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eTeknix Tech Review Of 2011

Ryan Martin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:18:55 +0000

eTeknix Tech Review Of 2011 – The industry’s most action packed year yet?

2011 was a jam packed year for the tech industry, with exciting developments across the board from Intel’s release of the revolutionary Sandy Bridge architecture at the very start of the year to AMD’s release of the HD 7970 at the very end of the year. Not to mention everything in between including the release of the Windows 8 developer preview, the Thailand floods and AMD’s Bulldozer release. Now a month has passed from 2012 and we have had enough time to reflect on all the major developments of 2011 and would like to bring you our topical review of the year.

We will be taking a look at the year on a month by month basis giving you what we think were the most important developments in each month. As you might expect there is a particular emphasis on Intel, AMD and Nvidia as they tend to be the source of most developments within the hardware market. But we also musn’t forget the contribution given to the excitement of 2011 by the likes of HP with the whole TouchPad saga, the rather messy PR battle undertaken between the giants MSI and Gigabyte as well as the sneak peak at what is to come from Microsoft with the Windows 8 developer preview.

The best all-round Intel CPU yet?

We hope you enjoy our tech review of 2011 and here is what’s on offer:

Quarter 1

January : The Sandy Bridge launch: A revolution in the CPU market?

February: The B2 Revision Sandy Bridge Motherboard saga and the introduction of Thunderbolt to Apple computers.

March: AMD and Nvidia fight it out with the dual GPU giants: The HD 6990 and GTX 590 get launched.

Quarter 2

April: AMD board partners get existing boards ready for AM3+while AMD launches the HD 67X0 cards.

May: AMD partners debut 990FX motherboards whilst Intel hits back with the introduction of Z68.

June: AMD launches desktop APUs under the codename Llano while Nvidia dominate the mobile GPU market with the launch of the GTX 580M.

Quarter 3

July: The Thai floods send hard drive prices on the way to the roof while AMD hit back at Nvidia with the HD 6990M

August: HP announce the TouchPad cancellation whilst ASUS debut the monster MARS II graphics card.

September: Microsoft teased us with the Windows 8 developer preview whilst MSI and Gigabyte get their dirty linen out in public over PCI-E Gen3 motherboards.

Quarter 4

October: AMD launch Bulldozer, Or is that Faildozer?

November: Intel raises the bar once again as Sandy Bridge-E arrives.

December: AMD redeem themselves with launch of the world’s fastest single GPU card: the HD 7970.

AMD's saving grace?

AMD to introduce Phenom II Bulldozer CPUs

Ryan Martin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:08:59 +0000

All AMD FX processors are based on the concept of 4,6 or 8 cores with totally unlocked multipliers which allow for overclocking. However, what AMD has decided to do is make a new line of processors from locked Bulldozer processors and they are using the Phenom II branding for this. There will be 4, 6 and 8 core variants like with the FX processors with 8MB of cache and either 95W or 125W TDP. Clock speeds will vary between 2.4GHz and 3.6GHz depending on the model. You can see the range of models in the provided tables.

You can expect these processors will hit similar price points to their FX equivalents except probably at about 10-20% less to account for the locked multiplier. The reason for this new line of CPUs? We expect it is because the production process has left a lot of chips which do not overclock very well or have faulty cores which are best left locked at lower clock speeds and hence the Phenom II line emerged. We are not quite sure why AMD hasn’t gone with Phenom III branding…maybe it’s because even they recognise the step up in performance is so minimal it isn’t really advancing.

Source: Inpai.com.cn

eTeknix Christmas Hardware Buying Guide

Ryan Martin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:56:34 +0000

Christmas is just around the corner and for those who still have their Christmas shopping to do we have lots of helpful advice for you before you decide to start buying. We know value is at the heart of most buying decisions so we have structured our buying guide into helpful price points between £50 and £150 for each of the component areas we have taken a look at which are processors, graphics cards, motherboards and storage drives.

The £50 price point is the entry level, for those looking for value for money and functionality without spending too much. The step up to the £100 marks a transition from entry to mid range and enthusiast giving significant performance increases, particularly in graphics. While the £150 price point is the point we consider the ‘maximum’ of what a money conscious buyer would go to when it comes to buying components.

With regards to building a completed system we advise that you take components from similar price points when you pair things together in order to avoid getting performance bottlenecks. We hope our processor, graphics card, motherboard and storage drive recommendations come in useful and give you some helpful food for thought this Christmas’ shopping period.

Amidst a hard drive crisis we also take a look through the best hard drives to buy as well as the best solid state drives: can you still pick up a decent amount of storage for a good price?

Sapphire introduce 990FX AM3+ board

Ryan Martin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:34:01 +0000

The Sapphire Pure Black 990FX is a full ATX sized board making full use of the features of the AMD 990FX and SB950 chipsets. Four dual channel memory sockets are provided capable of supporting up to 32GB. There are four USB 3.0 ports (two at the rear and two on a header supported by a high quality front panel kit) as well as eight USB 2.0 ports on the rear panel plus four more on headers.

Advanced connectivity is provided by Dual Gigabit LAN sockets plus Bluetooth with EDR (enhanced data rate). The board has eight SATA 3GB ports, featuring AHCI and RAID support, conveniently mounted on the edge of the board with right angle connectors and an additional SATA 3GB port brought out to the rear panel on an eSATA connector. The back panel also carries optical and SPDIF outputs as well as the standard I/O configuration for the on board HD 7.1 Audio.

Extensive expansion support is provided by six PCI-Express Gen2 slots which allow up to six single slot cards or three dual slot cards such as high end graphics cards in CrossFireX to be used. A standard 4-pin Molex connector on the edge of the board can be used to provide additional power when multiple cards are used.

Many user friendly features have been incorporated in the Sapphire Pure Black 990FX, such as digital debug display and a push button reset for the BIOS, as well as start and system reset buttons. These are especially useful for enthusiasts interested in performance tuning or overclocking. This is the first board to feature the Sapphire QBIOS – an easy to use UEFI BIOS with many overclocking features. The board has a Dual BIOS, allowing for experimentation and updates, and includes S_BIOS which allows the user to update and back up the BIOS from a BIOS screen – there is no need to boot from an external disk. For the hard-core enthusiast, voltage test pads have been brought out to the edge of the board for the critical voltages on the CPU and memory.

The build quality of the Sapphire Pure Black 990FX is high. It has a black multilayer PCB, and uses high quality gold plated connectors for USB 3.0 and LAN. It incorporates many of the high end features associated with the Sapphire brand, such as the use of high reliability solid capacitors throughout. The multi-phase PWM voltage regulation circuitry for both the CPU and memory modules incorporate the Sapphire Diamond Black chokes with coolers that have featured on Sapphire’s high end graphics cards. Low profile coolers on the PWM section give users a wide choice of CPU cooler without risk of obstruction.

Source: Press Release

Bulldozer successor ‘Piledriver’ to launch late 2012, providing no delays…

Ryan Martin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:11:49 +0000

Bulldozer was plagued by delays, taking nearly 6 months longer than schedule to finally launch. But AMD remains positive, it claims the Bulldozer’s successor known as ‘Piledriver’ or ‘enhanced Bulldozer’ will be able to launch in Q3 of 2012. This comes from AMD’s partners who have been specifically told by AMD that Q3 of 2012 will hold the release date. Although some are seeing issues with this already as typically AMD send processors to market 2 quarters after disclosing engineering samples. Piledriver engineering samples are scheduled for Q2 of 2012 so in reality we should expect to see the Piledriver processor arrive in Q4 of 2012 (or very late Q3 at the earliest).

Piledriver is part of the same ‘Volan’ AM3+ platform as Bulldozer, featuring the same chipsets: AMD 990FX northbridge and SB950 southbridge. The difference should be 10-15% improved performance on Piledriver compared to Bulldozer. But by the time Piledriver hits the market Intel will have released the 22nm Ivy Bridge platform so AMD will (as usual) be behind and competing on value for money not performance.

Source: Fudzilla

MSI releases 8 core Bulldozer BIOS Update

Ryan Martin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:34:46 +0000

Leading international mainboard and graphics card maker MSI released the mainboard BIOS with full AMD AM3+ 8-core CPU support for download today. Enthusiasts that own one of the listed mainboards can now download the update to support the latest AMD AM3+ 8-core CPUs (B2 Stepping). For those planning to purchase a new mainboard, if the box is labeled with “Supports AM3+ CPU with New BIOS,” the mainboard will support the powerful AMD AM3+ 8-core CPUs out of the box. Enthusiasts that have purchased a mainboard that is on the list of compatible mainboards can update the BIOS themselves to support the latest AM3+ 8-core CPUs. Also, new in this BIOS update is official support for MSI’s proprietary ClickBIOS II system optimization tool for all AMD 900 mainboards. The graphical UEFI BIOS provides mainboard-level support, and exporting OC Profiles to USB drives offers unparalleled convenience.

Support for Latest AMD AM3+ 8-core CPUs Out of the Box with Designated Mainboards
Starting today, enthusiasts can purchase MSI mainboards with a “Supports AM3+ CPU with New BIOS” label on the box. The labeling indicates that the mainboard has been updated with the latest BIOS and already supports the AMD AM3+ 8-core CPUs (B2 Stepping), so users can enjoy the extreme performance of the next-generation processors straight out of the box. Buyers of MSI mainboards on the list of compatible models will not need to buy a new mainboard. Once they update to the new BIOS, their mainboard will be ready for AMD AM3+ 8-core CPUs.

ClickBIOS II on all MSI AMD 900 Mainboards
All MSI AMD 900 mainboards now also come with MSI’s proprietary ClickBIOS II UEFI. System settings can be adjusted using the mouse, and the ClickBIOS II utility also supports online driver updates, BIOS updates and full-system backups. Also, for the first time ever, OC profiles can also be exported to USB drives under UEFI, a very convenient feature for overclocking enthusiasts.

Find more information and a BIOS download here.

Source: Press Release

AMD FX 8150 AM3+ Bulldozer Processor Review

Andy Ruffell — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:51:53 +0000

I used to be quite a big fan of AMD, when the good old Athlon Mobile processors hit the market. They seemed to offer the best bang for buck in terms of performance and overclockability and they quickly became a hit.

After this, AMD continued to offer typical desktop processors that gave nothing more, until FX came along in the style of the Athlon 64 range of CPU’s. They offered an unlocked multiplier but sadly had a price tag to match, and when news appeared that the FX brand would be entering back into the market, the community was buzzing at the dead being brought back to life. It’s been a long and highly anticipated wait, but it seems that Bulldozer is here and has been one of the most hyped up, talked about launches of the year, so I’m sure that AMD are hoping they don’t disappoint.

We’ve already looked at Bulldozer as a platform including what the FX line-up will bring to the market, but this review will focus more on the performance behind Bulldozer and how it compares against its rivals including the AMD Phenom II X6 1100T and Core i7 2600k as that’s exactly what everyone is here waiting for aren’t they?

Today sees AMD releasing a whole host of new processors with the FX branding, ranging from new quad core CPU’s, hexa core CPU’s and now the world’s first eight core desktop processor with their flagship FX-8150.

The FX-8150 is what this whole review will stem around, as we’re all enthusiasts here and want to see the best of the best being pitted against the best from market rival Intel.

Biostar release T-series 990FX board

Ryan Martin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:05:06 +0000

Biostar are introducing a new Bulldozer motherboard in time for the Bulldozer official release next week. This AM3+ ATX board will support current AM3 processors in addition to the upcoming AM3+ Bulldozer platform (FX X8, X6 and X4 or Phenom II X6, X4, X3, X2, Athlon II X4, X3, X2 and Sempron X1). It will use the premium 990FX chip set in tandem with the SB950 South Bridge to bring maximum functionality, the best features and the best performance. The maximum TDP the Biostar AM3+ socket can power is 140W which allows room for a fair amount of over-volting and overclocking capability.

There is support for up to 16GB of 1866MHz RAM across 4 DIMMs, meaning support for only 4GB modules: the high density 8GB modules are not supported. With overclocking you can achieve up to 2000MHz support. PCI-E 2.0 lanes come in a 16X/16X/4X configuration so really you will only be able to run 2 way SLI or CrossFireX as 3 Way would be very limited by the 4X bandwidth. Expansion is not limited to just 3 PCI-E 2.0 lanes, there is also a PCI-E 1X lane and a couple of legacy PCI slots. It also has five SATA3 6Gbit/s slots supporting SATA RAID 0,1,5,10, three USB 3.0 ports, six USB 2.0 ports, FireWire IEEE 1394a, 10/100/1000 Mbit/s LAN and 8-channel HD Audio. Biostar has included its Green Power Utility which actively reduces power consumption when the system is idle. There is also an LED Debugging light, an include multi-media BIO- Remote 2 and a BIOS recovery mechanism should you damage your BIOS during flashing.

Source

GIGABYTE First to Bring AM3+ CPU Support to Entry Level Motherboards

Andy Ruffell — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:53:00 +0000

GIGABYTE TECHNOLGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced the new revision 3.1 GA-M52LT-D3P, GA-M68MT-D3P and GA-M68MT-S2P motherboards now offer AMD AM3+ CPU support, providing users with an entry level solution that will still be able to take advantage of upcoming AMD FX series processors.

GIGABYTE continues to provide its customers with options for their motherboards, including high-end CPU compatibility with entry level motherboards, because in our experience there are customers out there who need this combination, commented Henry Kao, VP of Worldwide Service and Marketing at GIGABYTE. In addition to bringing our signature GIGABYTE features such as Ultra Durable 2 Classic, 4+1 phase VRM support, On/Off Charge and 3X USB Power to mainstream and entry level segments, now users can also be assured that their motherboard is able to take full advantage of all the performance enhancements that AMD’s upcoming AM3+ CPUs have to offer.

AMD FX Processor Support
GIGABYTE AM3+ motherboards feature the new AM3+ socket which support the forthcoming high performance AMD FX series processors, the first ever consumer oriented processors to feature up to 8 native processing cores, enabling incredible performance in processor-intensive applications like video editing and 3D model rendering with unrivalled application multitasking.

AM3+ Black Socket
GIGABYTE AM3+ motherboards also incorporate the new AM3+ Black Socket’ which signifies support for AMD’s upcoming FX series processors, as well as backwards compatibility with AMD AM3 based Phenom II and Athlon II processors. The AM3+ Black Socket’ also features more efficient power loading and improved heatsink mounting.

Ultra Durable 2 Classic
GIGABYTE was the first motherboard manufacturer to realize the importance of using only the highest quality components for the critically important CPU VRM zone of the motherboard which is responsible for delivering stable power to the CPU. The GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 2 Classic design utilizes Solid Capacitors manufactured in Japan which are rated to last for at least 50,000 hours in operational use and also Lower RDS(on) MOSFETs which feature lower resistance, i.e. reduced power consumption and heat.

4+1 Phase VRM
These latest AM3+ motherboards feature a Split Power Plane design, with 4+1 phase VRM. This allows for more stable power delivery to the CPU, as well as help smooth out power ripple and noise which is important for clean CPU power delivery.

On/Off Charge Technology
GIGABYTE On/Off Charge technology allows you to charge your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch regardless of whether your PC is on, in standby mode or even off. A derivative of GIGABYTE’s highly acclaimed 3x USB Power feature, On/Off Charge enables devices to draw more current from GIGABYTE motherboard USB ports than standard USB ports allow, so that charging from your PC can be as fast as with a charger

GIGABYTE 3X USB Power
GIGABYTE motherboards feature a 3x USB power boost, delivering greater compatibility and extra power for USB devices. GIGABYTE’s unique USB power design is also able to efficiently regulate output over the full voltage range, which greatly enhances USB device compatibility. In addition, dedicated lower resistance fuses ensure lower voltage drops, and provide more stable and plentiful power delivery.

Attached files* Note: AM3+ systems running Microsoft^® Windows^® XP will require a discrete graphics card.

image013.png (20.2 KB) image015.jpg (28.1 KB) image017.png (111.4 KB) image019.jpg (175.4 KB) image021.png (145.2 KB)

9 Series AM3+ motherboards still cannot utilise SLI

Ryan Martin — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:35:00 +0000

Although AMD has for the first time bought an SLI license for its AM3+ socket of motherboards and has developed the 9 series chipset to support SLI configurations, the current Nvidia drivers will not support SLI on 990FX boards.

The board in question was a Gigabyte 990FX UD7 and it was tested with a pair GTX 570′s utilising Nvidia’s latest 275.33 beta drivers. The system would recognise both cards at the same time but not in an SLI configuration. Gigabyte responded to the concern by stating that consumers should wait for the newest Nvidia 255 drivers to be released as they are currently still in beta and when they have been released that should allow AM3+ board owners to utilise SLI configurations.

Attached files

ud7.jpg (136.6 KB) ud7.jpg (136.6 KB)

Asus Sabertooth 990FX AM3+ Motherboard Review

Andy Ruffell — Mon, 30 May 2011 23:35:00 +0000

We’ve had quite a large focus on Intel lately with the shakeup of B3 revision boards and the recent launch of the Z68 chipset. Now gives a time where we can take a look at something new from AMD. Yes you heard right, AMD have launched something new; the 990FX chipset.

AMD have been to long without a refresh and now that the 990FX has arrived, it opens the doorway to the upcoming processors codenamed Bulldozer. Sadly Bulldozer has now been delayed till apparently August, but how true this is, only AMD know. Until then the 990FX does give some other features aside from the full AM3+ support.

990FX opens up improved DDR3 memory support, the ability to have a UEFI GUI based BIOS, and support for SLI. AMD have hogged the limelight for quite some time forcing users to buy AMD all the way with the motherboard and GPU combination if wanting multiple graphics cards. though AMD weren’t completely to blame as it was a battle between them being too proud to ask and nVidia flat out refusing to share a license with them, the 990FX chipset now sees an improvement in this area, allowing for Quad SLI on some boards.

Whilst the 990FX does sound good in terms of small benefits, it really depends on the board that will be implementing it. Today we are looking at the Sabertooth 990FX from Asus which provides military grade components and stability at an affordable price. The Sabertooth includes all of the features above but also has stability in mind by implementing some unique features in terms of keeping your system cool by using an new improved material called CeraM!x and including various sensors across the board to intelligently monitor the boards temperature and adjust the cooling to suit.

It sounds like a board that’s suitable for military operations but will it survive the bombardment of tests and benchmarks we’ll be shooting at it? Let’s find out.

Forward March!

Specifications

[TABLE=class: grid, width: 100%]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]Model[/TD]
[TD=align: center]SABERTOOTH 990FX[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]CPU[/TD]
[TD=align: center]AMD Socket AM3+ for AMD FX Series CPU up to 8-core, Compatible with AMD Socket AM3 for AMD Phenom II /Athlon II /Sempron 100 Series Processors[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]Chipset[/TD]
[TD=align: center]AMD 990FX/SB950[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]Memory[/TD]
[TD=align: center]DDR3 1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz Support[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]Power Phase Design[/TD]
[TD=align: center]DIGI+ VRM 8+2 phase[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]PCIe x16 Slots[/TD]
[TD=align: center]3 (Single@x16 speed; Dual@x16/x16 speed; Triple@x16/x8/x8 speed)
1 (Black@x4 speed)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]Multi-GPU support[/TD]
[TD=align: center]CrossFireX / SLI[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]Storage[/TD]
[TD=align: center]6 x SATA 6Gb/s
2 x SATA 3Gb/s
1 x Power eSATA
1 x eSATA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]LAN[/TD]
[TD=align: center]Realtek® Gigabit LAN[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]Audio[/TD]
[TD=align: center]8-ch HD[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]IEEE 1394[/TD]
[TD=align: center]2 (1 at mid-board; 1 at back panel)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]USB[/TD]
[TD=align: center]4 x USB 3.0 (2 at mid-board at front panel, 2 at back)
14 x USB 2.0 (4 at mid-board, 10 at back)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=align: center]Exclusive Features[/TD]
[TD]“Ultimate COOL!” Thermal Solution
- TUF CeraM!X Heatsink Coating Tech.
- TUF Thermal Radar
“TUF ENGINE!” Power Design
- 8+2 Digital Phase Power Design
- TUF Components (Alloy choke, Cap. & MOSFET; certified by military-standard)
- ASUS DIGI+ VRM Utility
- E.S.P. : Efficient Switching Power Design
“Safe & Stable!” Guardian Angel
- ESD Guards
- MemOK!
- Anti Surge
Other Special Features
- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface
- Front Panel USB 3.0 Support
- AI Suite II
5 Year Warranty[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

AMD Phenom II X2 560 Black Edition AM3 Processor Review

Michael Peck — Sat, 14 May 2011 10:48:00 +0000

Since its introduction in January 2009 AMD have offered a large range of various Phenom II series processors. These have ranged from the original AM2+ DDR2 only quad core Phenom II X4 920 and 940 processors right up to the current AMD flagship processor the Phenom II X6 1100T, which was reviewed here on eTexnix in December 2010.

Today we take a look at the Phenom II X2 560 Black Edition which is a dual core processor of which each core operates at 3.3GHz, however being a Black Edition it has an unlocked Multiplier which allows easy overclocking aimed at more the enthusiast cost concious customer.

What the Phenom II X2 Black Edition is all about:

AMD Phenom II X2 Black Edition processor combines value and unlocked potential for gamers and tuners on a budget. Users can now experience the power of AMD platform technology, codenamed “Dragon” with dual-core configurations. AMD Black Edition processors help users to take control and unleash the maximum potential of Dragon platform technology’s unprecedented performance tuning capabilities. With dual-core processors, AMD provides platform level solutions at multiple price points, each of which exceeds expectations for virtually any user.

AMD Phenom II is for high definition entertainment, gaming, creativity, and beyond. With AMD Phenom II processors as the foundation, you’ll enjoy a new level of responsiveness and visual intensity. AMD puts high definition computing within everyone’s reach. Superior technologies for HD video. Enjoy a superior high definition experience for HD videos on you PC. AMD Phenom II processor are the powerful engine behind your fidelity, high definition video entertainment experience. Only AMD puts the Ultimate Visual Experience for HD video within your reach. Enjoy entertainment beyond your media library. Get HD content online, offline, wherever you want it, however you want it. Your system can handle whatever you dish out – and serve it up on screen in full, high definition glory. Perfect chemistry. Combine AMD Phenom II processors and ATI Radeon HD graphics to really see the difference. Enjoy smooth video, brilliant videos and immersive games. AMD unleashes visual clarity and responsiveness for what you want to do.

AMD Phenom II processors have the power to do it all. Featuring next-generation quad-core design, they crush even the most demanding tasks. So design it, render it, play it, create it, stream it, HD it. With AMD Phenom II processors, if you can imagine it, you can do it.

AMD Phenom II processors were designed with energy efficiency in mind. Capitalizing on AMD’s leadership in energy efficiency, they incorporate all of the latest technology that gives you performance when you need it and save power when you don’t. Look for ENERGY STAR with AMD. Thanks to AMD’s power-saving innovations, you can count on machines based on AMD Phenom II processors for the energy efficiency you want and the performance you need.

Specifications
[HR][/HR]
[TABLE=class: Table_Style3]
[TR]
[TD]Frequency[/TD]
[TD]Total L2 Cache[/TD]
[TD]Packaging[/TD]
[TD]Thermal Design power[/TD]
[TD]CMOS Technology[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3.3GHz[/TD]
[TD]1MB[/TD]
[TD]socket AM3[/TD]
[TD]80W[/TD]
[TD]45nm SOI[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[TABLE=class: Table_Style3]
[TR]
[TD]AMD64 Technology[/TD]
[TD] Yes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Simultaneous 32- & 64-bit computing[/TD]
[TD] Yes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] L1 Cache (Instruction + Data) per core[/TD]
[TD] 128KB (64KB + 64KB)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] L2 Cache (512KB per core)[/TD]
[TD] 1MB[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] L3 Cache[/TD]
[TD] 6MB (shared L3)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] HyperTransport Technology[/TD]
[TD] HyperTransport Technology up to 4000MT/s full duplex, or up to 16.0GB/s I/O Bandwidth[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Integrated DDR2 Memory Controller[/TD]
[TD] Yes[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Memory Controller Width[/TD]
[TD] 128-bit[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Type of Memory Supported[/TD]
[TD] Support for unregistered DIMMs up to PC2 8500(DDR2-1066MHz) and PC3 10600 (DDR3-1333MHz)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Memory Bandwidth[/TD]
[TD] up to 21 GB/s dual channel memory bandwidth[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Total Processor-to-system Bandwidth (HyperTransport plus memory bandwidth)[/TD]
[TD] up to 37 GB/s[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Process Technology[/TD]
[TD] 45 nanometer, SOI (silicon-on-insulator) Technology[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Packaging[/TD]
[TD] AM3(938-pin) organic micro PGA[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Thermal Design Power[/TD]
[TD] 80W[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Manufacturing Sites[/TD]
[TD] GLOBALFOUNDRIES Dresden, Germany[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition AM3 Processor Review

Andy Ruffell — Fri, 06 May 2011 10:17:00 +0000

As i type away on my quad core processor with its eight threads i can somewhat feel that a bit of light word processing isn’t really pushing its power to the max. Obviously when i need its four cores for some video rendering or photo work, it’s ready and waiting. Not everyone needs that amount of computing power though, and it would simply be money wasted.

This is why AMD have continued to keep focus on dual core processors, but have still been squeezing higher clock speeds out and coming up with the the AMD Phenom II X2 555 dual core 3.2GHz AM3 processor that we’re looking at today. Also, did we mention it’s part of the Black Edition range?

What the Phenom II X2 Black Edition is all about:

AMD Phenom II X2 Black Edition processor combines value and unlocked potential for gamers and tuners on a budget. Users can now experience the power of AMD platform technology, codenamed “Dragon” with dual-core configurations. AMD Black Edition processors help users to take control and unleash the maximum potential of Dragon platform technology’s unprecedented performance tuning capabilities. With dual-core processors, AMD provides platform level solutions at multiple price points, each of which exceeds expectations for virtually any user.

AMD Phenom II is for high definition entertainment, gaming, creativity, and beyond. With AMD Phenom II processors as the foundation, you’ll enjoy a new level of responsiveness and visual intensity. AMD puts high definition computing within everyone’s reach. Superior technologies for HD video. Enjoy a superior high definition experience for HD videos on you PC. AMD Phenom II processor are the powerful engine behind your fidelity, high definition video entertainment experience. Only AMD puts the Ultimate Visual Experience for HD video within your reach. Enjoy entertainment beyond your media library. Get HD content online, offline, wherever you want it, however you want it. Your system can handle whatever you dish out – and serve it up on screen in full, high definition glory. Perfect chemistry. Combine AMD Phenom II processors and ATI Radeon HD graphics to really see the difference. Enjoy smooth video, brilliant videos and immersive games. AMD unleashes visual clarity and responsiveness for what you want to do.

AMD Phenom II processors have the power to do it all. Featuring next-generation quad-core design, they crush even the most demanding tasks. So design it, render it, play it, create it, stream it, HD it. With AMD Phenom II processors, if you can imagine it, you can do it.

AMD Phenom II processors were designed with energy efficiency in mind. Capitalizing on AMD’s leadership in energy efficiency, they incorporate all of the latest technology that gives you performance when you need it and save power when you don’t. Look for ENERGY STAR with AMD. Thanks to AMD’s power-saving innovations, you can count on machines based on AMD Phenom II processors for the energy efficiency you want and the performance you need.

Specifications
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Dual-core Technology
3.20Ghz clock speed (AM3 Socket)
Multiplier unlocked
7.0MB L2+L3 Cache
Cool & Quiet Technology for Energy Efficiency
Enhanced Virus Protection
64-bit Technology
Hyper Transport Technology
Virtualization technology
Unlocked Multiplier
3yr Warranty
Retail Boxed with Heatsink & Fan

ASUS M5A99X AM3+ 990X Board Snapped

Simon Telford — Thu, 05 May 2011 17:54:00 +0000

One of the first 990X/SB950 boards is going to be an ASUS judging by these pictures:

The M5A99X EVO is designed to support the upcoming FX-series ‘Zambezi’ CPU’s. There are 3 PCIe X16 slots for some serious Crossfire action (we’re still unsure on SLI support for this board, but apparantly so?). The whole board is passively cooled along with a more reliable 8-Phase Digi+ VRM for Power delivery.

The board is unmistakeably ASUS, with its striking blue and black colour scheme. The board therefore should come complete with USB 3.0 connectivity and some SATA 6Gbps ports together with some of ASUS’s own in house innovations such as the Energy processing unit and TurboV processing Unit.

The board appears to be a Mid-Range part with a UEFI BIOS and is expected to launch this June.

Attached files

M5A99XEVOS.jpg (83.7 KB)

ECS A785GM-M Socket AM3 Motherboard

Andy Ruffell — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:37:00 +0000

As of late, hardware has become less expensive and more efficient and so it should with more competition than ever, more brands want to be top of the food chain as it were. There are some users including the gamers and enthusiasts with cash burning a hole in their pockets that will lead them to a high-end board such as the ASUS Crosshair collection or Gigabyte UD7 motherboards but the majority of users won’t believe in paying these top prices for features they will most likely not use.

Thankfully motherboard manufacturer’s don’t just focus on the high-end market, but also on the mainstream market as well. This doesn’t mean that the components are of any lesser quality, but instead it supplies the user with everything they need, and nothing that they don’t.

Well the folks over at Elite Computer Systems have decided to ship us one of their motherboards. The ECS A785GM-M Socket AM3 motherboard. While most of you may remark that this board is kind of old and outdated by the newest AMD 8xx series boards, it still has something to give for the budget user.

Specifications
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CPU	Socket AM3 socket for AMD Phenom II processors Support 125W Phenom II X6 processors High-performance HyperTransport 3.0 CPU Interface Support transfer rate up to 5200 mega-transfers per second Note: This board supports CPU up to 140W TDP only; you can refer to AMD website to check your CPU.
CHIPSET	AMD® 785G & AMD® SB710 North Bridge: AMD® 785G South Bridge: AMD® SB710
MEMORY	Dual-channel DDR3 memory architecture 4 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM socket support up to 32GB per one DIMM support 8GB Support DDR3 1333/1066/800 SDRAM (Due to the DRAM maximum size is 4GB at present, the memory maximum size we have tested is 16GB) (Due to AMD CPU spec limitation, please refer to Memory QVL for more information) Due to the operating system limitation, the actual memory size may be less than 4GB for the reservation for system usage under Windows® 32-bit OS. For Windows® 64-bit OS with 64-bit CPU, there is no such limitation
EXPANSION SLOT	1 x PCI Express x16 slot 2 x PCI Express x1 slots 1 x PCI slot
GRAPHICS	On Chip (AMD 785G-based with ATI Radeon HD4200 graphics ) Integrated DirectX10.1 graphics processor Share Memory: Maximum up to 512MB
AUDIO	Realtek ALC 888S supports 8-channel HD audio Compliant with HD audio specification
LAN	RealTek 8111DL Gigabit Fast Ethernet
REAR PANEL I/O	6 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x Gigabit Ethernet Port 1 x 1394a port 2 x eSATA 6.0Gb/s ports 1 x Audio port (1x Line in, 4x Line out, 1x Optical SPDIF Out) 1 x VGA port 1 x DVI connector 1 x HDMI Port
INTERNAL I/O CONNECTORS & HEADERS	1 x 24-pin ATX Power Supply Connector & 8-pin 12V Connector 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power Connector 1 x CPU_FAN connector 1 x PWR_FAN connector 1 x SYS Fan header 1 x IDE connector 6 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors 1 x 7S-LED Display 1 x Buzzer 1 x Front panel switch/LED header 1 x Front panel audio header 1X Power on LED (Green light) 1X Stand by LED (Red Light) 1 x SPDIF out header 1 x 1394a header 3 x USB 2.0 headers support additional 6 USB ports 1 x Power button/1 x Reset button 1 x Clear CMOS button
STORAGE	Support by AMD® SB710 2 x Ultra DMA 100/66/33 devices 6 x Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s devices RAID0, RAID1, RAID10 configuration Support by JMicron® JMB362 2 x eSATAII 3.0Gb/s devices
SYSTEM BIOS	AMI BIOS with 8Mb SPI ROM Supports Plug and Play, STR/STD, Hardware monitor, Multi Boot, DMI,HDCP Supports ACPI 3.0 revision Support ECS M.I.B II Utility CPU voltage adjustable Memory voltage adjustable NB Chipset Voltage Adjustable SB Chipset Voltage Adjustable HT Voltage Adjustable External Clock Adjustable Multiple Frequency Adjustable ECS eJIFFY utility Instant access to the internet Leaves away from virus attacks under Windows An alternative interface when Windows crashes FREE and UPGRADABLE tool Just download the application & BIOS from ECS
FORM FACTOR	Micro-ATX Size, 244mm*244mm