Phenom II 950(3.1Ghz) AM3 coming in Q2

[informal]

Don't know if this has been posted,but i stumbled upon it while reading PConline's review of Phenom II .
Source:
http://diy.pconline.com.cn/cpu/revie...1532965_1.html



So basically we get a 3.1Ghz unlocked chip with full DDR3 and DDR2 support ,probably higher NB frequencies and all within the same 125W TDP range(which is a bit overrated since Phenom II 940 really draws a lot less than 125W rating).Note the dark purple color of the bars for new Deneb AM3 models,it means we get HT4000Mhz(or 2Ghz NB speeds at least since NB can't be lower than HyperTransport which is 4000Mhz or 2Ghz double data rate).In plain English we get 2+Ghz NB speeds with AM3 .

Also,looks like planned February availability for mainstream AM3 models with 95W TDP rating(2.8Ghz and below):

[Macadamia]

Nice find!

Notice Heka. >= 40000Mhz HT. That means the tricores might have even higher NB and L3 speeds!

I'm guessing the 720 or a future 740 will get 2.2Ghz NB, just to make Wolfdale sweat.


I think AMD didn't set it high because of power consumption issues, as it wouldn't look like a worthwhile tradeoff.

[amdcian]

Why should we need a 3.1GHz guy when we had a 3GHz unlock multiplier babe

[Macadamia]

Why should we need a 3.1GHz guy when we had a 3GHz unlock multiplier babe

3.1 is now the new BE, while I guess the 945 is locked.

[chew*]

Dont see anything saying any of the am3 cpu's are unlocked ( BE ) however.....I've been wondering how amd plans to get people to shift, I dont even think with the 3.1 950's multi 6+ ln2 is possible if its locked.

[BrowncoatGR]

I think both 945 and 950 are unlocked. I expect 945 to be released in late March / early April, while i expect 950 to appear in late May/ early June. Sort of like 9850/9950

[Shrekogre]

darn i've been holding back and holding back and still waiting

[Lightman]

Dont see anything saying any of the am3 cpu's are unlocked ( BE ) however.....I've been wondering how amd plans to get people to shift, I dont even think with the 3.1 950's multi 6+ ln2 is possible if its locked.

There must be BE and/or FX planned for AM3.
I must see something really nice to move from my AM2+ platform. Better for AMD to introduce new tech like complete core shutdown from BIOS, or something aka Intel i7 Turbo Mode, very low power usage of MB, good power management of DDR3 memory, copy nVidias idea of switching main GFx card and working on integrated, .... there are some things which can draw me to quick switch
If it's just memory refresh, then I'm happy camper on DDR2 till 32nm stuff

[Throwed]

Why should we need a 3.1GHz guy when we had a 3GHz unlock multiplier babe

DDR3 support.

[N19h7m4r3]

I'm happy with my 940.

I'll hold on to it for quite some time before getting an AM3.

But I must say what's the point in a 100mhz bump? Isn't the 945 unlocked meaning the extra cost of the 950 is pointless

[p4spooky]

Quick newbie question: Can I run the 925 chip on Foxconn A79A-S? As you know this is a DDR2 based board. Will this chip work once I update Bios to P06?

[Nedjo]

Quick newbie question: Can I run the 925 chip on Foxconn A79A-S? As you know this is a DDR2 based board. Will this chip work once I update Bios to P06?

it should... all AM3 Phenom II processors should work on AM2+ mobos after BIOS update

[Throwed]

Quick newbie question: Can I run the 925 chip on Foxconn A79A-S? As you know this is a DDR2 based board. Will this chip work once I update Bios to P06?

All 790FX/SB750 chipsets will support ALL Phenom II's(AM2+/AM3). The only thing that will hold you back is your board will only be able to use DDRII 1066 max. Your board does not support DDR3. So you may as well get a AM2+ Phenom II 920/940 because the only difference between the AM3/AM2 Phenom II's is RAM support.

[crazydiamond]

ya but if gets an am3 then he can upgrade mobo / ram when drop in price then he doesnt have to buy a new cpu

[p4spooky]

ya but if gets an am3 then he can upgrade mobo / ram when drop in price then he doesnt have to buy a new cpu

Exactly - that is what I was thinking. Rather than get the AM2+ P-II chip now, get the 925 (P-II AM3) chip and use the A79A-S board and memory until the prices of DDR3 comes down.

[akaBruno]

Let's just hope they clock better.

[Frontl1ne]

I don't see why they released 920/940 if the AM3 chips support both AM2+ and AM3

Are you guys sure that AM3 chips will be supported on AM2+ motherboards??

[Aerwidh]

Are you guys sure that AM3 chips will be supported on AM2+ motherboards??

It says so in the first pic in the original post.

AM3 Processors are fully compatible with AM2+ Motherboards!

[Aura89]

I don't see why they released 920/940 if the AM3 chips support both AM2+ and AM3

Are you guys sure that AM3 chips will be supported on AM2+ motherboards??

to get them released faster, plus, i think that AM3 Phenoms II's might perform less on AM2/+ Motherboards then the AM2+ Phenom II's, only reason i say that is AM3 is 938 pins rather then 940, seems a little odd to me

[akaBruno]

AMD has always had the reputation of being a "Paper Tiger" on release dates. I'll be surprised if the Am3's are out on time. Who wants them anyway?

[informal]

AMD has always had the reputation of being a "Paper Tiger" on release dates. I'll be surprised if the Am3's are out on time. Who wants them anyway?

Paper Tiger you say? You must have slept through the Phenom II launch then,since it was really a hard launch by all standards.
AM3 chips will be on time."And who wants them"? Are you serious?AM3 chis will have lower TDP rating,combo IMC(DDR2 and DDR3 support),will be backwards compatible with AM2+ boards and be overall faster than AM2+ Phenoms due to both higher Northbridge clocks and DDR3 memory support.

Someone asked about the BE label and 950/945 models. There is nothing preventing AMD to sell both chips as BE parts.The first one to show up will be 945 model,followed up by 950.
Like in the case of 9850 and 9950,we might have TWO BlackEdition parts.Also there will probably be "regular" 945/950 models(locked).

[jonspd]

BTW thanks OP for this little update on am3

[Throwed]

Are you guys sure that AM3 chips will be supported on AM2+ motherboards??

Yes. It is listed here at ASUS with OFFICIAL support and I have NB770/SB700....
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...09&modelmenu=1

[nanohead]

to get them released faster, plus, i think that AM3 Phenoms II's might perform less on AM2/+ Motherboards then the AM2+ Phenom II's, only reason i say that is AM3 is 938 pins rather then 940, seems a little odd to me

Highly unlikely that they'll perform worse because of 2 less pins. The pin count has nothing to do with performance. The probably removed 2 pins in order to make sure that AM2+ cpus would not fit into AM3 sockets. There's probably little functional difference between the 2 sockets, if any.

And the reason that the AM2+ came out sooner is probably due to the motherboard manufacturers not being completely ramped with dedicated AM3 product. All of the "AM3" boards we've seen so far, are really AM2+ boards I believe.

I could be wrong, but I don't recall seeing ANY real AM3 boards (ie, DDR3 and only the socket 938) yet, other than the Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P. And I didn't see an actual ship date for it

[akaBruno]

Paper Tiger you say? You must have slept through the Phenom II launch then

You mean like... Phenom I wasn't a year late???

I love AMD. AM2 was not an improvement over my 939. Phenom I wasn't anymore mhz's than we were already hitting. Phenom II has gotten them back in the game.

Like it or not... intel is still on top.