AMD Phenom II X4 920: Closer Look

AMD sent us their top model – Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition – for our first article devoted to new Phenom II X4 processor family. This CPU works at 3.0 GHz nominal frequency and features an unlock clock frequency multiplier. The second model is the junior model in the family – Phenom II X4 920. It is designed to work at lower nominal clock speed of 2.8 GHz. As for other characteristics, it is not very much different from the top model, which is actually not surprising at all, as both Phenom II X4 CPUs are based on the same 45nm Deneb core and are designed for Socket AM2+ intrustructure.

Therefore, the formal specifications are quite logical:

Like Phenom II X4 940, Phenom II X4 920 uses the same frequency for its built-in North Bridge - 1.8 GHz, and supports the same memory types including DDR2-1067 SDRAM. The typical heat dissipation of both these processors is also the same and is set at 125 W. So, Phenom II X4 920 selling for $30 less than its elder brother does in fact yield only in one parameter to the 940 model: it has lower nominal clock frequency.

Besides, AMD didn’t include their Phenom II X4 920 CPU into the Black Edition series. In other words, there is no way to overclock Phenom II X4 by simply raising its multiplier. On the one hand, it is pretty sad news for overclockers. But on the other hand, it doesn’t really eliminate any overclocking prospective, but simply means that Phenom II X4 920 should be overclocked by raising the base clock generator frequency, just like you would do with Intel CPUs.