Are AMD "black edition" processors any good?

[ShawnD1]

To set a baseline for what I would expect from a processor, my crappy P5LD2 motherboard (LGA 775) can overclock from 266mhz to 350mhz before it has a problem detecting hard drives, and my cheap Best Buy ram can go up to about 340mhz before it fails prime95 Blend testing. 340mhz bus compared to 266 stock means roughly 27% overclock is the maximum possible when using really cheap motherboard and ram for my current setup (the processor itself doesn't matter because the mobo and ram fail first). This number sounds about right since I remember my A7N8X-X (Socket A) could do about 25% before having hard drive issues.

The point of getting a black edition processor is to get around the motherboard and ram restrictions so the overclock is only restricted by the processor itself. I'm looking at reviews on Newegg to see what people are posting, and most of them are not that impressive. For the Phenom II X3 720 black, stock is 2.8 and lots of people are reporting stuff like 3.2 and 3.4ghz. Using that 27% number from the first paragraph, it should at least do 3.55 before the black edition is worth getting, but those seem to be few and far between.

Is there something more to this? I know the black edition processors are basically the same price, so it's not a scam or anything, but I want to know if the concept behind these processors makes any sense.

 

[fffblackmage]

It can hit 3.7GHz or 3.8GHz with some overvolting.
neoseeker.com's review (page 15)
extremeoverclocking.com's review (page 14)

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: ShawnD1
To set a baseline for what I would expect from a processor, my crappy P5LD2 motherboard (LGA 775) can overclock from 266mhz to 350mhz before it has a problem detecting hard drives, and my cheap Best Buy ram can go up to about 340mhz before it fails prime95 Blend testing. 340mhz bus compared to 266 stock means roughly 27% overclock is the maximum possible when using really cheap motherboard and ram for my current setup (the processor itself doesn't matter because the mobo and ram fail first). This number sounds about right since I remember my A7N8X-X (Socket A) could do about 25% before having hard drive issues.

The point of getting a black edition processor is to get around the motherboard and ram restrictions so the overclock is only restricted by the processor itself. I'm looking at reviews on Newegg to see what people are posting, and most of them are not that impressive. For the Phenom II X3 720 black, stock is 2.8 and lots of people are reporting stuff like 3.2 and 3.4ghz. Using that 27% number from the first paragraph, it should at least do 3.55 before the black edition is worth getting, but those seem to be few and far between.

Is there something more to this? I know the black edition processors are basically the same price, so it's not a scam or anything, but I want to know if the concept behind these processors makes any sense.

I wouldn't trust the "reviewers" on Newegg. They are generally not terribly bright with regards to PC-related matters, although they think they are.

I have an X3 710, overclocked from 2.6 Ghz to 3.4 Ghz. It will get to 3.6, but the voltage is too high, IMO. Plus the 4th core is unlocked.

What CPU are you using now? An X3 isn't really much of an upgrade from a good C2D.

 

[nyker96]

the benches show an OCed 955BE is about on par with a Q9xxx series. slightly better in some benchmarks and slight worse in others. all intends and purposes, 955BE is Q9xxx. it's not quite i7 yet but hardly anything can touch i7 right now.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
I wouldn't trust the "reviewers" on Newegg. They are generally not terribly bright with regards to PC-related matters, although they think they are.

I have an X3 710, over-clocked from 2.6 Ghz to 3.4 Ghz. It will get to 3.6, but the voltage is too high, IMO. Plus the 4th core is unlocked.

What CPU are you using now? An X3 isn't really much of an upgrade from a good C2D.

:thumbsup:

If you want to be thoroughly entertained, go read the reviews on the X4 955 at newegg. Most of the one and two star reviews are from people that either could not over-clock over 3.7 stably because they are using the stock cooler and running stock voltages to those that are clueless that a BIOS flash would resolve their issue with a 800 MHz clock or the processor being recognized on the mainboard.

You would think they would do a little home work first before putting the PC together so they could avoid issues like this. Instead these people are going to try to RMA a perfectly good processor, over a BIOS issue or because they don't know how to properly over-clock.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

I wouldn't trust the "reviewers" on Newegg. They are generally not terribly bright with regards to PC-related matters, although they think they are.

My favs are the **Tech Level: high** reviewers who downgrade an AMD chipset 2 eggs because they can't Crossfire their nVidia cards ...


BEs are just dandy. No scam. No fuzzy math. Simply an unlocked CPU multiplier. Combined with the sb750 (to improve overall system timings and stability when OC'ing) 25-30% on good air is nominal.

Going 25 - 30% OC with the IMC/NB (in addition to the cpu) and yah got yerself a high-flyer ...

 

[jandlecack]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

I wouldn't trust the "reviewers" on Newegg. They are generally not terribly bright with regards to PC-related matters, although they think they are.

My favs are the **Tech Level: high** reviewers who downgrade an AMD chipset 2 eggs because they can't Crossfire their nVidia cards ...


BEs are just dandy. No scam. No fuzzy math. Simply an unlocked CPU multiplier. Combined with the sb750 (to improve overall system timings and stability when OC'ing) 25-30% on good air is nominal.

Going 25 - 30% OC with the IMC/NB (in addition to the cpu) and yah got yerself a high-flyer ...

I don't remember when I last had to do maths to overclock a processor. Oh wait. I do. With an AMD X2 4200+.

A more than entry level motherboard will provide you with the projected speeds of whatever you modify in the BIOS, and not just the CPU, but everything else as well that matters.

Anyway unlocked multis are good and all but the fact that they are for the 955 isn't the reason why I'd recommend it over other AMD chips. I'd recommend it cause it's the only one that can compete with other high end quad core processors.

Furthermore, as someone else has stated, the OP should forget about upgrading to anything other than an X4 955, or a comparable Intel chip. It wouldn't be worth it otherwise, OC or not.

 

[ShawnD1]

Thanks for the replies.

I wouldn't trust the "reviewers" on Newegg. They are generally not terribly bright with regards to PC-related matters, although they think they are.

I'll keep that in mind

 

[thilanliyan]

I like my 9850BE. I don't think the AM2+ motherboards are well known for high HTT with the Phenom I CPUs so the unlocked multiplier helps in my case.

 

[raisethe3]

I think it would be good especially if you're running an AMD motherboard and you're on a budget. Plus you want to overclock moderately, but not significantly or crazy. So this could be for you. Just my opinion.

 

[Nemesis 1]

There very good. Cheap high performance! Today its buy whatever floats your boat. Me myself I am amazed at whats going on in the gpu market. PowerVR is making a hugh statement with there new 2-16 core Gpus. Apple and Power VR Imagination. Are working hard on opencl for it. This is on hand held devicies. At those res. Physics raytracing are possiable and Apple/Vr are working on that. Never mind grand central that will work with all those cores on other apps based on C+or Cl. I am thinking my next upgrade will be a hand held! LOL?

 

[Munky]

The x3 720 is not just good because of an unlocked multi, but mainly because for games and apps which don't use 4 cores you're getting the same performance as a x4 940, only for about $50 cheaper. Plus the potential to unlock the 4th core only sweetens the deal. In fact, I'm upgrading to a x3 720 also, since I want the most performance/$, and gaming is the most demanding thing I do on my machine.

 

[Gikaseixas]

720BE, 940BE and 955BE are very good processors. Everyone that owns one is pretty much happy with theirs. Both quads compete easily with the Intel Q9xx line due to their high OC capabilities and even at stock speeds they're amazingly fast.

They're unlocked so you can just bump the multiplier and get an easy OC (nothing else needs to be changed).

 

[Stoneburner]

If your motherboard can handle high FSB, and you have the option to change the multi on the northbridge, HT, and the memory clock, then it seems there's no real difference. I guess it'd make it alot simpler to overclock since you dont have to worry about the extra multis, but it's not really that much work.

 

[Gikaseixas]

Originally posted by: Stoneburner
If your motherboard can handle high FSB, and you have the option to change the multi on the northbridge, HT, and the memory clock, then it seems there's no real difference. I guess it'd make it alot simpler to overclock since you dont have to worry about the extra multis, but it's not really that much work.

but don't you agree that having the option of having unlocked multipliers helps a lot? Just imagine a Q9550S unlocked or even a Q8200 unlocked (this particular cpu would be a great seller). Any overclocker will tell you how great this feature is and this is the main attraction of these cpus.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: jandlecack

Anyway unlocked multis are good and all but the fact that they are for the 955 isn't the reason why I'd recommend it over other AMD chips. I'd recommend it cause it's the only one that can compete with other high end quad core processors.

Perhaps you missed this article on Anandtech by Gary Key ??

Phenom II X3 720BE & CrossFire X Performance

The question we wanted to answer in this article, ?Is the Phenom II X3 720BE an alternative to the Phenom II X4 940 for a mid-range gaming system featuring CrossFireX?? We have to enthusiastically answer with ?Yes!? to that question based on our experiences with the games we tested today and several others offline.

In fact, we think it even compared well to the Q9550 in our gaming tests. The Phenom II X3 720BE does not match the performance of the X4 940 or Q9550 in application testing, but it is no slouch either, especially considering the $136 price tag and overclocking capabilities. Compared directly to the $215 X4 940, we think the X3 720BE is a better value if gaming is your priority. ~ ~ ~

When it came to actual game play experiences, our opinions still have not changed when it comes to a choice between the Phenom II or Core 2 Quad. The Phenom II processors are a better choice in Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts and Crysis Warhead due to fluidity of game play, especially with background tasks running or CPU utilization near 100%. In the four other titles, we could not tell any real differences in the quality of game play between the Phenom II X4 940, Phenom II X3 720BE, or Core 2 Quad Q9550.

 

[Rifter]

My BE sure aint great, but i hear the PH II's are great, i plan to get a PH II 720BE but if it sucks as bad as my 7750BE for OCing i might have to go intel.

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: Rifterut
My BE sure aint great, but i hear the PH II's are great, i plan to get a PH II 720BE but if it sucks as bad as my 7750BE for OCing i might have to go intel.

The 720 BE is a great over-clocker.

 

[HeavyD]

Originally posted by: soonerproud

Originally posted by: Rifterut
My BE sure aint great, but i hear the PH II's are great, i plan to get a PH II 720BE but if it sucks as bad as my 7750BE for OCing i might have to go intel.

The 720 BE is a great over-clocker.

Yes it is the only thing holding me back is lack of better cooling which I hope to remedy today.

 

[Stoneburner]

Originally posted by: Gikaseixas

Originally posted by: Stoneburner
If your motherboard can handle high FSB, and you have the option to change the multi on the northbridge, HT, and the memory clock, then it seems there's no real difference. I guess it'd make it alot simpler to overclock since you dont have to worry about the extra multis, but it's not really that much work.

but don't you agree that having the option of having unlocked multipliers helps a lot? Just imagine a Q9550S unlocked or even a Q8200 unlocked (this particular cpu would be a great seller). Any overclocker will tell you how great this feature is and this is the main attraction of these cpus.

I do agree. It just seems to me that unlocked multipliers are purely a convenience these days when even budget mobos come with so many overclocking options.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

I wouldn't trust the "reviewers" on Newegg. They are generally not terribly bright with regards to PC-related matters, although they think they are.

My favs are the **Tech Level: high** reviewers who downgrade an AMD chipset 2 eggs because they can't Crossfire their nVidia cards ...


BEs are just dandy. No scam. No fuzzy math. Simply an unlocked CPU multiplier. Combined with the sb750 (to improve overall system timings and stability when OC'ing) 25-30% on good air is nominal.

Going 25 - 30% OC with the IMC/NB (in addition to the cpu) and yah got yerself a high-flyer ...

Errr......what?

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

I wouldn't trust the "reviewers" on Newegg. They are generally not terribly bright with regards to PC-related matters, although they think they are.

My favs are the **Tech Level: high** reviewers who downgrade an AMD chipset 2 eggs because they can't Crossfire their nVidia cards ...

BWAAAA......hahahahahahaha

ROFL.

 

[Kraeoss]

lol !!

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Once you go Black...

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
Once you go Black...

....you never touch 4 ghz stable on air. :laugh: