AMD Phenom 9600 Black Edition: New Hope?

Features
By The Editors of Tom's Hardware
published

Software Configuration

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System Software & Drivers
Operating SystemWindows Vista Enterprise Version 6.0 (Build 6000)
DirectX 10DirectX 10 (Vista default)
DirectX 9Version: April 2007
Sound CardVista Driver 2.13.0012 (15.03.2007)
Graphics CardNvidia ForceWare Version 158.18 (32 Bit) WHQL
X38-Chipset DriverVersion 8.1.1.1010 (21/11/2006)
Intel StorageMatrix-Storage Manager 7.0.0.1020
790FX-Chipset DriverAMD/ATI System Drivers 8.40 2007/11/09
JavaJava Runtime Environment 6.0 Update 1

Our Testbed Systems

Our Phenom test system using the MSI K9A2 Platinum board

Benchmarks And Settings

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3D Games
Warhammer Mark of ChaosVersion: 1.006.000Video Mode: 1280x1024Video Quality: game defaultMultiple CPU/CoreDemo: THG Timedemo (1 minutes)
Quake 4Version: 1.3 FinalVideo Mode: 1280x1024Video Quality: game defaultBenchmark I: THG TimedemoBenchmark II: playnettimedemo id_demo001(official ID-Soft NetTimeDemo)
Unreal Tournament 2004Version: 3369UMark: 2.0.0Video Mode: 1280x1024High Image QualityBots: 16Benchmark: AS-Junkyard
Serious Sam 2Version: 2.070Video Mode: 1024x768HDR Rendering: offRenderer: Direct3DFiltering mode: noneAntialiasing mode: noneBenchmark: Greendale
F.E.A.RVersion: 1.08 RetailVideo Mode: 1280x1024Computer: HighGraphics Card: CustomFSAA: offTexture Filtering: TrilinearBenchmark: Performance Test
Supreme CommanderVersion: 3.220Video Mode: 1024x768Video Quality: game defaultVsync = offBenchmark: real 60 second gamewith real three computer physics
PreyVersion: 1.3Video Mode: 1280x1024Video Quality: game defaultVsync = offBenchmark: THG-Demo
Audio
iTunes 7.2Version: 7.1.1.5Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 minHigh Quality (160 kbps)
Lame MP3Version 3.98 Beta 3 (05-22-2007)Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 minwave to mp3160 kbps
Video
Pinnacle Studio 11 PlusVersion: 11.0.0.5082Encoding and Transition RenderingPrivate MPEG2-Cam-MovieVideo: 720 x 480 Pixel, NTSC, 6000 kbits/secAudio: MPEG Layer 2, 224 kbits/sec 16 Bit, Stereo 48 KHzFile Type: MPEG-2 (DVD Compatible)
TMPEG 4.2Version: 4.2.10.211import file:Terminator 2 SE DVD (720x576, 16:9) 2 MinutesDolby Digital, 48000 Hz, 6-Channel, EnglishAdvanced Acoustic Engine MP3 Encoder (160 kbps)
DivX 6.6.1Version: 6.6.1- Main Menu -Profile: Home Theater Profile (720 x 576)1-pass, 780 kbit/s- Codec Menu -Encoding mode: Insane QualityEnhanced multithreading
XviD 1.1.2Version: 1.1.2 (01/11/2006)Target quantizer: 1.00 (maximum quality)
Clone DVD 2Version: 2.908DVD "Terminator II SE" (English version)Transcoding from DVD-9 to DVD-4.7Audio: English Dolby AC-3/6 (surround) - DTSSubtitle: no
MainConcept H.264 EncoderVersion: 2.0MPEG2 to MPEG2 (H.264)MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec24 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG2)Audio: MPEG Layer 2 (48 kHz, 2 Channel, 16 Bit)Stream: TransportCodec: H.264Mode: NTSC (29.97 FPS)Profile: High
Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0 HDTVWindows Media Encoder 9.1 AP HDTVWindows Audio Encoder 10 ProVersion: 2.0NTSC MPEG2-HDTV 1920x1080 (24 sec)Import: Mainconcept NTSC HDTV 1080iExport: Adobe Media Encoder- Video -Windows Media Video 9 Advanced ProfileEncoding Passes: oneBitrate Mode: ConstantFrame: 1920x1080Frame Rate: 29.97Maximum Bitrate [kbps]: 2000Image Quality: 50.00- Audio -Windows Media Audio 10 ProfessionalEncoding Passes: oneBitrate Mode: ConstantAudio Format: 160 kbps, 44.1 kHz, 2 channel 16 bit (A/V) CBR
HD Playback (Blue Ray)PowerDVD HD 7.3Blue Ray - Disc (James Bond - Casino Royale)Video Mode: 1920x1080p (full screen)Codec: H.264
Applications
Grisoft AVG Anti-VirusVersion: 7.5.467Virus base: 269.6.1./776Benchmark: Windows XP (Windows folder)
WinrarVersion 3.70 BETA 8Compression = BestDictionary = 4096 kBBenchmark: THG-Workload
Autodesk 3D Studio Max 9Version: 9.0Rendering a Dragon picturerendering HTDV 1920x1080
Maxon Cinema 4D Release 10Version: 10.008Rendering from a scene"Water drop at a Rose"Resolution: 1280 x 1024 - 8Bit (50 frames)
Adobe Photoshop CS 3Version: 10.0x20070321Filtering from a 69 MB TIF-PhotoBenchmark: Tomshardware-Benchmark V1.0.0.4Programmed by Tomshardware using Delphi 2006Filers:CrosshatchGlassSumi-eAccented EdgesAngled StrokesSprayed Strokes
Adobe Acrobat 7 ProfessionalVersion: 7.0.9Settings: High Quality PrintCompatibility: Acrobat 8 (PDF 1.7)Security: High (128-bit RC4)
Microsoft Powerpoint 2007Version: 2007PPT to PDFPowerpoint Document (115 Pages)Adobe PDF-Printer
Deep Fritz 10Version: Nov 16 2006
Synthetic Benchmarks
3DMark06Version: 1.101280x1024 - 32 bitGraphics and CPU Default Benchmark
PCMark05 ProVersion: 1.2.0CPU and Memory TestsWindows Media Player 10.00.00.3646Windows Media Encoder 9.00.00.2980
SiSoftware Sandra XI SP1cVersion 2007.5.11.40CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic / MultiMediaMemory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark
The Editors of Tom's Hardware
3 Comments Comment from the forums
  • ShadowKai
    I think on page 14 the author meant:

    "When Cool'n'Quiet is deactivated, idle power consumption rises to 51 watts. The jump in power consumption at 2.70 GHz is a direct result of the core voltage increase from 1.250 V to 1.400 V."

    And the bars for Phenom 9600 BE and Phenom 9600 BE (CnC) should be switched around.
    Reply
  • I think it's also important to mention the fact that Vista SP1 includes it's OWN TLB fix which overrides the bios setting of many boards. I used an app that works in conjunction with Crystal CPUID to change the MSR directly to deactivate this secondary TLB fix. It caused a dramatic improvement in performance; the quick and simple WinRAR bench went from 232 to ~1300 after the fix. Just think it's worth mentioning!
    Reply
  • I think I may have found a new problem with this bug. I have a Phenom X4 9600, and have tried two different motherboards. The problem occurs when running Windows 7. BSOD with a message stating that the operating system did not receive an clock interupt signal from the second processor. At first I thought it was a bios problem, but have since had to replace the motherboard. Tried Windows 7 again after replacing the motherboard and still having the same problem.
    Reply