Phenom II X3 720 BE at newegg - confused

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,571
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There are TWO listings for this CPU at newegg, both OEM. One is around $100, one is around $150. Why such a big price difference, for what appears in the specs to be the same chip, essentially? Can someone clue me in?

Hmm, the $100 one lists "Black Edition" in the title, the $150 one does not. Are there two different 720s, one BE and one not? I thought all 720s were BE?

(I bought an X3 720 BE at microcenter recently for $99, I guess I should double-check I got the BE version.)
 

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
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IIRC all the versions of the x3 720 have been EOL'ed.

The 'BEs' are c2 steppings. The other 'locked' is a c3.

Future 'triple' Phenoms will be on a c3 stepping --- the 720BE is being 'replaced' with a higher-clocked x3 730BE .... or something like that.




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bupkus

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2000
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IIRC all the versions of the x3 720 have been EOL'ed.

The 'BEs' are c2 steppings. The other 'locked' is a c3.

Future 'triple' Phenoms will be on a c3 stepping --- the 720BE is being 'replaced' with a higher-clocked x3 730BE .... or something like that.--
When?
I see an X3 BE OEM with a combo deal bringing it down $23 to $82. I have it in my shopping cart at NEgg and while trying to find the right HSF read this post.

BTW, I can recycle a Thermalright XP-90 by buying a $11 fan and a $3 adaptor but is that just too outdated? I'm not looking for crazy OC, just maybe 3.5GHz And, hey, if I can unlock a 4th core so-be-it.
 

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
6,278
0
0
When?
I see an X3 BE OEM with a combo deal bringing it down $23 to $82. I have it in my shopping cart at NEgg and while trying to find the right HSF read this post.

BTW, I can recycle a Thermalright XP-90 by buying a $11 fan and a $3 adaptor but is that just too outdated? I'm not looking for crazy OC, just maybe 3.5GHz And, hey, if I can unlock a 4th core so-be-it.

Now - as far as being EOL'ed.

I have no idea how long the current inventory will exist at the Egg

Check out this link from AMD on their desktop processors and note "HDZ720WFK3DGI" (which I think is the current 720BE at the Egg).

If you are doing the combo with the Gigabyte 785g it's a great deal. I've had the mobo clock stable at 280MHz (with an unlocked Sempy 140) so something like 240MHz with a x15 multi should work great with good air cooling and chip.

Good luck on unlocking --- I've been 'lucky' so far. I'm going to try another Sempy this afternoon.


edit: Here is the BIOS 'unlock' setting ...

Gigabyte&



The mobo tends to 'over-volt' a bit, and I think the PhIIs might be a touch over-volted at stock. I unlocked a couple 550BEs and one of them under-volted -.1v+ ... dropped power at the wall by 1/3 at load to 127w.




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