Last month, AMD became the first company to bring a $99 quad-core processor to market, the Athlon II X4 620. The question, of course, is whether or not it delivers. At 2.60GHz, it looks to offer ample performance, but the lack of an L3 cache is sure to be seen in some of our tests. Luckily, the chip's overclocking-ability helps negate that issue.
With Intel's Lynnfield processors right around the corner, what better time could there be for AMD to release another speed-bumped Phenom II X4 to help remain competitive? The Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition rolls in at ~$240, and it competes very nicely with Intel's closest competitor, and in the end, proves to offer a fantastic performance per dollar.
For each component that can go into a PC, there are usually countless models to choose from, and the CPU scheme of things is no different. For those looking to spend around $250, the options are AMD's Phenom II X4 955 and Intel's Core 2 Quad Q9550. AMD is confident that their product delivers a better value, so let's check to see if that's the case.
Phenom II may have just launched last month, but AMD didn't want to waste time in following-up with their first AM3-based processors. We're taking a look at two, including the X4 810 and X3 720 'Black Edition'. Both offer great performance at their respective price-points, but the X3 became the more appealing chip, thanks to its overclocking ability.
If pondering an upgrade, the time to purchase a new processor is now. Both AMD and Intel are offering a great collection of models that fit all budgets, and we take a look to find the best options available. Whether it's a Dual-Core or Quad-Core you're after, there's undoubtedly a model that fits nicely into your price range and won't let you down.
| Title | Author | Date | Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD AM2 4600+ EE 2.40GHz | Rob Williams | August 28, 2006 | AMD Dual-Core |
| AMD AM2.. What We Know So Far | Rob Williams | February 17, 2006 | AMD |
| AMD64 3700+ San Diego S939 2.2GHz | Greg King | September 21, 2005 | AMD Dual-Core |
| AMD64 3200+ Venice S939 | Rob Williams | May 24, 2005 | AMD Dual-Core |