New AMD Phenom X3 Vs. Phenom X4

By Tom's Hardware News Team
published

Thermal Design Power

All three Phenom X3 models from 2.10 GHz through to 2.40 GHz are specified by AMD with a thermal design power (TDP) of up to 95 watts.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Thermal Design Power (TDP) specification from AMD
ModelTDP
Phenom X4 9850 BE125 W
Phenom X4 9850125 W
Phenom X4 9750125 W
Phenom X4 9750*95 W
Phenom X4 965095 W
Phenom X4 955095 W
Phenom X4 960095 W
Phenom X4 950095 W
Phenom X4 9100e65 W
Phenom X3 875095 W
Phenom X3 865095 W
Phenom X3 8600*95 W
Phenom X3 845095 W
Phenom X3 8400*95 W
Athlon 64 X2 6400+125 W
Athlon 64 X2 6000+125 W
Athlon 64 X2 6000+ EE89 W
Athlon X2 BE-240045 W

*These CPU models are reserved for OEMs only

Core Voltage: The Phenom Requires Just 1.20 Volts

The Phenom X3 8750 with 2.40 GHz provided by AMD uses a core voltage of just 1.20 volts. The missing processor core is obvious, the Phenom X4 9850 or 9750 with four cores requires a considerably higher voltage of 1.30 volts.

The Phenom X3 8750 manages with 1.20 volts.

The Phenom X4 9850 requires 0.10 volts more.

In comparison: The older Phenom X4 9600 with B2 stepping has a core voltage of 1.250 volts.

The Phenom X4 9600 needs 1.25 volts.

If the Phenom X3 is switched to the Cool’n’Quiet energy saving mode, the voltage, as with the Phenom X4 models, drops to 1.050 volts.

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