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 For desktops, up until recently processor manufacturers used to sell several versions of the same chip at different frequencies and prices even if the chip generally supported the frequency of the most expensive version. This policy made Overclocking enthusiasts very happy.
Recently, manufacturers started to adjust another parameter for mobile and server ranges: input voltage. Lowering the voltage reduces the CPU power consumption and makes possible to sell less power greedy but more expensive versions. AMD has newly decided to release this type of CPUs for desktops. Additionally to the standard A64 X2 there are now « EE » and « EE SFF » versions:
- Athlon 64 X2 (85W) :
2.0 to 2.6 GHz (3800+ to 5000+), 1.3 to 1.35V
- Athlon 64 X2 Energy Efficient (65W) :
2.0 to 2.4 GHz (3800+ to 4600+), 1.2 to 1.25V
- Athlon 64 X2 Energy Efficient Small Form Factor (35W) :
2.0 GHz (3800+), 1.025 to 1.075V
Our colleagues from x-bit labs have tested these CPUs and if these versions can't be more overclocked that standard ones, they have in practice lower power consumptions: if the standard 4600+ is at 39W for WMV9 file reading, 70W for 3DMark06, it is at 25 and 48W in Energy Efficient version. FYI, a Core 2 Duo is at 29 and 40 Watts. The X2 3800+ EE SFF consumes even less power at 18 and 31W but do not provide the same level of performances.
AMD sells these processors at a higher price: $276 for an Energy Efficient 4600+ instead of $240 for the standard version. AMD hasn't communicated yet the prices of the EE SFF. Of course, these processors can answer some requirements however, and it was the point of our introduction, they all come from the same production line and it is also possible to do an «undervolting» to standard CPUs just like some do an Overclocking. Of course AMD doesn't certify that a standard Athlon 64 X2 4600+ will work at 1.25V and 2.4 GHz instead of 1.35V, but it doesn't also certify hat it will work at 2.6 GHz … |
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 The Athlon 64 X2 2x1 MB of cache (4800+, 4400+, 4000+) are now banned from AMD's official price list and are at the end of their life. To sell out stocks and because of the strong price cuts of other processors, AMD has logically cut the prices of these CPU by half.
Here are the new AMD CPU dual core prices:
- Athlon 64 FX-62 : $827
- Athlon 64 X2 5000+ : $301
- Athlon 64 X2 4800+ : $286
- Athlon 64 X2 4600+ : $240
- Athlon 64 X2 4400+ : $224
- Athlon 64 X2 4200+ : $188
- Athlon 64 X2 4000+ : $173
- Athlon 64 X2 3800+ : $152
The FX-62, X2 5000+ and X2 4000+ are only dedicated to Socket AM2 and the other are compatible with AM2 and 939 sockets. Here are to compare the prices of Intel core 2 processors:
- Core 2 Extreme X6800 : $999
- Core 2 Duo E6700 : $530
- Core 2 Duo E6600 : $316
- Core 2 Duo E6400 : $224
- Core 2 Duo E6300 : $183. |
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Some of our readers told us about a possible risk of delay of image displayed on LCDs compared to CRTs. We have checked this information and… they are right! All LCD monitors tested were from a few milliseconds to a couple of images late compared to CRTs. Of course there are consequences: in LAN games, those who have CRT monitors have advantages over other participants. This is also true for movies: sound comes before images and sometime a lot earlier…