AMD unleashes new Phenom II and Athlon II CPUs

Nick Mertes 21 Sep, 2010 at 12:00am ET Article published in Tech

AMD announced the release of six new processors today, three each in the Phenom II and Athlon II lines. All models are for the AM3 socket, but will also work in existing AM2+ motherboards.

The new pricing for their current lineup is here (new processors in bold):

Phenom II X6 Six-Core Processor (3MB L2, 6MB L3)
Processor	Speed	Turbo	TDP	Price
Phenom II x6 1090T Black Edition	3.2GHz	3.6GHz	125W	$295
Phenom II x6 1075T	3.0GHz	3.5GHz	125W	$245
Phenom II x6 1055T	2.8GHz	3.2GHz	125W	$199

The new x6 1075T fits right between the existing 1090T and 1055T in both speed and price. If you are interested in refreshing your memory what AMD’s Turbo CORE is and does, we have an excellent primer on the subject.

Phenom II X4 Quad-Core Processor (2MB L2, 6MB L3)
Processor	Speed	TDP	Price
Phenom II x4 970 Black Edition	3.5GHz	140W	$185
Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition	3.4GHz	125/140W	$165
Phenom II x4 955 Black Edition	3.2GHz	125W	$145
Phenom II x4 945	3.0GHz	95W	$145
Phenom II x4 925	2.8GHz	95W	$145

New to the high-end quad core offerings is the Phenom II 970 Black Edition. It replaces the 965BE in both price and position while providing a slight speed increase.

Energy Efficient Phenom II X4 Quad-Core Processor (2MB L2, 6MB L3)
Processor	Speed	TDP	Price
Phenom II x4 910e	2.6GHz	65W	$175
Phenom II x4 905e	2.5GHz	65W	$165

No new models here, but the MSRPs have been updated.

Phenom II X2 Dual-Core Processor (1MB L2, 6MB L3)
Processor	Speed	TDP	Price
Phenom II x2 560 Black Edition	3.3GHz	80W	$105
Phenom II x2 555 Black Edition	3.2GHz	80W	$93
Phenom II x2 550 Black Edition	3.1GHz	80W	$93
Phenom II x2 550	3.1GHz	80W	$93

For the dual core overclocker, a new Phenom II x2 Black Edition processor has been introduced. Like its x4 counterpart, it is a new top-end CPU and is priced accordingly.

Athlon II X4 Quad-Core Processor (2MB L2, no L3)
Processor	Speed	TDP	Price
Athlon II x4 645	3.1GHz	95W	$122
Athlon II x4 640	3.0GHz	95W	$99.99
Athlon II x4 635	2.9GHz	95W	$99.99
Athlon II x4 630	2.8GHz	95W	$99.99

Replacing the top end of the Athlon II x4 line is the x4 645. And before anyone asks, the lower models really do have the same MSRP.

Energy Efficient Athlon II X4 Quad-Core Processor (2MB L2, no L3)
Processor	Speed	TDP	Price
Athlon II x4 610e	2.4GHz	45W	$143
Athlon II x4 605e	2.3GHz	45W	$143
Athlon II x4 600e	2.2GHz	45W	$133

Again, nothing new for the Athlon II 600 series except for some shiny new pricing.

Athlon II X3 Triple-Core Processor (1.5MB L2, no L3)
Processor	Speed	TDP	Price
Athlon II x3 450	3.2GHz	95W	$87
Athlon II x3 445	3.1GHz	95W	$76
Athlon II x3 440	3.0GHz	95W	$76
Athlon II x3 435	2.9GHz	95W	$76

The Athlon II x3 triple core arena receives a new top-end member in the x3 450. Again it is priced just above its lower-clocked counterparts. And again said counterparts are priced the same.

Energy Efficient Athlon II X3 Triple-Core Processor (1.5MB L2, no L3)
Processor	Speed	TDP	Price
Athlon II x3 415e	2.5GHz	45W	$102
Athlon II x3 405e	2.3GHz	45W	$102
Athlon II x3 400e	2.2GHz	45W	$97

The energy efficient x3 line gets some new pricing, but no new model love.

Athlon II X2 Dual-Core Processor (2MB L2, no L3)
Processor	Speed	TDP	Price
Athlon II x2 265	3.3GHz	65W	$76
Athlon II x2 260	3.2GHz	65W	$69
Athlon II x2 255	3.1GHz	65W	$66
Athlon II x2 250	3.0GHz	65W	$66
Athlon II x2 245	2.9GHz	65W	$66

The last of the new processors comes to the Athlon II x2 line in the form of the x2 265.

Energy Efficient Athlon II X2 Dual-Core Processor (2MB L2, no L3)
Processor	Speed	TDP	Price
Athlon II x2 245e	2.9GHz	45W	$77
Athlon II x2 240e	2.8GHz	45W	$69
Athlon II x2 235e	2.7GHz	45W	$69

No new models for the energy efficient Athlon II x2 line. Just some shiny new pricing.

Icrontic’s review of the Phenom II x6 1075T, x4 970 Black Edition, and Athlon II x4 645 is forthcoming.

Comments

21 Sep 2010 ~ 2:46pm DrLiam Grrr, I just bought myself a new Phenom II not too long ago and then they update all their lines! Looking around as well, looks like models such as the Phenom II 945 will be increasingly rare to find.
21 Sep 2010 ~ 2:50pm shwaip the 965BE is a 125W part. Older versions were 140W.
21 Sep 2010 ~ 2:59pm mertesn

shwaip wrote:

the 965BE is a 125W part. Older versions were 140W.

The 965BE exists as both 125W and 140W versions. I have both.
21 Sep 2010 ~ 3:59pm Thrax I believe the differentiation in the 965BE TDPs is due to the thermal improvements made in the C3 stepping over the C2.
23 Sep 2010 ~ 2:20pm mime92 awesome
23 Sep 2010 ~ 5:28pm shwaip

Thrax wrote:

I believe the differentiation in the 965BE TDPs is due to the thermal improvements made in the C3 stepping over the C2.

Yup. New 965BE's will be 125W. Older ones are 140W.
23 Sep 2010 ~ 6:15pm mirage

shwaip wrote:

Yup. New 965BE's will be 125W. Older ones are 140W.

C3 revision of Phenom II quads have been 125W since 2009. Did you mean 95W? Please say yes
23 Sep 2010 ~ 6:32pm shwaip No, I was merely commenting that the chart in the OP was incorrect because it says that 965BEs are 140W.
23 Sep 2010 ~ 6:46pm mirage I see, that table needs correction.
27 Sep 2010 ~ 8:35am mertesn Fixed.