New AMD Phenom X3 Vs. Phenom X4

Features
By Tom's Hardware News Team
published

Phenom X3 With Three Cores

When the Phenom processor was introduced, AMD chose not to use the "X4" extension as part of the model name. All Phenom models, without exception, had four processor cores and thus there was no need for the extension. Today’s introduction of the new Phenom processors with one CPU core less, makes it necessary to add an extension to the product name in order to ensure that they can be differentiated, thus AMD officially introduced the extensions X4 and X3 for all Phenom processors. According to AMD, many customers have expressed the desire for this change.

The Phenom X3 will only be available with B3 stepping without TLB error to end customers who purchase the processor as a tray or in the box pack.

For OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) who produce complete PCs, the Phenom X3 model is available with the older and faulty B2 stepping. AMD considers it important that end customers are only able to access a fault-free processor in future.

The tri-core Phenom X3 is technically identical to the quad-core Phenom X4. Each individual CPU core has a 512 kB L2 cache and all three cores are connected to a 2 MB L3 cache. Like all of the Phenom X4 processors, the X3 is made using 65 nm process technology.

The code name has simply been changed from Barcelona to Toliman.

AMD is introducing three new Phenom X3 models:

- Phenom X3 8750 (2.40 GHz)
- Phenom X3 8650 (2.30 GHz)
- Phenom X3 8450 (2.10 GHz)

Since the new models do not contain the TLB bug, they contain a 50 at the end of the product name.

AMD does not yet intend introducing a Black Edition with a freely selectable multiplier.

In order to run the Phenom X3, AMD suggests installing the latest Bios version on the board. The tests showed that the 790FX boards from Asus, Gigabyte and MSI started with no problems. All programs used in the course of benchmark testing were able to complete their work with the Phenom X3.

The one exception was Sandra by Sisoft. The program could be started, but showed no reaction when executing the benchmark tests. Since this is a synthetic benchmark utility, this can be ignored, particularly as this behavior occurs frequently when using Sandra on new processors from both Intel and AMD.

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