AMD Platform

To minimize the dependence of the AMD CPU overclocking on the functionality of not the best mainboard that we had at our disposal, we overclocked our Phenom II X4 processor by raising its multiplier and increasing the bus frequency just a little. As a result, we managed to overclock our processor to 3811 MHz (+27%) without losing stability. The nominal processor Vcore was increased to 1.55 V (+14.8%) in the mainboard BIOS:

The memory voltage remained the same and its frequency was around 1000 MHz (5-5-5-15_2T timings).

Let’s check out the obtained results:

The main impression that I got from the first test on AMD Phenom II X4 is the low heat dissipation compared to Core i7 we have just discussed. And it is not only because of considerably more modest temperature readings obtained during the test session (the thermal diodes are most likely calibrated differently anyway), or because of lower memory capacity in Linpack (only two 1 GB modules were installed). The thing is that the heatsinks of all three tested coolers warmed up much less than on Intel Core i7, according to my subjective observations. As a result, highly efficient coolers cannot reveal their entire potential on Phenom II X4 that is why the difference between their efficiency test results is lower in this case.

Anyway, Zalman CNPS10X Extreme appears even more efficient on an AMD platform than it was on an Intel one. It loses to BARAM only at minimal rotation speed of its default fan. When tested with the same Noiseblocker fan, the new cooler outperforms its technologically more advanced competitor in both sped modes and even proves more efficient than BARAM with two identical fans. Thermalright IFX-14 is again undefeated, although at the maximum rotation speed of its default fan Zalman CNPS10X Extreme managed to catch up with it.

Now let’s check out the results of our acoustic tests.