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New Processors: Characteristics
I don’t want to be garrulous, so I just give you a table with the formal characteristics of the newly-announced processors: Athlon 64 3500+, Athlon 64 3700+, Athlon 64 3800+ and Athlon 64 FX-53.
Athlon 64 FX-53 | Athlon 64 3800+ | Athlon 64 3700+ | Athlon 64 3500+ | |
L1 Cache Size | 64KB data + 64KB instruction = 128KB Total | |||
L2 Cache Size | 1MB (exclusive) | 512KB (exclusive) | 1MB (exclusive) | 512KB (exclusive) |
CPU Core Frequency | 2.4GHz | 2.4GHz | 2.4GHz | 2.2GHz |
Memory | Integrated 128-bit wide memory controller | Integrated 128-bit wide memory controller | Integrated 64-bit wide memory controller | Integrated 128-bit wide memory controller |
Types of Memory | DDR400, DDR333, DDR266, DDR200 SDRAM | |||
HyperTransport Links | 1 | |||
HyperTransport Spec | 1GHz (x2, DDR) | 1GHz (x2, DDR) | 800MHz (x2, DDR) | 1GHz (x2, DDR) |
Packaging | 939-pin organic micro-PGA | 939-pin organic micro-PGA | 754-pin organic micro-PGA | 939-pin organic micro-PGA |
Process Technology | 130nm (.13-micron) Silicon on Insulator (SOI) | |||
Approximate Transistor count | 105.9 million | 68.5 million | 105.9 million | 68.5 million |
Approximate Die Size | 193mm2 | 144mm2 | 193mm2 | 144mm2 |
Nominal Voltage | 1.5 V | |||
Max Thermal Power | 89 W | |||
Although the maximum thermal design power (TDP) for Socket 939 processors is set to 89W, like with Socket 754 CPUs, AMD demands a certain reserve from the mainboard makers, with a proposed TDP of 105W. It is expected that the heat dissipation of Socket 939 processors will grow up considerably with the launch of models on the 90nm tech process. Thus, it is quite possible that the future Athlon 64 will be as hot as the notorious Prescott-core Pentium 4.
Now let’s view the info about the Athlon 64 3800+ and the Athlon 64 3500+, which the CPU-Z utility provides:
The Socket 939 processors return a CPUID value which says they are based on the DH7-CG revision of the core. That is, this is the same CG core stepping that we described at length in our Athlon 64 FX-53 review. I was not at all surprised to meet this stepping once again: such cores are only capable of reaching a clock rate of 2.4GHz.
I should confess the Socket 939 modifications of the Athlon 64 and the Athlon 64 FX bring some confusion into the lines of AMD’s 64-bit processors. The market now is full of numerous models, quite different in their characteristics. In order to clear this mess up somewhat, I filled up the following table which lists the basic specs of all the members of the Athlon 64 series:
| CPU Core | Socket | CPU Frequency | L2 Cache Size | Memory Controller |
Athlon 64 FX-53 | ClawHammer | Socket 939 | 2.4GHz | 1024KB | Dual-Channel |
Athlon 64 FX-53 | SledgeHammer | Socket 940 | 2.4GHz | 1024KB | Dual-Channel, Registered memory required |
Athlon 64 FX-51 | SledgeHammer | Socket 940 | 2.2GHz | 1024KB | Dual-Channel, Registered memory required |
Athlon 64 3800+ | NewCastle | Socket 939 | 2.4GHz | 512KB | Dual-Channel |
Athlon 64 3700+ | ClawHammer | Socket 754 | 2.4GHz | 1024KB | Single-Channel |
Athlon 64 3500+ | NewCastle | Socket 939 | 2.2GHz | 512KB | Dual-Channel |
Athlon 64 3400+ | ClawHammer | Socket 754 | 2.2GHz | 1024KB | Single-Channel |
Athlon 64 3400+ | NewCastle | Socket 754 | 2.4GHz | 512KB | Single-Channel |
Athlon 64 3200+ | ClawHammer | Socket 754 | 2.0GHz | 1024KB | Single-Channel |
Athlon 64 3200+ | NewCastle | Socket 754 | 2.2GHz | 512KB | Single-Channel |
Athlon 64 3000+ | NewCastle | Socket 754 | 2.0GHz | 512KB | Single-Channel |
Athlon 64 2800+ | NewCastle | Socket 754 | 1.8GHz | 512KB | Single-Channel |
