So, those processors from AMD are out, and I am very excited.
I just read the reviews from Guru3d and Techreport. And I need to say that they live up to my expectations. They are not faster than their competitor, but they are competitive enough.
And what makes them more interesting is that they are a cheaper solution than Intel’s i7.
The cost of the CPU itself is not that different, but an i7 system also need an X58 Motherboard (320 USD), triple channel DDR3 memory (159 USD for 3GB), and the processor itself (340 USD for an i7 920). For a grand total of 819 dollars.
For a Phenom X2 system, you will need a 780/790GX motherboard (230 USD), DDR2 memory (130 USD for 4GB), and the processor (around 330 USD for a Phenom 2 x4 940). Totaling 690 dollars. You need DDR3 memory for AM3 boards, but they aren’t out yet.
The difference is not that big, but it is considerable. For 129 USD, you can get yourself a perfectly nice Geforce 9600GSO, plus some change.
So, this marks AMD’s return to competition, just like Radeon 3800. It doesn’t perform greatly, but it does deliver for it price. Now we’ll have to wait and see whether they can pull something like the Radeon 4800.
EDIT: Anandtech compares the price of full i7 , Phenom II, and Q9400 here. That’s American price, though.
Also, I compare Phenom II exclusively with Intel’s i7, though they are priced around Intel’s earlier Core 2 Quads. Now that intel’s rumored to drop their Core 2 Quad lineup, things will be more interesting. After price cut, Phenom II 940 will face Q9550. At that point, the recommendation will go back to Intel.
