AMD Phenom X4 microprocessor family
Phenom X4 is the first quad-core microprocessor family based on K10
microarchitecture. First two members of Phenom X4 family, Phenom 9500
and 9600, were introduced in November 2007. Shortly after that AMD
offered Black Edition of the Phenom 9600, and in a three more months,
in March 2008, released 5 more Phenom X4 microprocessors. At this
time (September 2008) the lineup of Phenom quad-core microprocessors
consists of 14 processors, including three mid-power CPUs and four
Black Edition CPUs.
All Phenom X4 processors include basic features of K10 micro-architecture:
The Phenom microprocessors support Cool'n'Quiet, CoolCore technology, and other power-saving features. Like other K8 and K10 families, the Phenoms use on-chip memory controller and one HyperTransport link to communicate with memory and peripheral devices. The HypertTransport link on almost all Phenom X4 CPUs is clocked at 1.8 GHz, which is almost twice as fast as the frequency of HyperTransport links in Third Generation Opterons. Phenom X4 CPUs are manufactured in 940-pin micro-PGA package. The Phenom processors can be used in both socket AM2 and 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 HyperTransport protocol, like socket AM2+ does, as a result Phenom CPUs will automatically downgrade to slower HyperTransport protocol when they are plugged into socket AM2. Phenom X4 CPUs use 4 digit model numbers that start from '9'. Remaining three digits in the model number indicate relative processor performance.
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Search CPU-WorldIdentify partRelated LinksAt a glanceType: 64-bit microprocessor Introduction: Nov 19, 2007 Technology (micron): 0.065 The number of cores: 4 Frequency (GHz): 1.8 - 2.6 L3 cache size (MB): 2 | ||||||||||||||
B2 stepping
Other that the TLB erratum crippling the B2 stepping CPU's, I have experienced a lot of stability issues with the 9600 Black Edition with B2 steppings, which did not occur with my X2 processor. I replaced memory, CPU and mainboards several times, and only after insisting a B3 (NON BE) stepping replacement and installing it I managed to get a stable setup.
Beware when buying 2nd hand B2 stepping phenoms, they seem very pickey on mainboards and power supplies. Stability issues may occur.
B2 Stepping
That's interesting Peter, I've been running a 9600 black edition for 6 months now on a DFI Lanparty 790FX board and its been very good. Runs happily overclocked at 2.5Ghz core and 2000MHz HT. Which is identical to the 9850. I've not experienced any TLB crashes either even though I have the TLB patch disabled in the BIOS. I think it really depends on your luck with each individual chip.
TLB Bug
Men many sites have thoroughly tested these B2 steppings, in hope to see what is this TLB Bug.
And the results: Didn't reproduce.
These TLB issues, i believe it happens more oftenly in workstations, servers, professional things, we average users, if we experience such crashes we were prized.