If X2 4200+ and 4400+ both have 2.2Ghz cores, then what's the difference?!!

[Dance123]

Hi,

How come that different AMD64 models have the same core speed. I mean, what's the benefit then of getting the higher model?

Like, when comparing single cores, both the 3500+ and 3700+ have a 2.2Ghz core.. what's the difference then?!

Same for X2's, where both 4200+ and 4400+ use 2.2Ghz cores.. what's the difference then?

Isn't there much performance difference then between AMD64's (whether single or dual core) if they have the same core speed? If so, why do release different models with the same core speed?!

And a single core 3800+ actually has a faster core (2.4Ghz) then the X2 3800+ (only 2Ghz cores)?! How does that make sense?!

Anybody can please explain this for both single and dual-core AMD64's cause I don't understand it! Thanks alot!

 

[Juno]

cache is the difference.

4200x2 = 2x512kb
4400x2 = 2x1mb

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

3500+ = 512kb cache
3700+ = 1mb cache

3700+ is faster than 3500+, but not by much. 3700 (2.2 w/ 1mb cache) vs 3800 (2.4 w/ 512kb cache), 3800 wins, so the 200mhz is a greater boost than 1mb cache.

4200+ = 2.2ghz w/ 512kb x 2 cache
4400+ = 2.2ghz w/ 1mb x 2 cache

Opteron 170 = 2.0 ghz w/ 1mb x 2 cache (best buy atm)

 

[Dance123]

If core speed is more important then cache, isn't a 3800+ single core (2.4Ghz) much FASTER then a X2 3800 (only 2Ghz cores) or even X2 4200 or 4400 (only 2.2Ghz cores)?

I mean, isn't it so that most programs are not optimized yet for X2, so if they only use 1 core then, won' the 3800+ single core perform ALOT BETTER then the X2 3800, 4200 or even 4400 model?!

 

[Bobthelost]

Yes a 3800 is faster for non SMP tasks than a 3800X2. It's a 20% difference in CPU speed (which does not nessisarily mean a 20% increase in performance by the way). However some tasks are SMP capable, and for those the second core comes in handy, sometimes resulting in a much larger performance increase.

Also this board is predominantly overclocker based, as such the 3800X2 as both the cheapest dual core and a proven overclocker is a firm favourite.