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AMD releases X3 Phenoms to retailers
Pick up a triple core Phenom CPU for just £95.75 inc VAT
AMD has been talking about triple-core CPUs for over six months now, but so far the elusive chips have only been in the hands of OEMs. However, today AMD announced that it’s shipping three new Phenom X3 chips to retailers, and all of them are based on the new B3 stepping with the fixed TLB problems.
The best news is that the prices start from just £95.75 inc VAT. This will get you a 2.1GHz Phenom X3 8450 from Scan, while £109.26 will get you a 2.3GHz Phenom X3 8650 and £128.08 will buy you a 2.4GHz Phenom X3 8750. All the chips are based on AMD’s 65nm Toliman core, and have a standard TDP of 95W.
The chips’ cache system is exactly what you’d expect from the chips too – being the same as a Phenom X4 but with just three cores. This means you get 2MB of Level 3 cache, plus 1.5MB (512KB per core) of Level 2 cache. The chips also feature 128KB of Level 1 cache per core as well.
While it’s great to see triple-core processors being released for under £100, the prices are also slightly disappointing. When AMD launched the original X3 chips to PC manufacturers in February we worked out that the difference in price between CPUs could result in the X3 chips costing as little as £60. As it is, it will be harder for AMD to compete with Intel’s Core 2 Duo and Quad chips at £95.75 and higher.
Do you have an AM2+ system that you’re thinking of upgrading to a Phenom X3 or X4 system? Will a keenly priced Phenom X3 CPU persuade you to part with your money, or would you prefer to spend more on an Intel Core 2 Quad setup? Let us know your thoughts.
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SH;T SH;T SH;T . From an iNTEL fanboy NO THANKs .
Comment by kingjohn721 at 2:58pm 28th April 2008
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/04/11/amd_cto_phil_hester_resigns/
Comment by EdArch at 11:27pm 27th April 2008
I'd say thats its a pretty good idea in all fairness to AMD. Obviously they are quads but the manufacturing process just of some cores wasnt successful for all the CPU's produced. Therefore they probably had to disable one as it wasnt to the AMD specifications or something like that at a guess. Its just like buying a factory second like you would something from any other shop. Its a good move from AMD aswell as they can shift some of their seconds. Lets face it they prob's need some success! The only thing, as it says in the article, the price is a little dissapointing. Just a little too much to warrant the 95 odd quid. Id say wait a while till the price drops to about 60ish quid and its a decent purchase. Also with a party piece potential of an extra core to unlock, there could be a realy bargain to be had... But, ill tell you what.....if the price stays this high on the x3, id still rather have the Q6600 :D
Comment by poorstudent1 at 6:44pm 27th April 2008
To me the silicon industry is just nuts.Anything from CPU's to GPU's are designed to one or two models which are all singing & dancing & then AMD & Nvidia etc start to vandilise them by cutting cores & stream processors (which involves alot more intricate work) to sell the same thing as a cheaper version - the last time I looked, the more processes a thing goes through the more it costs to produce. I hope AMD muddle through, it was because of thier competition that intel came up with the Q6600 (which I own). It's all just maddness!
Comment by breaks2006 at 1:38pm 25th April 2008
If it does have an extra core on the die and it could be started up with a quick and easy hack, I might get one
Comment by markedwards_uk at 8:59am 25th April 2008
Could AMD not produce a true triple core, it would make more sence, it seems ridiculas to me that you're paying/having something thats incomplete, why pay for something you don't have????? Four cores sir, Yes please but can you disable one, it'll cost you exra, no problem.
Comment by tigerlewis85 at 1:53pm 24th April 2008
This is complete b******* why oh why are people making/buying a disabled cpu, when it is obviously one core short of a full set, like someone mentioned earlier, you are paying for the fourth core, something you are not getting, has the world gone mad????
Comment by tigerlewis85 at 11:38am 24th April 2008
With the amazing price drops of the intel quads I don't think that AMD stands a chance!
Comment by Bonzo450 at 8:20pm 23rd April 2008
i have an AM2+ MSI Mobo and will look at the 3 core phenom as i have the ati 3850 GPU as well. will have to see how things go and how they. has CPC tested the new core phenom's yet? will hold on to my 5000 black edtiton for a few more months.
Comment by Optimusprime1985 at 2:03pm 23rd April 2008
The initial release price always seems to be a bit pie in the sky - online retailers will have them down to £60 by the summer!
Comment by greentrident at 1:04pm 23rd April 2008
one reason they could still be so expensive is that they *are* still quad cores. they still have that extra core on the die, from what i've read, and as such, AMD has to claw back the money from that wasted silicon somewhere.
Comment by rickykemp at 12:26pm 23rd April 2008
I recentley bought a Phenom 9600 black edition from ebuyer for £93.31, which was a bargin and prob a mistake on there behalf. Why would any body buy a tripple core when for a matter of a couple of pounds you can buy a quad core. For an example: A phenom 8750 £128.08 thats 3 cores at 2.3ghz compared to a Phenom 9750 £132.24 thats 4 cores at 2.3ghz. So for an extra core £4.16, I can see the appeal that if these tripple cores were £30-£40 less than stated.
Comment by mattbungle at 12:16pm 23rd April 2008
i would'nt buy one unless, like you say if it was £60, i think they may lower the price once they read peoples thoughts on the pricing.
Comment by NikoBellic at 11:31am 23rd April 2008
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