Tuesday, March 23rd 2010
AMD Phenom II X4 T Series Detailed
In a few weeks' time, AMD will be releasing its brand new set of six-core Phenom II X6 processors. These processors are based on the "Thuban" core, which is a socket AM3 implementation of the Istanbul six-core architecture. Along with as many as four Phenom II X6 models including a high-end Black Edition part, AMD will be introducing new quad-core processors under the Phenom II X4 T series. Some of the first two models in this series includes the Phenom II X4 960T and Phenom II X4 940T.
The Phenom II X4 960T operates at 3.30 GHz, while the 940T runs at 3.00 GHz. What makes these chips different from existing chips based on the Deneb die is that it is in fact based on the Thuban die with two cores disabled. The resulting quad-core chip is codenamed Zosma. The other characteristic feature about not only Zosma, but also Thuban in general, is the introduction of a feature called "Turbo Core". The feature senses performance needs and steps up clock speeds of some cores, while powering down others. The stepping up of clock speed happens on the fly, and using a jump in BClk multiplier by a few units. The new chips also come with the unofficial incentive of being able to unlock the two disabled cores to turn it into a six-core chip. Unlocking may not work in all cases.
Source:
Silicon Madness
The Phenom II X4 960T operates at 3.30 GHz, while the 940T runs at 3.00 GHz. What makes these chips different from existing chips based on the Deneb die is that it is in fact based on the Thuban die with two cores disabled. The resulting quad-core chip is codenamed Zosma. The other characteristic feature about not only Zosma, but also Thuban in general, is the introduction of a feature called "Turbo Core". The feature senses performance needs and steps up clock speeds of some cores, while powering down others. The stepping up of clock speed happens on the fly, and using a jump in BClk multiplier by a few units. The new chips also come with the unofficial incentive of being able to unlock the two disabled cores to turn it into a six-core chip. Unlocking may not work in all cases.
41 Comments on AMD Phenom II X4 T Series Detailed
As for a DDR2 controller on Thuban, ASUS have basically confirmed this by adding a new BIOS for an AM2+ board, giving it Thuban support: event.asus.com/mb/2010/m4_6cores/ - M4A78E-SE is DDR2 only.
So DDR2 is supported, if that is what you meant.
3.30ghz sounds like a "Turbo" mode to me.
Wish I had the extra cash for a nice desktop.That 6 core AMD would be mine :)
Remeber that Intel invented and owns the x86 architecture and AMD came up with the x86-64 extensions.
forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=117350
Hope this helps to drive Intel prices down also.
I'm also hoping that either AMD implements support for the AMD Overdrive tool in the 8-series chipsets otherwise when these and the X6's drop I'm going to have to look for a 790X AM3 board to socket these into. Which does remind me, has anyone also heard any info as to if the Overdrive tool will ever be supported on the newer 8-series chipsets?Um, that's interesting since Gigabyte is already listing BIOS support for the X6 processors on some of there AM2+ motherboards:
forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardware/182814-phenom-ii-x6-will-work-am2-motherboards.html
Do you have a source for your info that refutes this?