Final Thoughts
AMD has finally delivered the 2.6GHz Phenom X4 that they promised back in November. Add two somewhat unexpected energy efficient processors and you’ve got a more differentiated and more interesting Phenom lineup. Not only do we get some new chips to play with, but prices for existing models get reduced as well—the X3 processor line especially.
Overall, I think that the X4 9350e and 9150e are a very welcome addition. AMD’s Phenom processors are generally pretty power hungy, so it is good to have some more efficient models to choose from. As we’ve seen, it can be a pretty potent chip when combined with multi-core friendly applications. Its low TDP, four cores and decent performance make it a great choice for an HTPC or an everyday desktop PC for an environmentally conscious multitasker.
The biggest roadblock that the X3 9350 faces, however, is Intel’s Q6600. The Q6600 is priced at only $200 these days and is an incredible processor at that price. It is fast, relatively energy efficient and cheap. AMD’s X4 9350e comes in at almost the same price as the Q6600. Unless you are pairing it with a 780G as an IGP solution, I’d have a hard time recommending it over the Q6600—especially given the performance delta between the two.
I’m not sure how many more B3 based Phenom processors we’ll see from AMD—these could be the last of them. I’m looking forward to seeing what type of architectural changes AMD is planning for the future, as a more efficient core is desperately needed if AMD is to remain competitive. AMD’s aggressive pricing has been keeping Phenom an attractive alternative, but price cuts can only go so far—especially with Nehalem just around the corner.
Comment on our forums.
Articles RSS