AMD Phenom II X4: 45nm Benchmarked

Features
By Bert Toepelt, Frank Voelkel
published

Benchmark Settings

3D Games Benchmarks and Settings

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BENCHMARKSDETAILS
CrysisVersion: 1.2.1 Video Mode: 1680x1050 Overall Quality: Low Demo: CPU-Benchmark2 + Tom's Hardware Tool
Unreal Tournament 3Version: 1.2 Video Mode: 1680x1050 Sound and DirectX10 Video Quality: Texture Details: 1 Level Details: 1 Demo: vCTF-CONTAINMENT_fly Time: 12/60
World in ConflictVersion: 1.0.0.9 Video Mode: 1680x1050 and 800x600 Video Quality: Low details Demo: Game-Benchmark
Supreme Commander Forged AllianceVersion: 1.5.3599 Video Mode: 1920x1200 Video Quality: game default Demo: WallaceTX_006_006 Benchmark: Fraps 2.9.4 - Build 7037 Start time 00:48:20 (60 seconds) realtime play

Audio Benchmarks and Settings

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BenchmarksDetails
ItunesVersion: 7.7.1.11 Audio CD (Terminator II SE), 53 min Default format AAC
LAME MP3Version 3.98 Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 min Wave to MP3 160 Kbps

Video Benchmarks and Settings

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BenchmarksDetails
Pinnacle Studio 12Version: 12.0.0.6163 Encoding and Transition Rendering DV camcorder movie Video: 720 x 576 Pixel, PAL, 25 fps, 6000 Kbits/sec Audio: MPEG Layer 2, 224 Kbits/sec 16 Bit, Stereo 44.1 KHz File Type: MPEG-2 (DVD Compatible)
TMPEG 4.5Version: 4.5.1.254 Vieo: Terminator 2 SE DVD (720x576, 16:9) 5 Minutes Audio: Dolby Digital, 48000 Hz, 6-Channel, English Advanced Acoustic Engine MP3 Encoder (160 kbps, 44.1 KHz)
DiVX 6.8.3Version: 6.8.3 == Main Menu == Default == Codec Menu == Encoding mode: Insane Quality Enhanced multithreading Enabled using SSE4 Quarter-pixel search == Video Menu == Quantization: MPEG-2
XviD 1.1.3Version: 1.1.3 Other Options / Encoder Menu - Display encoding status = off
Nero 8 RecordeVersion: 3.1.4.0 Recorde an Entire DVD to DVD convert DVD-9 to DVD5 All default settings Benchmark High quality mode (slow recording) disable video preview
MainConcept Reference 1.5.1 Reference H.264 plugin Pro 1.5.1Version: 1.5.1 MPEG2 to MPEG2 (H.264) MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec 28 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG2) Audio: MPEG2 (44.1 kHz, 2 Channel, 16 Bit, 224 kbps) Codec: H.264 Mode: PAL (25 FPS) Profile: Tom's Hardware Settings for Qct-Core
Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 HDTVMainconcept H.264 Plugin 3.2Windows Media Encoder (.1 AP HDTVWindows Audio Encoder 10 ProVersion: 3.0 NTSC MPEG2-HDTV 1920x1080 (24 sec) Import: Mainconcept NTSC HDTV 1080i Export: Adobe Media Encoder == Video == Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile Encoding Passes: one Bitrate Mode: Constant Frame: 1920x1080 Frame Rate: 29.97 Maximum Bitrate [kbps]: 2000 Image Quality: 50.00 == Audio == Windows Media Audio 10 Professional Encoding Passes: one Bitrate Mode: Constant Audio Format: 160 kbps, 44.1 kHz, 2 channel 16 bit (A/V) CBR
HD Playback ( BluRay)PowerDVD 8 Blue Ray - Disc (James Bond - Casino Royale) Video Mode: 1920x1080p (full screen) Codec: H.264

Application Benchmarks and Settings

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BenchmarksDetails
Grisoft AVG Anti - virus 8Version: 8.0.134 Virus base: 270.4.5/1533 Benchmark Scan: Some compressed ZIP and RAR archives
Winrar 3.8Version 3.80 BETA 4 WinZIP Commandline Version 2.3 Compression = Best Dictionary = 4096 KB Benchmark: THG-Workload
Winzip 11Version 11.2 (8094) Compression = Best Benchmark: THG-Workload
Autodesk 3D Studio Max 9Version: 9.0 Rendering a Dragon picture rendering HTDV 1920x1080
Maxon Cinema 4D Release 10Version: 10.008 Rendering from a scene (Water drop at a Rose) Resolution: 1280 x 1024 - 8Bit (50 frames)
Adobe Photoshop CS3Version: 10.0x20070321 Filtering from a 69 MB TIF-Photo Benchmark: Tomshardware-Benchmark V1.0.0.4 Programmed by Tomshardware using Delphi 2007 Filters: Crosshatch Glass Sumi-e Accented Edges Angled Strokes Sprayed Strokes
Adobe Acrobat 9 ProfessionalVersion: 9.0.0 (Extended) == Printing Preferenced Menu == Default Settings: Standard == Adobe PDF Security - Edit Menu == Encrypt all documents (128 bit RC4) Open Password: 123 Permissions Password: 321
Microsoft Powerpoint 2007Version: 2007 PPT to PDF Powerpoint Document (115 Pages) Adobe PDF-Printer
Deep Fritz 11Version: 11 Fritz Chess Benchmark Version 4.2

Synthetics Benchmarks and Settings

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BenchmarkDetails
3DMark VantageVersion: 1.02 Options: Performance Graphics Test 1 Graphics Test 2 CPU Test 1 CPU Test 2
PCMark VantageVersion: 1.00 PCMark Benchmark Memories Benchmark Windows Media Player 10.00.00.3646
SiSoftware Sandra SII SP2Version 2008.5.14.24 CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic / MultiMedia Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark
EverestVersion: 4.50.1469 Beta
Bert Toepelt
164 Comments Comment from the forums
  • one-shot
    YAY!, The day has come! Haven't read it yet. I am excited to see what it brings!
    Reply
  • firedogevan
    why focus on the q6600... wouldn't the q9550 or 9650 be a more accurate comparison given their respective locations in the product lineup?
    Reply
  • dechy
    Yeah, the price comparison table should of included a Q9550, which costs same as i7 920 but with the lower mobo/ram combo price.

    Ends up being the same price as the AMD bundle, but with a good more performance... there goes the whole "AMD price/performance" aspect of this chip.
    Reply
  • one-shot
    Great review. Maybe some overclocking later? There were some pretty high claims about its overclocking potential. I'll wait for AM3 before I retire my E6750.
    Reply
  • cangelini
    Coming up soon one-shot--I was working on that one =)
    Reply
  • V3NOM
    who cares about performance/watt? PRICE/PERFORMANCE is the big deal
    Reply
  • The Q9xxx series would trump the PhenomII in all the categories listed above. THG, it was downright *criminal* to have not included the Yorkfield chips in your performance per dollar and performance per watt analysis.
    Reply
  • nashville
    hey bert/tom's:
    good write up: thought id comment on i7 watts:
    "we measured the power consumption directly from the 12 volt rail that supplied the CPU", i read somewhere the only i7 core logic gets power from 12v rail, the uncore/cache part somewhere else. if this is true, you going to do another measurements?
    Reply
  • kirvinb
    I'm so happy to see Intel has some competetion. While these new processors are not mind blowing, they offer some decent performance at the price given. I am sure this will lower the price of the q9400 and q9550, which is exactly what I want to see. Maybe even the i7s price will lower and maybe we will be back in the good days..where intel and amd flipped sides of the powerhouse like every 6 months..!! Good Write Up..
    Reply
  • jj463rd
    On the forums someone mentioned "why did they use DDR2-800 RAM when DDR2-1066 would give better performance for the Phenom II".Wouldn't this skew the benchmarks by a little bit (perhaps 2 to 3%)?
    Reply