X-bit labs

AMD Conquering 3GHz: Athlon 64 X2 6000+ CPU Review (page 8)

Category: CPU

by Ilya Gavrichenkov

[ 02/19/2007 | 09:00 PM ]

Overclocking

Of course, the 3GHz processor on Windsor core manufactured with 90nm process can hardly conquer high frequencies during overclocking. Nevertheless, we decided to check out the overclocking potential of the new AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ processor.

Our overclocking experiments were performed using Zalman CNPS9500 LED air-cooler with sufficient cooling efficiency for processors with 125W TDP. For better results we increased the processor Vcore to 1.6V. The stability of the overclocked processor was tested using S&M and Orthos utilities.

Note that although AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ processor costs quite a lot and works at higher nominal speed, its maximum clock frequency multiplier is locked. That is why we could only overclock it using the increased FSB speed, which turned out to be no problem at all, by the way.

Our experiments showed that AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ could overclock to maximum 3.2GHz without losing the operational stability.

As we have expected, the overclocking potential of the new AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ is not that significant. This processor is already running at almost the full potential of the Windsor core.

Strange as it might seem, but AMD is going to introduce even faster processor model based on the 90nm Windsor core later on. Within the next few months the company is going to announce Athlon 64 FX-76 processor designed for Quad FX systems and working at 3.2GHz nominal speed. However, since Athlon 64 FX processors are not manufactured in serious mass quantities, this is not impossible at all.

Conclusion

Frankly speaking the launch of the new AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ processor is not a very big event. Until promising new cores based on K8L micro-architecture come out, AMD will hardly be able to surprise us with anything. After the launch of Intel Core 2 Duo processor family, AMD K8 micro-architecture turned pretty obsolete. While in the budget and mainstream market AMD manages to success just fine thanks to smart and aggressive pricing policy, then the high-performance segment seems to be a tough nut to crack for AMD at this time.

Despite its significantly higher performance rating and $459 retail price, the new AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ processor can only compete successfully with Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, though not in all applications. From the price-to-performance prospective it is losing to the Intel Core 2 Duo at this time. So, the newcomer will have really hard times winning the user’s hearts. At least until the prices go down again.