Thursday, April 16th 2009
Phenom II X4 955 Inches Toward April 20 Launch
AMD is attempting to set its record straight with the Phenom II series of 45 nm desktop processors. The company had started off its Dragon desktop platform with the introduction of its flagship CPU, the Phenom II X4 940. This processor however, is not compliant with the AM3 socket, and will not support DDR3 memory, unless an AM3 socket motherboard can provide DDR2 memory support. Come April 20, and AMD will have released its newest processor: Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition. Based on the 45 nm Deneb core, this processor supports AM3 socket motherboards, and DDR3 memory. It features a core clock speed of 3.20 GHz (16.0 x 200 MHz), 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of L3 cache. It is overclocker-friendly thanks to its unlocked bus multiplier, and the "massive headroom" AMD has been brandishing lately.
One of our sources from Hong Kong was able to make an early-purchase this processor in its retail "processor in a box" (PIB) package (marked with the OPN HDZ955FBGIBOX), from the Golden Computer Parts Center, who took a few snaps of the package. It could be bought for around HKD 2170 (US $280).
This tells us a bit about what its global pricing and market placement could look like. A conservative estimate would put this processor at the US $250~275 range. This, bundled with its low platform costs, and the ability to run on existing AM2+ and new AM3 motherboards, could make this processor a competitive alternative to some of the higher Intel Core 2 Quad-based platforms.
On the motherboards front, both AMD and NVIDIA have AM3-DDR3 certified platforms ready. AMD has DDR3 motherboards based on most of its 7-series chipsets, while NVIDIA is providing nForce 750a SLI and the new nForce 980a SLI. Motherboard vendors are looking to keep target prices of their high-end motherboards under the $250 mark, as DDR3 memory has already seen a downslide in prices in the recent times. Phenom II X4 955 might be accompanied by Phenom II X4 945, though we are not sure if this carries the Black Edition branding, thus being a possible successor to the Phenom II X4 920. April 20 is the day to wait for, if you are in the market for a new machine, or simply looking to upgrade.
One of our sources from Hong Kong was able to make an early-purchase this processor in its retail "processor in a box" (PIB) package (marked with the OPN HDZ955FBGIBOX), from the Golden Computer Parts Center, who took a few snaps of the package. It could be bought for around HKD 2170 (US $280).
On the motherboards front, both AMD and NVIDIA have AM3-DDR3 certified platforms ready. AMD has DDR3 motherboards based on most of its 7-series chipsets, while NVIDIA is providing nForce 750a SLI and the new nForce 980a SLI. Motherboard vendors are looking to keep target prices of their high-end motherboards under the $250 mark, as DDR3 memory has already seen a downslide in prices in the recent times. Phenom II X4 955 might be accompanied by Phenom II X4 945, though we are not sure if this carries the Black Edition branding, thus being a possible successor to the Phenom II X4 920. April 20 is the day to wait for, if you are in the market for a new machine, or simply looking to upgrade.
96 Comments on Phenom II X4 955 Inches Toward April 20 Launch
I have nothing against benchmarks - it provides a platform for us to build & compare our systems against.
but throwing so much money on a on farrari then only using it to drive to the local newsagents for the morning papers & back is a bit retarded.
UNLIKE 775 INTEL CPU which is on the board. DDR2 was the same almost because of that issue.
1000hp in 1970 is the same as 1000hp now if you keep the same gear ratios and tires (for traction) and same aerodynamics. Comps will never be like that.
This to me is Art and fun, and not everyone can do it. Only certain few can benchmark like above. k|ngp|n is my idol and I love to do what he does(along with a LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE. Am I as good as him HELL NO, will I ever be WHO KNOWS more than likely no.
The point is you have fun gaming, and I have fun running 3dmark pushing a system to it's breaking point and hitting a high score that I have never hit before.
Don't you have scores in games you play? Same difference.....kinda.
But I'm the same kinda guy (since cars have been mentioned) when I build my bitching Corvette that putting down way more than necissary power, I will be street driving that thing. Just to scare people.
Current setup
E6750 @ 3,5 (could go higher if not for my ram)
2gb ram PC6400
8800GTS G92
MSI P35 platinum
I want more speed, for GTA4 and GTA4 vid editor rendering.
Should I:
A. get a 4gb kit and with it OC my processor to 4 Ghz?
B. get a 4gb kit and spend money on a Q9550s?
C. leave it as it is and get an i7 rig later?
D. go AMD with a new motherboard and ram and processor later?
Problem is future proofing.
Right now I have a mobo with PCI-E 1.0 and for future GPU's I need PCI-E 2.0.
That is why upgrading to a Q9550s + 4gb might be stupid.
Also, and unrelated, according to the CPUID's Hall of Fame, there's already a 955 in the second place, just 16 MHz short of first place.
good luck though
Your motherboard isn't great for overclocking either so don't hold your breath.
Your best bet is to upgrade to 4 GB or 8 GB of ram total and stick in a Q9950. i7 is a huge waste of money if you've got a suitable socket 775 motherboard already. The performance difference between the Q9950 and i7 920 doesn't warrant the expensive DDR3 cost, new motherboard cost in addition to the i7 processor.
Anyways, this is completely off topic.
When you've got a suitable Socket 775 motherboard just keep it and stick in a cheap quadcore and your fine to go, slight overclock and you've got the i7's performance too.
Edit:heh,
Lets not loose the important message, the bottom line 4 GHz will be hard to achieve with an E6750 conroe.
regardless of how uber his board is.
I wouldn't go i7 either though, the 775 setup is fine if your dead set on Intel, only problem is 775 is a dead socket, there won't be anything more released for this. Or the PII's are a fantastic choice if you want to switch camps.
Even the E6750 hasn't been maxed out yet
I'm perfectly happy with my 3800+ X2 @ 2.7 GHz as well and its not considered a competitive CPU at all.