AMD Intros Athlon II X2 250 and Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition CPUs

[malware]

Bringing its acclaimed 45 nm technology to new high-volume processor designs, AMD today announced two new dual-core desktop processors. Building on 10 years of AMD Athlon processor innovation, the new 45 nm AMD Athlon II X2 250 processor gives mainstream consumers exceptional performance, efficiency and value. For enthusiasts and overclockers, AMD also announces the AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition processor, the first ever dual-core AMD Phenom II CPU. With this latest addition to the AMD Phenom II processor family, users can now experience the power of AMD platform technology, codenamed "Dragon," with dual-, triple- and quad-core configurations.




AMD Athlon II X2 Processor Details

• The AMD Athlon II X2 250 performs exceptionally well when combined with AMD chipsets and integrated graphics solutions to create an all-AMD platform. Platforms featuring all-AMD technology can deliver up to twice the graphics performance of those with Intel integrated graphics.
• Windows 7 is optimized for multi-core processors like AMD Athlon II processors to give consumers an amazingly fast, simple and engaging PC experience. For example, Windows 7 is tuned to make the most of these new processors' power management features, such as AMD PowerNow! 3.0 technology. AMD power management technologies, in combination with Windows 7, can help OEMs and partners to build exceptionally green, cool and quiet PCs.
• Based on AMD's acclaimed 45 nm process technology, the AMD Athlon II dual-core processor has a TDP of 65W and can slash power consumption by up to 50 percent when doing basic tasks, up to 40 percent when running heavy workloads and up to 50 percent when at idle.

AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Details

• AMD Black Edition processors, like the AMD Phenom II X2 550, help users to take control and unleash the maximum potential of Dragon platform technology's unprecedented performance tuning capabilities. The same massive headroom that set world records in recent months is at users' finger tips, offering impressive performance at a price the competition can't beat.
• Users can also maximize their overclocking experience by utilizing the new features and capabilities of AMD OverDrive 3.0, designed to enable quick and effective tuning of their PC experience for optimal performance.
• With dual-, triple- or quad-core processors, AMD provides platform level solutions at multiple price points, each of which exceeds expectations for virtually any user.

Click here for more detail on AMD processor pricing.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[hat]

$87 for the AthlonII x2 250. 3GHz stock speed. Hrm...

 

[ShadowFold]

The Athlon II's should be better than the Kuma and Windsor(2mb), decent upgrade for an old AM2 machine! The Phenom II's should be a hit if the price is right!

 

[RevengE]

why did they name them Phenoms?

 

[t77snapshot]

The Athlon II's should be better than the Kuma and Windsor(2mb), decent upgrade for an old AM2 machine! The Phenom II's should be a hit if the price is right!

I hope the price IS right I didn't know AMD was researching the duel-cores, I thought it was all about quads nowadays. My Athlon X2 is already 65W @ 3.04Ghz, will the larger cache boost the performance that much better?

 

[ShadowFold]

I hope the price IS right I didn't know AMD was researching the duel-cores, I thought it was all about quads nowadays. My Athlon X2 is already 65W @ 3.04Ghz, will the larger cache boost the performance that much better?

On the Phenom II yes, but the Athlon II is pretty much a Windsor 2m but 4m from the specs. But I'm sure they do 3.6-4ghz unlike windsor's

 

[Studabaker]

Yes, both of these processors overclock to nearly 4GHz effortlessly. Unfortunately from the benches that are available the PII 550 isn't a worthwhile upgrade from my E7400, unless I'm dying for a 10% performance boost (not really, and that's not under Crysis or FarCry2 where there is a measly 3-5% improvement).

It's really sad that a higher gen X2 processor from mine with twice the cache cannot destroy the E7400 the way an E8400 does.

 

[aj28]

It's really sad that a higher gen X2 processor from mine with twice the cache cannot destroy the E7400 the way an E8400 does.

To be fair, it's also ~$20 cheaper, supports DDR3, and you can't just arbitrarily say it has twice the cache without mentioning the fact that you're talking L2 versus L3. I mean hell, if you look at L2, you've got three times as much as the Phenom!

Btw, Phenom looks good, but I'm jumping on an Athlon ASAP! Lower TDP should work out better for my little Sugo =D

 

[Studabaker]

To be fair, it's also ~$20 cheaper, supports DDR3, and you can't just arbitrarily say it has twice the cache without mentioning the fact that you're talking L2 versus L3. I mean hell, if you look at L2, you've got three times as much as the Phenom!

Btw, Phenom looks good, but I'm jumping on an Athlon ASAP! Lower TDP should work out better for my little Sugo =D

Yeah, except I was looking at switching back to AMD and was hoping that this PII 550 would be an E8400 killer.

 

[ShadowFold]

If you wanna move back to AMD, do it I went from an e7200 to a PII 720 and it was very much worth it

 

[Studabaker]

If you wanna move back to AMD, do it I went from an e7200 to a PII 720 and it was very much worth it

I'd have to switch too much stuff for very little performance boost. At this point I'm eying a Xeon E3110 upgrade by August and just leave it at that until spiders make nests in it.

 

[DaedalusHelios]

why did they name them Phenoms?

Because they were anything but Phenomenal?
The first Phenom was and is frustrating. I have a 9600BE in my computer number 4 in my house, and I still haven't gotten around to wrestling more Mhz out of it.

Of course Phenom II changed all of that and I was then impressed by a great comeback in there design.

 

[Yukikaze]

The 550 looks absolutely tasty from the benchmarks I've seen. It is priced well and it overclocks well. Nothing to jump ship for if you have an E7XXX or an E5XXX chip, but great for a new build on a budget.

If I needed a 7th computer I'd buy one of those

I might buy one just to benchmark it and then sell it though. They do look cute.

 

[Melvis]

These wont work in a AM2+ mobo right?

Also the 250 Athlon is a "real" Dual core right? not a Quad that doesn't run two cores to make it a Dual core?

Edit: sorry yes it will work on a AM2+ mobo that is awesome!!!!!!

 

[Paintface]

looking forward to lower clocked athlon IIs ( around 2.7ghz) that are cheaper and use 45watt, perfect for HTPCs

that current athlon II 3.0ghz is perfect for price quality systems with a 4770 to play everything on max settings at 1280*

 

[7mm]

Looks like wait brings worth for me on this one. Looking for Athlon II for the upgrade.

 

[soryuuha]

Athlon II X2 shows great performance at its price.

Waiting for Athlon II X4 to comeout :lol:

 

[1Kurgan1]

why did they name them Phenoms?

Because it is a PII X4 with 2 cores off

On the Phenom II yes, but the Athlon II is pretty much a Windsor 2m but 4m from the specs. But I'm sure they do 3.6-4ghz unlike windsor's

It's nothing really like a Windsor as it's 2 generations later, but you did mention higher cache of 4mb, still nothing like a windsor, but yeah they should clock like mad.

These wont work in a AM2+ mobo right?

Also the 250 Athlon is a "real" Dual core right? not a Quad that doesn't run two cores to make it a Dual core?

Edit: sorry yes it will work on a AM2+ mobo that is awesome!!!!!!

They are a quad with 2 off.

 

[Winterwind]

They are a quad with 2 off.

X2 250 aka regor is real dualcore!

Clocking and hacking:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=225812

 

[r9]

As fast as C2D E7XXX maybe more in games. In almost everything else slower. Nice overclockers.

 

[Evo85]

Cant wait for that PII Dual to release! Dual core is more then enough for what I need.

 

[Cheeseball]

I think I'll be getting a 550.

 

[HolyCow02]

Both of these are perfect for HTPC's... with the 45nm and the good speeds, kickass HTPC cpu's

 

[cdawall]

550 does 4ghz on air and a stock P2 940 cooler

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=225727

 

[wolf]

Lol these chips were announced in Australia last week by pccasegear.com and up for purchase today.

specs have been up since then i didnt even think to post them.

Athlon II X2 250, 3.0Ghz, 1024KB L2 Cache x2, 45nm, 65W, Socket AM3

Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition, 3.1Ghz, 512KB L2 Cache x2, 6MB L3 Cache, 45nm, 80W, Socket AM3.

straight from http://www.pccasegear.com/