Phenom II 940 3GHz reviewed

[JPB]

AMD Phenom II Benchmarks

AMD Phenom II CPU

In the following tables "Phenom II 940 3800 OC" means that it has been overclocked from x15 multiplier to x19.

Temperature of the said CPU was low (under 50c) with "ZALMAN 9700NT fan". You should know that we had Mainboard problems! The best overclocked figure of this CPU is with "SB750 South Birdge" but since this CPU has not BIOS support from any mainboard manufacturer, we couldn't overclock it as maximum as it can support!

The said CPU was stable at "4200MHZ with ZALMAN 9700NT fan", unfortunately we couldn't install any OS with the mainboard Biostar Tforce TA790GX A2 and the following benchmarks has been taken with "M3A32-MVP Deluxe" in GameWare Labs, Iran.
We have tried to overclock the CPU using Biostar, Jetway, DFI to have a "SB750 South Bridge", but each of them has various problems. (most with BIOS Problem)

 

[Idontcare]

These benchmarks are covered in this existing thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2258209&enterthread=y

 

[ajaidevsingh]

This time they included proof as people did not really believe them!!!

 

[bradley]

And these results are without using an official BIOS update. Fairly remarkable.

 

[Quizard]

Wait till they come out with a BIOS update the the PII will show what it can really do

 

[SickBeast]

If the Phenom II really is 50% faster than the current Phenom 9950, that truly is incredible IMO. AMD is back in the game.

 

[jones377]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
If the Phenom II really is 50% faster than the current Phenom 9950, that truly is incredible IMO. AMD is back in the game.

Especially when AMD themselves claim it is about 20% faster.

 

[Xcobra]

Official reviews FTW!

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
If the Phenom II really is 50% faster than the current Phenom 9950, that truly is incredible IMO. AMD is back in the game.

A 4GHz PhII ought to be 50% faster than a 2.6GHz PhI in at least a couple applications/benches.

 

[ajaidevsingh]

Not 4ghz IDC its 3.8Ghz

 

[heyheybooboo]

Before drooling all over the new Denebs remember that the Jan release is for the AM2+ chip with the single DDR2 memory controller - the AM3s with both DDR2 & DDR3 memory controllers will roll out Feb thru April

 

[Dravic]

I think you looking at a max 2-5% increase in performance going to am3 as compared to a 1066 ddr2 sb750 am2+, not worth the price premium it will cost IMHO, especially if AM3 cpu -> AM2 mobo drop in upgrades work. The big benefit for am3 will be the independent power planes I believe.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Idontcare

Originally posted by: SickBeast
If the Phenom II really is 50% faster than the current Phenom 9950, that truly is incredible IMO. AMD is back in the game.

A 4GHz PhII ought to be 50% faster than a 2.6GHz PhI in at least a couple applications/benches.

The fact remains that this chip will more than likely compete with intel's top offerings, and that is a big deal.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: Dravic
I think you looking at a max 2-5% increase in performance going to am3 as compared to a 1066 ddr2 sb750 am2+, not worth the price premium it will cost IMHO, especially if AM3 cpu -> AM2 mobo drop in upgrades work. The big benefit for am3 will be the independent power planes I believe.

Some folks might enjoy the opportunity of moving the AM3 microprocessor from an AM2+ mobo in a year or so ... especially if the HT evolves.

 

[magreen]

Originally posted by: jones377

Originally posted by: SickBeast
If the Phenom II really is 50% faster than the current Phenom 9950, that truly is incredible IMO. AMD is back in the game.

Especially when AMD themselves claim it is about 20% faster.

LOL.

Originally posted by: Idontcare

Originally posted by: SickBeast
If the Phenom II really is 50% faster than the current Phenom 9950, that truly is incredible IMO. AMD is back in the game.

A 4GHz PhII ought to be 50% faster than a 2.6GHz PhI in at least a couple applications/benches.

LOL.

gotta love pre-preview hype.
"But the Iranian Republic of Gamers said it, it's gotta be true!"

 

[JackyP]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: Idontcare

Originally posted by: SickBeast
If the Phenom II really is 50% faster than the current Phenom 9950, that truly is incredible IMO. AMD is back in the game.

A 4GHz PhII ought to be 50% faster than a 2.6GHz PhI in at least a couple applications/benches.

The fact remains that this chip will more than likely compete with intel's top offerings, and that is a big deal.

Depending on market segment there might be some truth to it. Server, no *hints at SAP*. Desktop? Remains to be seen, but apparently they cannot compete with the higher-end of Intel processors if the prices are indeed correct, sub 300$ for ph IIs IIRC. Either one needs to be wrong. Intels top offerings sell for 1000$, if AMD was in fact competetive they'd also launch a 1000$ SKU.
If phenom II clocks better than penryn it may sell pretty well among overclockers, though.

Considering the 15% higher clocked phenom II consistently outperforms phenom I by 15-20% I do not consider the Hype to be justified. It leaves us with the expected 5-10% IPC gains, which should be appreciated, but not hyped. The improved process makes the processor more competetive than phI, just how competetive remains to be seen.

 

[Stoneburner]

No John Travolta in this sequel means I won't be purchasing.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: magreen

Originally posted by: jones377

Originally posted by: SickBeast
If the Phenom II really is 50% faster than the current Phenom 9950, that truly is incredible IMO. AMD is back in the game.

Especially when AMD themselves claim it is about 20% faster.

LOL.

Originally posted by: Idontcare

Originally posted by: SickBeast
If the Phenom II really is 50% faster than the current Phenom 9950, that truly is incredible IMO. AMD is back in the game.

A 4GHz PhII ought to be 50% faster than a 2.6GHz PhI in at least a couple applications/benches.

LOL.

gotta love pre-preview hype.
"But the Iranian Republic of Gamers said it, it's gotta be true!"

I don't see how any of this can be humorous. I also fail to see why you would find it strange that people are excited at the prospect of AMD competing again at the high-end.

These rumours are not all generated by those Iranians. I would be quite surprised if we do not see PII chips that easily overclock to 3.8ghz+, and compete well with the i7 in games.

As for the 20% / 50% comments; the chips may be 20% faster per clock, but when you take overclocking into account they are easily 50% faster than the top Phenom chips that currently exist.

 

[Nemesis 1]

No one is argueing with you . Sick beast. I think its wonderful that AMD can O/C to 4Ghz on Air. Lets see some Prime stable. SS. At 4ghz. Highest I have seen is 3.6. I heard 3.8. Which is still great.

The thing that is puzzling. Is that You believe this hype. Without proof of stability. Its also rather odd that you seem to think intel IC7 won't run on air at 4ghz. on air. There are plentiy of SS of those Some even prime. Some getting over 4.5ghz on Air. But I haven't seen them prime at 4.5 on air. Water yes Air no.

Point is AMD may be 50% faster than PH1 at 4ghz. But that doesn't put it at intels level with IC7 @ 4ghz. Now does it.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1
No one is argueing with you . Sick beast. I think its wonderful that AMD can O/C to 4Ghz on Air. Lets see some Prime stable. SS. At 4ghz. Highest I have seen is 3.6. I heard 3.8. Which is still great.

The thing that is puzzling. Is that You believe this hype. Without proof of stability. Its also rather odd that you seem to think intel IC7 won't run on air at 4ghz. on air. There are plentiy of SS of those Some even prime. Some getting over 4.5ghz on Air. But I haven't seen them prime at 4.5 on air. Water yes Air no.

Point is AMD may be 50% faster than PH1 at 4ghz. But that doesn't put it at intels level with IC7 @ 4ghz. Now does it.

TBH I'm not all that familiar w/ the i7 chips as they are way too expensive and are not a CPU I would consider purchasing. That said, I was under the impression that the 45nm intel chips topped out at around 4ghz +/-, and that things became more difficult with the quad cores.

I did read somewhere that the PII will compete with the i7 clock for clock in most games. I'm not saying that I believe it, but there has been too much hype of this sort to deny that it's quite possible.

Even if the PII can only clock to 3.8ghz, and the i7 can hit say 4.2ghz, if the price difference is double, you know what most people will buy.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
Even if the PII can only clock to 3.8ghz, and the i7 can hit say 4.2ghz, if the price difference is double, you know what most people will buy.

So too does Intel...which is why it is 100% pointless and waste of time and effort to compare unreleased hyped performance/cost CPU's to existing released and priced "in the absence of competition" CPU's.

Do we really think Intel will not cut prices on i7? Ever? With or without PhII? Did Q6600 go from $530 to $266 for no rhyme or reason a month before K10 was commonly expected to release in Aug 2007?

What did Nvidia do to GTX260/280 prices when 4850 and 4870 were released? Sit still and watch the grass grow?

The humor many of us find in all this is we are savoring the ZOMG that keeps coming out of the woodwork on PhII and then you get into it to see what the meat is all about and you find out it is a never-before-heard-of Iranian review site. If there were ever going to be read flags about possible fishy photochop data in pre-release leaks and hype then it has to come from this.

Otherwise you basically resign yourself to trusting everything you read on the web, be it unclaimed Nigerian lottery winnings or Iranian leaks on PhII performance...and that too would be (sadly) amusing to some of us around here.

 

[magreen]

Originally posted by: Idontcare
Otherwise you basically resign yourself to trusting everything you read on the web, be it unclaimed Nigerian lottery winnings or Iranian leaks on PhII performance...and that too would be (sadly) amusing to some of us around here.

Hey, that's not a joke. My uncle really did win the Nigerian lottery after the real winning ticket wasn't presented. He's just waiting for them to direct-deposit the money in his account.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: magreen

Originally posted by: jones377

Originally posted by: SickBeast
If the Phenom II really is 50% faster than the current Phenom 9950, that truly is incredible IMO. AMD is back in the game.

Especially when AMD themselves claim it is about 20% faster.

LOL.

Originally posted by: Idontcare

Originally posted by: SickBeast
If the Phenom II really is 50% faster than the current Phenom 9950, that truly is incredible IMO. AMD is back in the game.

A 4GHz PhII ought to be 50% faster than a 2.6GHz PhI in at least a couple applications/benches.

LOL.

gotta love pre-preview hype.
"But the Iranian Republic of Gamers said it, it's gotta be true!"

I don't see how any of this can be humorous. I also fail to see why you would find it strange that people are excited at the prospect of AMD competing again at the high-end.

These rumours are not all generated by those Iranians. I would be quite surprised if we do not see PII chips that easily overclock to 3.8ghz+, and compete well with the i7 in games.

As for the 20% / 50% comments; the chips may be 20% faster per clock, but when you take overclocking into account they are easily 50% faster than the top Phenom chips that currently exist.

THAT is funny...compete in games eh? Since games use the GPU, and it's been shown that even an overclocked i7 can't feed a tri-sli setup well...it's laughable that anyone would really expect gaming to be an adequate benchmark for a CPU.

Lets fold, crunch, transcode, encode, render, do some photoshop filters. And yes it's 8 threads vs 4. Stock is stock.

 

[JackyP]

Originally posted by: Nemesis 1
No one is argueing with you . Sick beast.

I am, because..

Originally posted by: SickBeast
As for the 20% / 50% comments; the chips may be 20% faster per clock, but when you take overclocking into account they are easily 50% faster than the top Phenom chips that currently exist.

..my calculator tells me you are wrong. How can we trust your prediction if you did not even calculate an IPC estimate from this review? The 15% higher clocked ph II does not perform 20% better than ph I across the board, how is it supposed to perform 20% better per clock then?

 

[Gikaseixas]

A lot of people were excited with C2D pre-launch hype, we heard rumors, we heard how good it was so it's normal for users to be equally excited now.

I'm happy because it looks like i'll be able to spend around $300 and gain maybe 30-40% in performance, that's not bad at all.