Phenom II X6 1100T BE processor review

Phenom II X6 1100T Black Edition - more cores at lower prices

AMD sort of has a homerun on their hands with their latest generation six-core Phenom II processors. See, for a really fair amount of money you can purchase a six-core processor. Whether or not you'll actually make use of all the six CPU cores on a regular basis as such doesn't matter to many people. Fact remains, dual and quad core processors are often plenty powerful for today's PC experience. But at just over 200 EUR people simply go for the extra two cores as they know that in the near future more and more applications will make use of all that excellence.

It should be no surprise that today AMD is launching a threefold of new processors, amongst them a new six-core processor. Let's quickly sift through what's released today and then head onward towards the processor we'll test, stress and whip today.

The processors released today are the:

• Phenom II X6 1100T Black Edition - 3.7 GHz Turbo Core / 3.3 GHz base (265 USD)
• Phenom II X2 565 Black Edition - 3.4 GHz (115 USD)
• Athlon II X3 455 processor - 3.3 GHz (87 USD)

Piece by piece these products are all going to be very interesting but the six-core 1100T processor is going to be our primary focus in today's article; 265 USD, yeah... that's roughly 44 USD per core and... this is a Black Edition processor (with unlocked multiplier). So for the money this product will pack some very decent punch as it is clocked at 3.3 GHz, yet can Turbo to 3.7 GHz. And sure, Intel's architecture; core-for-core performance might be faster, but their cheapest (six-core) Core i7 970 3.2 GHz processor starts at 899 USD / 750 EUR.

We'll first have a chat about the processor tested today architecture wise, after which we'll fire off the benchmark test suite at them to see how this 270 USD marvel will perform value for money wise. Hey... it's AMD's fastest six-core processor to date.

The Phenom II X6 1100T Processor

Armed with a 3.3 GHz base clock frequency that can Turbo to 3.7 GHz, today a new six-core processor from AMD sees the light. It is actually AMD's fourth six-core processor that sits on top of the list right before the AMD Phenom II X6 1090T, 1075T and AMD Phenom II X6 1055T.

AMD really pushes the 45nm SOI node to manufacture the newer model Phenom II X6 processors. The processor itself is made at Fab 1 module 1 in Dresden and accounts for 904 million transistors squeezed into the 346 mm2 die.

Now there are faster clocked Phenom II processors for lighter-threaded workloads available like the PII X4 970 at 3.5 GHz, but for those who need the processing bandwidth and multi-tasking capability of a true 6-core processor, the Phenom II X6 is an affordable and quite powerful option.

So the flagship AMD processor product runs at 3.3 GHz (3.7 GHz Turbo) at a full bi-directional 2.0 GHz HT 3.0 speed... Its voltage range is remains 1.125 V -1.40 V.

Tagged at an MSRP of just 265 USD the Phenom II X6 1100T processor will drive the other six-core processors down in price. The 1090T for example already dropped to 235 USD.

• Model Number & Core Frequency: X6 1100T / 3.7 GHz (Turbo) / 3.3 GHz (Base)
• OPN: HDE00ZFBK6DGR
• L1 Cache Sizes: 64 K of L1 instruction and 64 K of L1 data cache per core (768 KB total L1 per processor)
• L2 Cache Sizes: 512 KB of L2 data cache per core (3 MB total L2 per processor)
• L3 Cache Size: 6 MB (shared)
• Total Cache (L2+L3): 9 MB
• Memory Controller Type: Integrated 128-bit wide memory controller
• Memory Controller Speed: Up to 2.0 GHz with Dual Dynamic Power Management
• Types of Memory Supported: Unregistered DIMMs up to PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066 MHz) -AND- PC3-10600 (DDR3 1333 MHz)
• HyperTransport 3.0 Specification: One 16-bit/16-bit link @ up to 4.0 GHz full duplex (2.0 GHz x2)
• Total Processor-to-System Bandwidth: Up to 37.3 GB/s total bandwidth [Up to 21.3 GB/s memory bandwidth (DDR3-1333) + 16.0 GB/s (HT3)]
• Up to 33.1GB/s total bandwidth [Up to 17.1 GB/s memory bandwidth (DDR2-1066) + 16.0GB/s (HT3)]
• Packaging: Socket AM3 938-pin organic micro pin grid array (micro-PGA)
• Fab location: GLOBALFOUNDARIES Fab 1 module 1 in Dresden, Germany (formerly AMD Fab 36)
• Process Technology: 45-nanometer DSL SOI (silicon-on-insulator) technology
• Approximate Die Size: 346mm2
• Approximate Transistor count: Similar to Istanbul’s ~904 million
• Max TDP: 125 Watts
• AMD Codename: “Thuban”

The Thermal Design Power (TDP) is the average maximum power a processor can dissipate while running commercially available software. TDP is primarily used as a guideline for manufacturers of thermal solutions (heatsinks/fans, etc.) which tells them how much heat their solution should dissipate. TDP is not the maximum power the CPU may generate - there may be periods of time when the CPU dissipates more power than designed, in which case either the CPU temperature will rise closer to the maximum, or special CPU circuitry will activate and add idle cycles or reduce CPU frequency with the intent of reducing the amount of generated power.

The six-core processors all have a fair TDP (peak Wattage at 125W) but overall much better power management thanks to the fact that hardware C1E is implemented in the CPU, allowing the processor to throttle up and down real fast, core independent. That makes it an interesting change as it allows for faster switching of power states, making it more efficient whilst consuming less power and heat.

Let's go inside the processor then. This Phenom II X6 part is based on AMD's 45nm Silicon On Insulator process technology and has a total of 3 MB L2 cache; that's 512 KB per core. The Phenom II X6 can address 6 MB L3 cache shared among the cores as a buffer, so it can exchange data in-between the six logical cores. So that's 9 MB of cache and we have not even accounted for another 768 KB total L1 per processor. So all the variables are exactly the same as the latest generation Phenom II processors, just multiplied per core. Here's the bullet on that:

• 768 KB L1 Cache (Instruction + Data): 128 KB x6 (64 KB + 64 KB for each core)
• 3 MB L2 Cache: 512 KB x6 (hexacore)
• 6 MB L3 Cache: 6 MB Shared L3

L3 is where a lot of the magic happens and is probably the reason for Phenom II's success. Well, that and the flexible and high clock frequencies of course.

Turbo Core

The T in the model number indicates the product supports Turbo Core. AMD's Phenom II X6 series is equipped with a Turbo feature much like Intel's Core i5/7 series has. Turbo Core will be able to increase the operational frequencies of three active cores by up to 500MHz (depending on the processor) if an application can't use all six cores.

All monitoring and clock/voltage management is exclusively handled by the CPU, so this is not a quick software fix. Turbo Core is triggered based on operating conditions and application load demand. When power consumption is below the CPU's TDP, the technology puts the three used cores in a boost-enabled P-state.

This means that, should the application demand it, those cores will be able to increase their clocks by an amount dependent on the processing workload. This approach has more than one advantage. Since cores don't need to operate at the same frequency, each will only be pushed higher if the application demands it. As such, no extra power will be spent on unnecessary overclocking.

• The 125 W TDP AMD Phenom II X6 1100T @ 3.3 GHz with AMD Turbo Core @ 3.7 GHz
• The 125 W TDP AMD Phenom II X6 1090T @ 3.2 GHz with AMD Turbo Core @ 3.6 GHz
• The 125 W TDP AMD Phenom II X6 1075T @ 3.0 GHz with AMD Turbo Core @ 3.5 GHz
• The 125 W TDP AMD Phenom II X6 1055T @ 2.8 GHz with AMD Turbo Core @ 3.3 GHz.

When Turbo Core is activated the clocks of the three unused cores can be lowered to even 800MHz. The voltage needed normally is now diverted to the other cores. This allows dynamic overclocking to be achieved without exceeding the 125W thermal design power (TDP).

Phenom II X6 processor (Thuban architecture) die (258mm x 346mm). You can see the six cores clearly with the L2 cache in-between them. To the right you can spot the shared L3 cache. And all the way to the left you can spot the 128-bit memory controller.

Refer To : http://www.guru3d.com

Best Gaming CPUs For The Money

If you don’t have the time to research the benchmarks, or if you don’t feel confident enough in your ability to pick the right processor for your next gaming machine, fear not. We at Tom’s Hardware have come to your aid with a simple list of the best gaming CPUs offered for the money.

November Updates

With all of the action in the graphics department, November has been a relatively calm month in the CPU world, though we have seen some significant price shifting.

Let's start with Intel's Core i3-540. Now available for about $115 on Newegg, this processor is actually cheaper than the Core i3-530 at the time this column was written. Perhaps Intel is phasing out the 2.93 GHz -530 in favor of its 3.06 GHz -540. In any case, the Core i3-540 inherits the 530's recommendation at $115. Similarly, the 2.66 GHz Core i5-750 favorite has gone up a few dollars, while the 2.8 GHz Core i5-760 has gone down a few, leaving the faster processor with a single $205 recommendation on our list.

AMD's price adjustments are much more notable. The entire Phenom II X6 line seems to have been slashed $20 to $40, with the Phenom II X6 1055T at $179, the 1075T at $200, and the 1090T at $230. While these prices make the X6 line infinitely more interesting from a productivity standpoint, they're only slightly more attractive from a gamer's point of view, since games tend to utilize no more than four CPU cores. The cheaper and higher-clocked quad-core Phenom II X4 processors are a better bet for recreational use, but for a user interested in mixing business with pleasure, the Phenom II X6 prices are a lot more attractive.

On the other side of the coin, the Phenom II X4 is a bit more expensive than it was previously. The $140 Phenom II X4 955 is sadly no more, back up to a more fitting $155 price point. The Phenom II X4 965 and 970 models are now $165 and $185, respectively.

With the end of 2010 so very close, it is now a waiting game for Intel and AMD to release their next-generation products. When the end of the race is so close, the final mile seems to take forever. But it'll be here soon, and we can't wait to see how both companies improve their standing in gaming circles.

Some Notes About Our Recommendations

This list is for gamers who want to get the most for their money. If you don’t play games, then the CPUs on this list may not be suitable for your particular needs.

The criteria to get on this list are strictly price/performance. We acknowledge that there are other factors that come into play, such as platform price or CPU overclockability, but we're not going to complicate things by factoring in motherboard costs. We may add honorable mentions for outstanding products in the future, though. For now, our recommendations are based on stock clock speeds and performance at that price.

Cost and availability change on a daily basis. We can’t offer up-to-the-minute accurate pricing information in the text, but we can list some good chips that you probably won’t regret buying at the price ranges we suggest (and our PriceGrabber-based engine will help track down some of the best prices for you).

The list is based on some of the best US prices from online retailers. In other countries or at retail stores, your mileage will most certainly vary. Of course, these are retail CPU prices. We do not list used or OEM CPUs available at retail.