Phenom X3 is a triple-core microprocessor family based on K10
microarchitecture. Phenom X3 has fewer number of CPU cores than the
Phenom X4, in all other aspects
both Phenom families are very similar to each other. Each Phenom's
CPU core has 128 KB level 1 and exclusive 512 KB level 2 cache. The
CPU also has 2MB level 3 cache shared between three cores. Phenom X3
includes many features that are standard for the K10 microarchitecture:
AMD 64 technology, Enhanced Virus Protection, Virtualization
technology, support for Streaming SIMD instructions up to SSE3, SSE4a
instructions, and many power-saving features. The Phenom X3 family,
like other K8 and K10-based families, uses
on-chip memory controller and HyperTransport technology to
communicate with memory and peripheral devices. Unlike
Third Generation
Opterons, the Phenom processors include only one HyperTransport
link, but the link is almost twice as fast as the link in Third
Generation Opteron CPUs.
Phenom X3 microprocessors CPUs are manufactured in 940-pin micro-PGA
package. The Phenoms are intended to be used in socket AM2+
motherboards, but they can also work in socket AM2 motherboards. One
of the main differences between these sockets is the version of
supported HyperTransport protocol. Socket AM2 doesn't support newer
and faster version of the HT protocol, as a result Phenom CPUs will
automatically downgrade to slower HyperTransport protocol when they
are inserted into socket AM2.
Phenom X3 uses 4 digit model numbers which are similar to Phenom X4
model numbers. All Phenom X3 model numbers start from '8'. Remaining
three digits in the model number indicate relative processor
performance.
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