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AMD's AM2 Platform
DDR2 ... Moving On

(Review by MS May 23, 2006)

Hardware Virtualization

Regardless of the Level2 cache size (full cache or half cache), the AM2 processors are all using the "Windsor" code name. New AM2 platform-compatible model numbers are:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 processors: 5000+, 4800+, 4600+, 4400+, 4200+, 4000+, and 3800+
AMD Athlon 64 processors: 3800+, 3500+
AMD Sempron processors: 3600+, 3500+, 3400+, 3200+, and 3000+

Besides the new memory controller for DDR2, the other novel feature is Hardware Virtualization managed by a hardware Hypervizor as opposed to software virtualization. On a side note, the single core Athlon64 and Sempron core uses the code name "Orleans" and weighs in at 81.1 million transistors and a die size of 103 mm2.

Some Numbers

Model #:	FX60	X2-5000
Codename	Windsor
Frequency:	2.8GHz	2.6GHz
Cache Sizes:	64KB L1 Data + 64KB L1 Instruction Cache / 1MB L2 Cache (Exclusive) per core	64KB L1 Data + 64KB L1 Instruction Cache / 512KB L2 Cache (Exclusive) per core
CPU to MC:	2.8GHz	2.6GHz
Memory Controller:	Integrated 128-bit memory controller
Supported Memory:	PC 3200 - 8500 DDR2 memory
HyperTransport Links:	1
HyperTransport Spec:	2GHz (2x 1000MHz / DDR)
Effective data bandwidth:	20.8 GB/sec [8GB/sec x1 HyperTransport link + 12.8 GB/sec memory bandwidth (at DDR2-800)]
Packaging:	940-pin organic micro-PGA
Fab location:	AMD's Fab 30 wafer fabrication facility in Dresden, Germany
Process Technology:	90nm (.09-micron) Silicon on Insulator (SOI)
Approx. Transistor count:	227.4 million	153.8 million
Approx. Die Size:	230 mm2	183 mm2
Nominal Voltage:	1.3-1.4V	1.3-1.35V
Max Thermal Power:	125 W	89 W
Max Icc (processor current):	90.4A	66.2A
Min P-State (with C'n'Q)	1.0 GHz
Nominal Voltage @ min -state:	1.1V
Max Thermal Power @ min -state:	38.0 W	31.0 W
Max Ambient Case Temp:	65 degrees Celsius

Test Configurations

To put things into perspective, we are using dual and single core configurations for comparison along with a dual processor Opteron system. The point is not to say that one is better than the other, rather it is to give some idea where a given system would currently be, and whether there is really any need for upgrading or not. Every processor and every system has its own strengths and weaknesses and depending on one's preferences, some of the issues will be irrelevant whereas others may influence a purchasing decision -- or not.

"AM2" Platform: ASUS M2N32-SLI AMD Athlon64 FX62, X2-5000+ 2 x 1 GB OCZ PC2-6400 EL Dual Channel Platinum XTC modules	"Socket939" Platform: DFI LAN Party UT NF4 UltraD (Modded for SLI) AMD Athlon64 FX60, X2 4800+, X2-3800+ Athlon64 4000+, 3800+, 3500+ 2 x 512 MB OCZ PC3200 Platinum DDR modules	Dual "Socket 940" Platform: ASUS K8N-DL AMD Opteron 252 6 x 512 MB Mushkin PC3200 Registered ECC DDR modules	"Socket 940" Platform: Foxconn NFPIK8AA AMD Opteron 875 4 x 512 MB Mushkin PC3200 Registered ECC DDR modules
"975X" Platform: Intel D975XBX mainboard Intel Pentium4 LGA 775 955 (Presler), 840 Extreme Edition, 840D, 820D 4 x 512MB OCZ PC2 5400 DDR2 modules	"925XE" Platform: ASUS P5AD2-E Intel Pentium4 LGA 775 3.46 Extreme Edition, Intel P4 660, ExtremeEdition 3.73GHz 2 x 512MB OCZ PC2 5400 DDR2 modules	"925X" Platform: ASUS P5AD2 Intel Pentium4 LGA 775 3.4 Extreme Edition P4 LGA 560; 550 2 x 512MB OCZ PC2 5400 DDR2 modules	"855" Platform: DFI 855GME-MGF Intel Pentium M 735 2 x 512MB OCZ ZB PC 3200 DDR modules
ASUS n7800 GT*			Sapphire Radeon X850 PE (Intel 855)
Maxtor Maxline3 250GB SATA HDD :			2 x WD 36GB Raptor HDD RAID Level0 (Dual Socket 940)

* All benchmarks were run with SLI disabled unless indicated.

Athlon64 X2-3800+
(dual core)

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