Difference between AMD X2 4600 and Opteron

[Alopez777]

Hi, can anyone tell me the difference between AMD X2 4600+ CPU and AMD Opteron class of CPU's?


many thanks,

gorda

 

[txtmstrjoe]

This answer is qualified on the thought that we're talking about Socket 939 processors here.

The main difference is L2 cache.

512KB per core for the X2 4600+, 1MB per core for all dual-core Opterons.

You can split the hair even finer, if you wish. All dual-core Opterons are based on the same core design, the "Denmark" core (although some would say that Denmark is synonymous with the "Toledo" core), while the X2s are either "Manchesters" (2 x 512KB L2 cache cores) or Toledos (2 x 1MB L2 cache cores) with only half the L2 cache available (2 x 512KB per core only). Originally, the only Toledo X2s were the X2 4400+ (2.2GHz) and the X2 4800+ (2.4GHz); Manchesters were available as X2 3800+ (2.0GHz), X2 4200+ (2.2GHz), and X2 4600+ (2.4GHz). However, at some point in time, AMD started shipping Toledos with some of their teeth pulled, leading to non-Manchester X2 4200+s and X2 4600+s. (I'm not sure if X2 3800+s shipped as crippled Toledos.)

Some people suggest that Opterons are more robust, more resilient, made from better silicon. This idea stems from the thought that Opterons are "server-class" components, but to be honest I'm not sure how you can validate that. As far as I know, AMD themselves have never publicly declared that to be the case.

All this information is accurate insofar as Socket 939 is concerned. I don't have experience with Socket AM2, so I don't know if the essential ideas in Socket 939 hold true for AM2 as well.

Hope that helps!

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: txtmstrjoe
This answer is qualified on the thought that we're talking about Socket 939 processors here.

The main difference is L2 cache.

512KB per core for the X2 4600+, 1MB per core for all dual-core Opterons.

You can split the hair even finer, if you wish. All dual-core Opterons are based on the same core design, the "Denmark" core (although some would say that Denmark is synonymous with the "Toledo" core), while the X2s are either "Manchesters" (2 x 512KB L2 cache cores) or Toledos (2 x 1MB L2 cache cores) with only half the L2 cache available (2 x 512KB per core only). Originally, the only Toledo X2s were the X2 4400+ (2.2GHz) and the X2 4800+ (2.4GHz); Manchesters were available as X2 3800+ (2.0GHz), X2 4200+ (2.2GHz), and X2 4600+ (2.4GHz). However, at some point in time, AMD started shipping Toledos with some of their teeth pulled, leading to non-Manchester X2 4200+s and X2 4600+s. (I'm not sure if X2 3800+s shipped as crippled Toledos.)

Some people suggest that Opterons are more robust, more resilient, made from better silicon. This idea stems from the thought that Opterons are "server-class" components, but to be honest I'm not sure how you can validate that. As far as I know, AMD themselves have never publicly declared that to be the case.

All this information is accurate insofar as Socket 939 is concerned. I don't have experience with Socket AM2, so I don't know if the essential ideas in Socket 939 hold true for AM2 as well.

Hope that helps!

Very informative post. :thumbsup:

 

[Antikristuseke]

As far as iv hear the memory controllor on opterons is that of the FX series processors, but am not too sure of that. Though i am fairly sure it is a bit differetn from the one in x2's

 

[txtmstrjoe]

It's entirely possible for Opterons and X2s to have the same IMC (Integrated Memory Controller).

Case in point: I have an X2 4400+ with IMC version BW (taken from the stepping code CCBWE 0605VPMW); I also have an Opteron 170 with the same IMC version (CCBWE 0534SPMW). Obviously, these two nominally different chips have the same memory controller.

Curiously, CPU-Z v.1.38 identifies all dual-core Opterons as Toledo chips.

So the point about Opterons and X2s having different IMCs is not always true...

 

[Antikristuseke]

thats why i said im fairly sure instead of completely sure, ill have al ook at my procs steping when i replace the heatsink this weekend to see what i have, was too lazy to write it down when i first got it. As cor cpu-z. it does indeed identify these chips as toledo, on the other hand everest id's mine as denmark

 

[Fike]

Look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Athlon_64_microprocessors

and here:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php...highlight=athlon+64+overclocking+guide

both of these are excellent resources for sorting out the AMD dual core hodgepodge of names.

 

[jose]

I think Opteron's have 3 HTT enabled where as X2's only have 1 HTT enabled