AMD's Phenom X4 9850 gets pitted against Intel's Core 2 Quad Q9300

We'd already seen a few early tests of AMD's new top-end Phenom X4 9850 processor, but the folks at Extreme Tech have now taken it upon themselves to see just how well the processor stacks up against Intel's similarly high-end offering, the Core 2 Quad Q9300. As was suggested by those other reviews, however, the AMD falls behind the (admittedly pricier) Intel processor in just about every respect, including its ability to be overclocked. On the upside, however, that lower cost will likely offset the performance issues for many users, and it does still boast "moderate overclockability" and run cooler than the Intel chip. ExtremeTech apparently isn't convinced that AMD's pricing is "sustainable over the long haul" though. For its part, the Q9300 makes the most of its four cores and 45nm manufacturing process, with the only significant downside being that it packs only have the cache of the rest of Intel's quad core line. That wasn't enough to stop it from snagging an impressive 9 out of 10 rating, however, with ExtremeTech declaring it "one of the best price/performance CPUs you can find."

[Thanks, Mike]

[Isaac @ Apr 9th 2008 7:01PM]

AMD has really been lack luster lately.
I hope they can pull it together and stop getting their ass kicked by intel.

[Deputy Doffoos @ Apr 9th 2008 9:06PM]

AMD is back in the game baby!
With this release they regained their top market position crushing Cyrix and VIA!

[Darkest Daze @ Apr 9th 2008 7:03PM]

While I love the fast and highly overclockable chips Intel has been putting out, I'd love to see what they can do with AMD putting pressure on them again. The only crappy part is that Intel works best when under pressure, and that's when AMD cracks.

[catachip @ Apr 9th 2008 7:06PM]

"have" the cache? half the cache?

Intel seems to have set the pace for speed, but, heat issues seem to be bogging them down as they get to these smaller processes. The fact that this one is running cooler is nice, but, that's really only essentially when you're talking mobile computing, versus desktop. Considering that users in general are moving to laptops, Intel's latest mobile Dual Cores seem to be placed right, and are doing fine there.

[phanbouy @ Apr 9th 2008 8:55PM]

isn't it "halve"?

[phanbouy @ Apr 9th 2008 8:56PM]

nevermind. it's an adjective not a verb. i am fail.

[Striker @ Apr 9th 2008 7:11PM]

The Core 2 series is Intel's payback for AMD laughing at NetBurst. You brought this on yourself, AMD, and I am still laughing. Viva la Core!

[ethana2 @ Apr 9th 2008 8:35PM]

Nehalem FTW!

[Striker @ Apr 9th 2008 9:21PM]

I still can't believe that they put a VIA processor in the Mini-Note, I really wanted that thing until I heard about the performance in Vista Business. :( Well now I guess I'm going for a ideaPad Y510

[ben @ Apr 9th 2008 7:18PM]

"only have the cache" Oh no!

[jeff @ Apr 9th 2008 7:28PM]

Uh .. must be halve the cache

[Adam @ Apr 9th 2008 7:25PM]

have should be half

[Wolfticket @ Apr 9th 2008 7:26PM]

I'm a sucker for cooler CPUs, so AMD might have just made it back on to my radar.

[wtran168 @ Apr 9th 2008 7:35PM]

9/10 is for the intel cpu

6/10 was given for amd

[John B @ Apr 10th 2008 12:27AM]

And if the AMD CPU does exactly what he wants it to do, that 6/10 doesn't mean shit. For all you know, 5/10 is exactly what he would use, so anything over that is diminishing returns.

I really wish you people would stop looking at the raw numbers and just let people decide for themselves whether a particular CPU is the right value or not.

[ryan @ Apr 9th 2008 7:33PM]

while the intel chip runs hotter I have a mac pro with dual 3.2 Ghz set of these chips and I can tell you they run fricken silent. (while im sure the HUGE heatsinks that come with have something to do with it)

[WhyFi @ Apr 9th 2008 8:04PM]

If two Intel chip process in a Mac with no one there to hear it, do they make a sound?

Dude.

CPUs don't make noise.

[ethana2 @ Apr 9th 2008 8:36PM]

Little speakers on mainboards, mechanical hard drives, and cooling fans make noise.

[Invisiblemoose @ Apr 9th 2008 11:32PM]

RAM can also make noise. Ever have a stick of whiny memory? Annoying as hell.

[torqueo @ Apr 9th 2008 7:38PM]

45m C2's run fairly cool and the performance is better. I wouldn't be surprised that if a Penryn was underclocked to match a Phenom's performance the heat would also be similar.. except, with the Intel, you have the option to clock higher and gain more performance.

In short: who's AMD? Wait, weren't they relevant at one time?

[Cash @ Apr 9th 2008 7:39PM]

"one of the best price/performance CPUs you can find."

This should read "*IF* you can find it," seeing how Ars has a story up detailing how this chip is going to be released in limited quantities because apparently AMD is still having production issues. On top of that, limited stock is most likely going to raise the retail price of this part, much like what happened with Nvidia's 880o GT, which sold for much more then it's MSRP because of supply problems when it was first released.

I'd really like to upgrade to either of these, but what is the point when Nehalem is going to be changing the game entirely in less then a year?

[Ninjakamster @ Apr 9th 2008 8:03PM]

Didn't Cyrix get acquired by Via?

[Darkest Daze @ Apr 9th 2008 8:04PM]

Floating-point, math co-processors are for chumps.

[The Purveyor of Justice @ Apr 9th 2008 9:53PM]

Yeah, they got gobbled up by VIA; it would have been interesting to see how they did in todays market.

[ryan @ Apr 9th 2008 8:05PM]

I was referring to fan speed and noise made from said fans

[ethana2 @ Apr 9th 2008 8:37PM]

YEAH! ...Who are they?

[ethana2 @ Apr 9th 2008 8:39PM]

I am of the opinion that a superior processor with the capability to be adjusted on the fly to any voltage and clock within its range is better in every way than another one that just comes at a slower stock clock and lower stock voltage.

It doesn't 'run cooler', it does less.

[Garrett Eaton @ Apr 9th 2008 9:45PM]

yea, according to extreme tech the intel got a 9 not the AMD let's get the facts strait. The AMD got a 6!

[DarkLightConnection Unbanned @ Apr 9th 2008 9:45PM]

Hey, not too harsh on AMD..

Some of us are not millionaire and AMD really kicks intel's a$$ when it comes to delivering decent performance without breaking the bank

Plus AMD's black logo looks better than Intel's white.... yeah, totally irrelevant

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Apr 10th 2008 4:56AM]

So true. Intel logo can use some update. ;)

At least AMD tries to put something distinctive into their CPU logos - while Intel just adds and shuffles words around.

With all the money, Intel still can't get some decent industrial designers. Their stickers look even worser than "Designed for Windows" ones.

[LJKelley @ Apr 9th 2008 11:00PM]

I'm suprised that nobody has mentioned the obvious. AMD has always made cheaper CPUs mostly because they have to compete. Even when their CPUs were so much better than Intels do you think Intel really suffered? They were still in the Majority of computers. Nevermind the fact that the performance issues were more blunders by Intel more than huge innovations by AMD. The only think AMD really did to push the evolope was be the first to push consumer 64bit CPUs. And still now AMD is cheaper, my X2 is easily overclocked and works great and was extremely well priced.

[FTY @ Apr 10th 2008 12:06AM]

DarkLightConnection;

For that $40 difference you don't have to be a millionaire, and you get a better performance. Even the E8500 outperforms the AMD quite often and it costs you around the same as the AMD. I would put my hands away from AMD on this one, if I would want performance. Those AMDs should be in the $150 range for what they bring to the table

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Apr 10th 2008 4:52AM]

... and they will be in the $150 price range.

It is well know /hidden/ fact that AMD CPUs are often sold much cheaper than official price.

[meatwad64 @ Apr 10th 2008 12:07AM]

Maybe i'm alone here but I didn't think the amd did that bad at gaming it seemed to beat the q9300 in most games. I don't think amd's situation is as bleak as people say it is.

[meatwad64 @ Apr 10th 2008 12:11AM]

Sorry I typed that wrong but what I meant to say for $235 I don't think its that bad of a deal but then again maybe i don't need 100 fps in my games.

[3r1c @ Apr 10th 2008 2:13AM]

umm.... typo?
"it pack only have of..."
it's half.
u should really use the spell-check

[A1 @ Apr 10th 2008 5:09AM]

And you should use the find tool.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Apr 10th 2008 4:51AM]

My main question is: where the f*ck is DDR3 support?????

As much as I like AMD price/performance ratio, releasing now CPU w/o DDR3 support is lame.

[Oinquer @ Apr 10th 2008 5:28AM]

YEAH! now check the prices...sorry but im not gonna sell my computer cellphone...school books (tempting) and everything else i have to buy an intel...
That ohhhh intel is fast as hell!!!One Me wants!!! (and im not saying it isnt....indeed its the best CPU you can get) but at this time? the average user wont even use the Lower grade AMD CPU's to the max...
i have a 4200 X2 CPU and its more then i need...
Most games don't use CPU to max...they rely in Motherboard speeds, ram and graphics...

check this...
AMD Athlon x2 4200+ = 55€
INTEL C2D E4500 2.20GHZ = 99€...
Lower end CPU's......Cheapest C2D and cheapest AMD i found in store...
take your conclusions...but i can use those 45€ into a better graphics or ram even motherboard......
i know you guys love to say..
I OwN YoU WiTh MyY CoRe 2 DuO!! Its Overclocked to 6666GhZ!!!! OMG I ROX, YoU SuX!...
anyway...you dont use intensive CPU's programs? then you wont need a ultra glorified powerfull CPU!.

[Ubuntu 7.10 WindowsXP @ Apr 15th 2008 2:10PM]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the Phenoms do support DDR3 RAM. The problem is that it will not be implemented until the new chipset/socket comes out. Which is why you get the stupid AM2+ label. Whenever AM3 is released, your current Phenom will just pop in it and go. You will not need another CPU, it will fully support DDR3.

AMD needs to clean house. They need to fire very specific people making very bad decisions and stop laying off the workers. Almost all of their problems can be tracked back to bad business decisions.

[nick @ May 28th 2008 11:58AM]

The comment above this is borderline at best. I think people need to realize that computers are awesome and intel produces parts for computers, making them awesome. That logic can be difficult for some people, so let me illustrate it with an easy example. Astronauts are cool, and they hang out in space (also cool), with computers and freeze dried ice cream. Thats so cool you won't find it in the dictionary because computers are into paperless lifestyles to save trees because shade helps them run faster with more jigawatts.

[88-ei @ Jun 11th 2008 5:04AM]

NEW INTEL CPU'S ARE INNEFICIENT

simple, they drain you $100's more on your yearly
electric bill, and theyre horrible for global warming.
The lowest TDP intel cpu is 65 watts, via can make desktop
cpus that consume as little as 1 watt@ 500mhz wich
is fast enough for any moNster graphics game given you have a fast
drive, since the HDD and pagefile determines
SMOOTHNESS OF PLAY .

via kicks intels ass on most fronts especially in Efficiency and quality.heat is what burns cpu clocks and cooks people, a room heater. high frequency and high wattage is a total waste of Efficiency perfomance and a waste of your money on your power bill and plus, when your cpus is over 40 watts you need a loud fan that squeals,like a hairdryer, this isnt crafty cpu construction, its powerwasting and microwave central room heating! and, its an environmental enemy, no computer processor should should have a higher TDP than 12 to 15 watts under full load and should all be small form factor or else its an inneficient
power and money waster.

right now intel crystal processors are
microwave room heaters that drain your
power bill over $100s of dollars yearly.

intel chips and asus boards's really need to lower
their useless money wasting power over-consumption
and should really look to via for creative inspiration
on efficiency and performance