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- Jul 1, 2008
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System Name | Fedora-bluesky |
---|---|
Processor | AMD FX 8350 |
Motherboard | Asus 970A Pro Gaming |
Cooling | Noctua U14S |
Memory | Kingston 2x8192MB 667MHz |
Video Card(s) | Gigabyte 960TI |
Storage | 2 x WD RED 2TB, 64GB SSD |
Display(s) | Dell 1920x1200 24" |
Software | Ubuntu, Fedora, Open Source Software... |
Phenom - performance and power consumption?
Hi guys,
I am leaning towards Phenom for my new rig and I recently learned that AMD Phenom is much better CPU than currently presented by various websites. This is how I understood the problems: main problem lies within Cool & Quiet technology and motherboard manufacturers not implementing all of the features for Phenom and this impacts its performance and power efficiency.
1. About Phenom low performance:
There are indications that software which is controlling Phenom power state is broken. This problem is more evident in Vista than in XP. When CnQ is enabled and test are conducted on a Phenom, the end results are not always consistent. This was discovered by anandtech, read article here. This unusual behavior is furthermore explained here. If someone knows more details about this behavior and how to resolve this problem will be very helpful.
Is it the only solution for now to turn of CnQ? Who is to blame for this performance issue?
2. About Phenom low power efficiency:
I always do care about power dissipation and I love when computer runs cool. I was wondering why is Phenom consuming so much power in idle. So I went to some hardware forums and start asking people about min P-state of Phenom CPUs.
Quote from: http://forums.amd.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=318&threadid=98702&forumid=1
Then I googled for AM2+ PSI specification support and it looks like motherboard manufacturers didn't even implemented PSI specs into their high-end and mainstream boards (forum here). What?! Why? According to that forum only ASRock K10N750SLI-WIFI nForce 750a SLI implemented this feature. If I understand it correctly, to implement PSI specs, motherboard manufacturers must include an 3rd party PWM controller chip in power circuitry and this is independent of chipset in use.
Looks like Phenoms have much potential but no one is using it. I don't know why motherboard manufacturers choose not to implement PSI specs because Phenom would look much better in online reviews. (?)
Does anyone knows why PSI is not implemented into boards? Is it that much expensive? Are there more boards with PSI specs? Any comments?
---------------------------
PSI - Power State Indicator specifications, is a function for AM2+ motherboard platform to improve energy efficiency by disabling extra phases when CPU is at light loading.
UPDATE:
It looks like only ASRock implemented PSI specs in form of Intelligent Energy Saving (IES). They conducted some test and uploaded it on YouTube. One guy said that Asus Crosshair II Formula also support this, but it is not confirmed. Maybe motherboard manufacturers will implement PSI in their new 790GX boards? I will continue to hunt boards that can use this power savings capability of Phenoms...
Unfortunately, it looks like motherboard manufacturers think there is no need to implement such a (power savings) feature, even for marketing purposes. Also, I blame AMD for not pushing this spec through their influence in computer industry. They should made some marketing hype about this specs and everyone should know about it. For Intel platform you can see marketing for this same thing on almost every IT site. They are now pushing 16 phases for Intel, and the best I have seen for AMD are older motherboards with 8 phases?!
UPDATE 8-25-2008:
Fortunately, ASRock isn't the only one with PSI spec enabled boards:
This guy played a little with ASRock PSI spec enabled boards and here are some results:
Initial MB Power Differences [exact same setup]
ASR MCP78 with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT CnQ idles 96W AC.
MSI 790FX with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT CnQ idles 118W AC.
ASR MCP78 with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT idles 108-110W AC.
MSI 790FX with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT idles 134-138W AC.
ASR MCP78 with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT loads 199-201W AC. (CoreDamage 5 mins)
MSI 790FX with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT loads 250-252W AC. (CoreDamage 5 mins)
(Update September 2008) List of boards supporting AM2+ PSI specification:
ASRock (Intelligent Energy Saver): http://www.asrock.com/feature/IES/Models.html (10 boards)
Jetway (Green Power Indicator): http://www.jetway.com.tw/jw/GPI.asp (8 boards, more coming soon)
MSI (DrMOS, GreenPower): DKA790GX Platinum, DKA790GX (2 boards)
For now only 3 motherboard manufacturers and 20 different models!
Hi guys,
I am leaning towards Phenom for my new rig and I recently learned that AMD Phenom is much better CPU than currently presented by various websites. This is how I understood the problems: main problem lies within Cool & Quiet technology and motherboard manufacturers not implementing all of the features for Phenom and this impacts its performance and power efficiency.
1. About Phenom low performance:
There are indications that software which is controlling Phenom power state is broken. This problem is more evident in Vista than in XP. When CnQ is enabled and test are conducted on a Phenom, the end results are not always consistent. This was discovered by anandtech, read article here. This unusual behavior is furthermore explained here. If someone knows more details about this behavior and how to resolve this problem will be very helpful.
Is it the only solution for now to turn of CnQ? Who is to blame for this performance issue?
2. About Phenom low power efficiency:
I always do care about power dissipation and I love when computer runs cool. I was wondering why is Phenom consuming so much power in idle. So I went to some hardware forums and start asking people about min P-state of Phenom CPUs.
Quote from: http://forums.amd.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=318&threadid=98702&forumid=1
Its measured power is dependent on the motherboard VRM efficiency and quality since many have poor quality but typically in our data center measurements, it will consume 15 - 35W in idle with CnQ activated and 95 - 109W full load at approximately 65 - 80% full load VRM efficiency. In idle the VRM efficiency is at 50 - 85% range at best with our measurement figures. The core power consumption in idle depends on the motherboard in question, if it implements AM2+ PSI specification support. That reduces low load operation power consumption quite well.
Since my nephew demonstrated to our work department that AMD Phenom processors can run lower in. P-State voltage and frequencies through CPU MSR tweaking, we've been running Min. P-State at 0.84v 800 MHz on all Phenom processors we have that are not at high loads constantly. The power requirement at that setting for Phenom B3 stepping 9850 and 9950 processors is approximately 9W using motherboards with AM2+ PSI specification support and 18W with motherboards without the AM2+ PSI specification support.
Then I googled for AM2+ PSI specification support and it looks like motherboard manufacturers didn't even implemented PSI specs into their high-end and mainstream boards (forum here). What?! Why? According to that forum only ASRock K10N750SLI-WIFI nForce 750a SLI implemented this feature. If I understand it correctly, to implement PSI specs, motherboard manufacturers must include an 3rd party PWM controller chip in power circuitry and this is independent of chipset in use.
Looks like Phenoms have much potential but no one is using it. I don't know why motherboard manufacturers choose not to implement PSI specs because Phenom would look much better in online reviews. (?)
Does anyone knows why PSI is not implemented into boards? Is it that much expensive? Are there more boards with PSI specs? Any comments?
---------------------------
PSI - Power State Indicator specifications, is a function for AM2+ motherboard platform to improve energy efficiency by disabling extra phases when CPU is at light loading.
UPDATE:
It looks like only ASRock implemented PSI specs in form of Intelligent Energy Saving (IES). They conducted some test and uploaded it on YouTube. One guy said that Asus Crosshair II Formula also support this, but it is not confirmed. Maybe motherboard manufacturers will implement PSI in their new 790GX boards? I will continue to hunt boards that can use this power savings capability of Phenoms...
Unfortunately, it looks like motherboard manufacturers think there is no need to implement such a (power savings) feature, even for marketing purposes. Also, I blame AMD for not pushing this spec through their influence in computer industry. They should made some marketing hype about this specs and everyone should know about it. For Intel platform you can see marketing for this same thing on almost every IT site. They are now pushing 16 phases for Intel, and the best I have seen for AMD are older motherboards with 8 phases?!
UPDATE 8-25-2008:
Fortunately, ASRock isn't the only one with PSI spec enabled boards:
I found more MBs supporting AM2+ PSI Spec. Although slightly renamed, it is no other than Jetway who probably has the best and most consistent overall AM2+ lineup this year.
Jetway calls it GPI: http://www.jetway.com.tw/jw/gpi.asp
This guy played a little with ASRock PSI spec enabled boards and here are some results:
Initial MB Power Differences [exact same setup]
ASR MCP78 with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT CnQ idles 96W AC.
MSI 790FX with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT CnQ idles 118W AC.
ASR MCP78 with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT idles 108-110W AC.
MSI 790FX with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT idles 134-138W AC.
ASR MCP78 with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT loads 199-201W AC. (CoreDamage 5 mins)
MSI 790FX with old 9850 2.8G setup and HD 2600 XT loads 250-252W AC. (CoreDamage 5 mins)
(Update September 2008) List of boards supporting AM2+ PSI specification:
ASRock (Intelligent Energy Saver): http://www.asrock.com/feature/IES/Models.html (10 boards)
Jetway (Green Power Indicator): http://www.jetway.com.tw/jw/GPI.asp (8 boards, more coming soon)
MSI (DrMOS, GreenPower): DKA790GX Platinum, DKA790GX (2 boards)
For now only 3 motherboard manufacturers and 20 different models!
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