Phenom9700
Latest
AMD delays Phenom 9700 and 9900 processors -- few notice
As things go from bad to worse, AMD just slipped the shipping date of their 2.4GHz Phenom 9700 and 2.6GHz 9900 CPUs. Announced for Q1, the quad-core CPUs are now expected for Q2. That means their 2.8GHz and 3GHz procs, expected in late Q2, will likely slip as well. However, that's not all good news for Intel fans if Intel chooses to delay the release of their own processors to maximize sales of existing processor line-ups. In the mean time, AMD is expected to focus on its tri-core "Toliman" processors. Well, there's always hope that you can accomplish in court what you couldn't in the marketplace, eh AMD?
Intel's QX9770 quad-core to blow away competition in Q1
Want to see what AMD is up against come Q1? You're looking at it, the 3.2GHz, quad-core, QX9770 Core 2 Extreme processor from Intel. Like Intel's current headliner -- the QX9650 -- we're talking 45-nm Yorkfield class silicon here with 1600MHz front side bus and 12MB L2 cache. HotHardware got their hands on the proc a bit early and call it the fastest quad-core processor they've ever tested, "bar none." Generally speaking, they found it to be about 5 - 8% faster than the QX9650. As you can see from the graph up there, it easily smokes the $300 Phenom 9700 and the $350 2.6GHz Phenom 9900 (both due in Q1) likely won't fare much better. Just keep in mind that Intel's top-performer will cost you around $1,200 by the time it pops in Q1. Somehow, we don't think that's going dissuade any Crysis gamers out there.
AMD launches quad-core Phenom -- Intel shrugs
Just like we heard, AMD has gone live with Phenom. With it, we've got an entire new platform, codenamed "Spider." The Spider PC platform combines AMD Phenom quad-core processors, ATI Radeon HD 3800 series graphics, and AMD 7-series chipsets with CrossFireX and AMD OverDrive software for what AMD calls the "Ultimate visual Experience." That's the hype. Early reviews, however, are pretty much "underwhelmed" by the launch. Oh, the HD 3800 cards are ok (for mid-range graphics) and the 7-series chipset "is in good shape," but AMD needs to roll-on those clock speeds beyond the 2.2GHz Phenom 9500 ($251), 2.3GHz Phenom 9600 ($283) and 2.4GHz and 2.6GHz Phenon 9700 and 9900 (available in Q1 2008 for $300 and $350, respectively), and do it quick, if they hope to pull ahead of Intel's quad-core offerings. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem likely. Read -- AMD Spider press releaseRead -- PC Perspective benchmarkRead -- HotHardware benchmark
