Perpetual benchmark thread...

[T.Rex]

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

The boxes run significantly cooler compared to our older 65nm Q6600 C2Q. We think the 9550 is a 65nm CPU with a 95W TDP. We verified that the CPU has the fixed "B3" stepping (?) to eliminate the "TLB" problem.

Hi,
I plan to buy a Phenom Quad 9950 (2.6 GHz - TDP 140W) or a 9850 (2.5 GHz - TDP 95W), with 2 GB G-Skill memory ((2x1024) DDR2 PC8500 (1066Mhz) - 5-5-5-15) and with a GigaByte mother-board.
The reseller says that I need a thermical dissiper (Noctua - NH-C12P) for the 9950. Do you think it is necessary ? Or maybe I should stay with the 9850 which is only 10% slower than the 9950 for Prime95 I think.
There is a new Phenom Quad 9950 2.6 GHz with only 125W. But it is not yet widely available....

And what is this TLB problem ?

Thanks,
Tony

[ET_]

Originally Posted by T.Rex

Hi,
I plan to buy a Phenom Quad 9950 (2.6 GHz - TDP 140W) or a 9850 (2.5 GHz - TDP 95W), with 2 GB G-Skill memory ((2x1024) DDR2 PC8500 (1066Mhz) - 5-5-5-15) and with a GigaByte mother-board.
The reseller says that I need a thermical dissiper (Noctua - NH-C12P) for the 9950. Do you think it is necessary ? Or maybe I should stay with the 9850 which is only 10% slower than the 9950 for Prime95 I think.
There is a new Phenom Quad 9950 2.6 GHz with only 125W. But it is not yet widely available....

And what is this TLB problem ?

Thanks,
Tony

IIRC, the TLB problem has been solved by AMD with the stepping B3 release of Phenom. Processors numbered xx5x are not affected by that bug.

I also heard that on next January 9th Phenom II will be released, up to 3 GHz with 45nm technology. Voices tell that Phenom II will be perfectly suited for overclocking, AMD folks pushed it up to 6 GHz with a liquid nitrogen cooler (-195 degrees Celsius).

Luigi, an AMD fan.

[metallurge]

Originally Posted by T.Rex

Hi,
I plan to buy a Phenom Quad 9950 (2.6 GHz - TDP 140W) or a 9850 (2.5 GHz - TDP 95W), with 2 GB G-Skill memory ((2x1024) DDR2 PC8500 (1066Mhz) - 5-5-5-15) and with a GigaByte mother-board.
The reseller says that I need a thermical dissiper (Noctua - NH-C12P) for the 9950. Do you think it is necessary ? Or maybe I should stay with the 9850 which is only 10% slower than the 9950 for Prime95 I think.
There is a new Phenom Quad 9950 2.6 GHz with only 125W. But it is not yet widely available....

And what is this TLB problem ?

Thanks,
Tony

Very similar to a couple systems I am currently building. The 125W 9950 is very available here, in fact I even just picked one up as an "open box" item at NewEgg for $132 delivered. Regular price for the 9950 125W is about $169. Nothing else makes sense, IMHO, in this price range. Not the 9850, for sure.

Be aware also that Phenom II 940 will be available literally any day now. 3 Ghz, larger cache, improved core, lower power (45 nm vs 60 nm). Approximately $300.

In either case, you will need a good (125-140W capable; heatpipe) CPU cooler (I like the Scythe Ninja+ rev B myself), a well-ventilated case (I like the Antec 300), and probably heatsinks for the motherboard mosfets in the power supply section, if they are not included on your motherboard already. Also, look for solid capacitors in the power supply section. Gigabyte has many choices here, and I have used them. My latest builds are with Biostar 790GX boards.

The TLB problem only applies to 9x00 Phenoms, not 9x50 Phenoms or 9x0 Phenom IIs. TLB Phenoms are to be avoided. Good luck.

[James Heinrich]

Originally Posted by metallurge

Be aware also that Phenom II 940 will be available literally any day now.

They're actually around, your local computer store very likely has them in stock (where I work has had them since 24-Dec), but AMD has strictly told retailers they can't advertise the Phenom II until release date. But I'd suggest waiting a month and skipping the AM2+ PhenomII's and waiting for the AM3 version -- you then get the choice of using AM2+ or AM3 motherboard, and DDR2 or DDR3 RAM. With the first-release AM2+ versions you're stuck with AM2+ boards and DDR2 RAM (not really a bad thing right now, but things will look different in a year or two and you may regret having the "crippled" version).

[cheesehead]

Originally Posted by T.Rex

And what is this TLB problem ?

AMD's formal designation is "Erratum 298".

From http://techreport.com/discussions.x/13742

Erratum 298 will be described as follows: "The processor operation to change the accessed or dirty bits of a page translation table entry in the L2 from 0b to 1b may not be atomic. A small window of time exists where other cached operations may cause the stale page translation table entry to be installed in the L3 before the modified copy is returned to the L2. In addition, if a probe for this cache line occurs during this window of time, the processor may not set the accessed or dirty bit and may corrupt data for an unrelated cached operation. The system may experience a machine check event reporting an L3 protocol error has occurred. In this case, the MC4 status register (MSR 0000_0410) will be equal to B2000000_000B0C0F or BA000000_000B0C0F. The MC4 address register (MSR 0000_0412) will be equal to 26h."

[metallurge]

(Regarding Phenom II's)

Originally Posted by James Heinrich

They're actually around, your local computer store very likely has them in stock (where I work has had them since 24-Dec), but AMD has strictly told retailers they can't advertise the Phenom II until release date. But I'd suggest waiting a month and skipping the AM2+ PhenomII's and waiting for the AM3 version -- you then get the choice of using AM2+ or AM3 motherboard, and DDR2 or DDR3 RAM. With the first-release AM2+ versions you're stuck with AM2+ boards and DDR2 RAM (not really a bad thing right now, but things will look different in a year or two and you may regret having the "crippled" version).

First, to let people know, Phenom IIs are now available. I picked a 940 up from newegg this morning for $275.

James, you are right to let people know about the AM3 Phenom II DDR3-capable versions that are coming in a few months (April for the 3 Ghz 945). For me, I intend to populate with not less than 8 Gb of RAM, which would be unaffordably expensive in DDR3 anytime soon. 1066-DDR2 is where the sweet spot currently is price-performance-wise. With the Phenom II's larger cache size, it matters less anyway.

[T.Rex]

Originally Posted by metallurge

(Regarding Phenom II's)

First, to let people know, Phenom IIs are now available. I picked a 940 up from newegg this morning for $275.

NUTS ! In France, I can see it for 275 Euros !!!!! Instead of the expected 200 Euros ! That's NOT fair !
Tony

[metallurge]

Originally Posted by T.Rex

NUTS ! In France, I can see it for 275 Euros !!!!! Instead of the expected 200 Euros ! That's NOT fair !
Tony

You know, you might be able to arrange to import one. Shipping would be reasonable. For that much price difference, I might think about it. Know anyone in the States who could help?

[James Heinrich]

Originally Posted by T.Rex

NUTS ! In France, I can see it for 275 Euros !!!!!

In Canada I see it for C$370 (~225€, US$312), so halfway between US and France.

[Aapje]

Originally Posted by T.Rex

NUTS ! In France, I can see it for 275 Euros !!!!! Instead of the expected 200 Euros ! That's NOT fair !

The Newegg price is without sales tax (which USians would technically have to pay). So adding 20% sales tax (the french rate) would bring you up to 240 Euros. That is not that far off and might be explained by higher shipping costs.

[James Heinrich]

Originally Posted by Aapje

The Newegg price is without sales tax

The Canadian price I quoted is also pre-tax, once you add in 13% sales tax (variable by province) would be ~262€, so pretty close.