 2.2, 1000 W

Graphics card: Foxconn Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX

RAM: A-Data Vitesta 1066+

Sound card: Creative x-Fi Gamer

Hard drive: Western Digital Caviar SE 320 AAJS

Tom's Hardware News Team
Tom's Hardware News Team

Tom's Hardware's dedicated news crew consists of both freelancers and staff with decades of experience reporting on the latest developments in CPUs, GPUs, super computing, Raspberry Pis and more.

29 Comments Comment from the forums
  • rhorwitz
    The Phenom is a still born product, much like the K-5 back 15 years ago. AMD is facing bankruptcy and all they can do is piss away money to release a product that can't even compare with the technology they made 5 years ago. How pathetic!! AMD would have been more successful if they invested in shrinking existing technology to 45 nm and and placing two 2-cores on a chip like Intel.
    Reply
  • yadge
    On page 12, I think you mean the X3 8750 is 3.2% faster than the Core 2 Duo E6550.
    Reply
  • Arnagath
    Well as it is now, amd can turn of a core and we have the X3, so I think it is the smarter solution. Sort of more long term than intels choice, intel still has not caught up with AMD in some areas and this is one area.

    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 :P
    Reply
  • rhorwitz
    Arnagath,
    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.
    Reply
  • caamsa
    My understanding is that these X3 phenoms are in place of a X2 phenom.

    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?
    Reply
  • lopopo
    rhorwitzThe Phenom is a still born product, much like the K-5 back 15 years ago. AMD is facing bankruptcy and all they can do is piss away money to release a product that can't even compare with the technology they made 5 years ago. How pathetic!! AMD would have been more successful if they invested in shrinking existing technology to 45 nm and and placing two 2-cores on a chip like Intel.
    very true
    Reply
  • i think your totally mistaken
    Reply
  • cabose369
    The small Phenom X3 model, the 8750, clocks at a rate of 2.10 GHz. When compared to the Athlon 64 6400+ with 3.20 GHz and 6000+ with 3.00 GHz, it simply can’t keep up for many applications.

    I think you mean to say the small Phenom X3 model, the 8450.
    Reply
  • callahs
    I've gone from x2-4200 to a new intel E8400. What a difference! I paid half as much ($189 and 4 gig of ddr800@ $59)and the intel chip just crushes the AMD in every way at stock settings. With the difference of 2 1/2 yrs, AMD should have produced quads soon after with the old x2 format but that may have only treaded water against the conroe. Intel did their homework and gets an 'A'.

    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! :}
    Reply
  • quanger
    i wouldnt waste my money on a triple core phenom when i can get a 6400X2 for less. I wouldnt even consider it if they were the same price. These phenom triple cores may sell more than X2 because its easier to market if one product has more "cores". Anyways, AMD should stop dicking around and focus on raising the Phenom X4 clocks quicker.
    Reply