Phenom II Performance System
The fully decked out Phenom II includes the best motherboard tested so far in our lab for the AM2+/AM3 CPUs. Because the top Phenom II is DDR2-only the motherboard is by necessity a DDR2 board. The Phenom II 940 and 920 will be phased out by the end of 2009 and replaced with the new 945 and 925, which support either DDR3 or DDR2 like the most recent Phenom II CPUs. The 945/925 are expected to begin shipping in April.
The 940/920 still outperform the Phenom II 810 even though the newer Phenom II features four cores like the older 940/920. At 2.6GHz the 810 is slower than the 940/920, and the multiplier is locked where the 940 BE features an unlocked multiplier. In addition, the L3 cache on the 810 is 4MB where the 940/920 is 6MB. While the 810 is an excellent CPU, it really doesn't challenge the 940/920 for the performance crown. The advantage of the 810 is the dual DDR2/DDR3 memory controller. Frankly, we have yet to see a real performance advantage for DDR3 memory on the Phenom II so there was no real reason not to choose the current 940 for the Phenom II Performance system.
The new 945/925 will also be 6MB L3 cache, and the HT or uncore speed will be 2.0GHz instead of the 940/920 speed of 1.8GHz. The real impact of this is very small, but when the 945/925 enter the pipeline they will provide more options at the top of the Phenom II line. This will also likely create some bargain prices for the 940 and 920 processors that remain in the market after the 945/925 introduction.
Anand is completing testing for a massive SSD roundup that will be published soon. There are new performance and value leaders that will be revealed in that roundup, and we will definitely be recommending SSD drives and SSD RAID boot arrays in future System Buyers' Guides. For now, we are holding off on any recommendations pending final testing. Besides, you can easily add an SSD down the road if the need arises.
While the Phenom II 940 is definitely the most powerful AMD processor yet released it is not really a competitor to today's top Intel Core i7 processors. However, as has been said in every recent review of Phenom II, it definitely competes well with Intel's Core 2 architecture which means it competes with Intel CPUs through the $290 upper midrange price point. Since the processor is upper midrange, the components selected are top-performing for their price but not always the best you can buy. You could easily extend the Phenom II Performance system to a 30" monitor and a more powerful CrossFire or SLI graphics system. AMD fans who are avid gamers may choose that route, but we kept the selections more in line with the midrange price and performance of the Phenom II. For the money the Performance Phenom II system is a heck of a system, as we hope you will agree.
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You can read our
review of the Phenom II X4 and the
Phenom II X4 810 & X3 720 for additional information. The Phenom II 940 X4 at 3.0GHz is the fastest of the currently shipping AMD Phenom II processors. The Phenom II is very similar in L2/L3 cache configuration to the recently introduced Intel Core i7. Performance is also comparable to the best Intel Core 2 chips. As the first 45nm AMD processors, the Phenom II also overclocks very well, finally approaching the overclocking levels enjoyed by Intel since the introduction of the Core 2 Duo.
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We've paired the Phenom II 940 with the superb ASUS M4A79 Deluxe. At $200 the ASUS is not cheap or even a great value for a 790FX/SB750 setup, but it is the most loaded, best performing, and most overclockable AMD board we have used this year. ASUS loads the board with Gigabit LAN, IEEE 1394 support, four PCI-E x16 slots (dual x16, tri x16/x8/x8, or quad x8), two PCI slots, an eSATA port, and six 3Gb/s SATA ports featuring RAID 0/1/5/10. The M4A79 Deluxe works very well with Phenom II and end-users will not be disappointed in performance or overclocking capabilities. Memory is DDR2 as AM3 DDR3 boards are just now entering the market. Until a DDR3 board dethrones the M4A79 Deluxe it is the top board for a top Phenom II.
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A number of old and new coolers work well on AM2+/AM3 processors, but the cooler choice for the Performance Phenom II is still the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme. This is basically the top performing Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme from our Core 2 tests. Thermalright has been changing the packaging and names of their Ultra-120 coolers so you may have to look closely at the new packages and descriptions to make sure you are getting the Ultra-120 eXtreme. The original Ultra-120 also performs very well with the Phenom II processors and will save you about $15 to $20 if you are stretching a budget.
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Memory is very cheap today, so the Performance Phenom II is paired with two 4GB kits for a total of 8GB. You may be wondering why we have chosen 8GB of G.Skill DDR2-1100 when AMD warns that the maximum speed for 4 DIMMs is DDR2-800. That warning is certainly true on lower end boards, but we have found the ASUS M4A79 Deluxe paired with quality memory can run 4x2GB at DDR2-1066 without any trouble. The 1100 speed also gives some headroom should you decide to overclock this unlocked Black Edition Phenom II 940.
For the video card we have selected the
MSI R4870-T2D1G Radeon HD 4870 1GB. As pointed out in the recent
Multi-GPU comparison, the 4870 1GB provides optimum performance on a 1080p monitor such as the BenQ 24" chosen in this system. Higher spec graphics and high-end CrossFire or SLI really require a 30" display (2560x1600) to see the performance improvements they bring to the system. The MSI is a well-regarded card that is just $195 after the current $25 rebate. The 4870 1GB is a very popular card because it matches well with the monitors most users actually own and buy. It is available from MSI, Diamond, ASUS, HIS, Power Color, and others so you can shop for the best buy.
The hard drive used in the Performance Phenom II system is the Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB (1000GB) with true 7200RPM speed and a 32MB cache. The cheaper Western Digital drives use a "variable speed" 5400-7200RPM spindle that performs well and is very quiet, but the 7200RPM drives are a bit faster.
We feel the optical drive for the Phenom II Performance system needs to both play Blu-Ray disks and burn 25GB/50GB Blu-Ray discs. We have upgraded the optical drive to the flexible LG GGW-H20LK burner, which is now selling for just $200 and has the ability to read and write Blu-Ray disks. It also can burn DVDs at 16x speed in single or dual-layer formats. A DVD burner is also included to simplify disk archiving and backup tasks. Two optical drives can be very handy in any system.
The speakers have been upgraded to the Logitech G51 155W RMS 5.1 surround sound speakers. The G51 system works well with the ASUS onboard Realtek ALC1200 audio. They also perform well with the addition of sound card if you decide sound needs an upgrade. The $40 rebate is gone for the G51 system, but they are still a very good value in a powered speaker system.
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The LCD display resolution is the same 1080p HD resolution chosen for the Phenom II overclocking systems. The size of the monitor is now 24" so everything on screen is just a little larger. The BenQ E2400HD 24" provides inputs for whatever graphics adapter you may need with HDMI, DVI, and an analog VGA port. Panel speed is rated at an incredible 2ms, but we have found most current LCD panels perform similarly and the speed rating does not really guarantee very much. The BenQ monitor provides a sharp image, good colors, and fast panel speed at a very good price of $280. However, there are certainly larger, better, and more expensive panels available. For more information on what matters in a monitor and how to read LCD specifications, take a look at our
Holiday 2008 Display Guide.
The remaining items are upgrades of the Overclocking System. The keyboard and mouse have been upgraded to high performance choices in the Logitech G5 USB laser mouse and the Logitech G15 precision control keyboard. If those choices are not important to you, the substitution of a Microsoft wired OEM keyboard and optical mouse for $16 could save you $133 on the system price. Alternately, the drop back to the Logitech G11 keyboard and MX518 8-button optical mouse could save you $50 off the performance choices with little compromise in system performance.
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Emessjay - Sunday, March 15, 2009 - link
I'm having to rebuild much of my system, and I don't have tons of money to throw out doing so. Given that, this article was absolutely ideal for me. I'm not a computer DIY guru by any stretch. I simply needed some good info and recommendations. So, thanks very much for this. You've earned one more reader.7Enigma - Friday, March 6, 2009 - link
2 things:-The Xigmatek CPU cooler is a great bang for the buck cooler but I severely dislike the push pin design. While not crazy heavy like some other coolers it is still heavy enough that I am not confident that the pushpins will hold for years in a tower system. I just built a C2D system with essentially the same cooler (not called the Dark Knight, but looks identical minus the LED lighting), and it was a frustrating installation experience. They sell a backplate for an extra $10-15 that I would HIGHLY recommend, but then that pushes the price up significantly and you are looking in the realm of the top end air coolers.
-4850, with the recent price drops and significant performance advantage of the 4870 ove rthe 4850 I would not have recommended the 4850 except as an addition to the low-end system (ie mention as you do with most other component choices that you can upgrade to the 4850 for a very nice entry level gaming system). I think the 4870 512meg would be a perfect fit for the mid-range system and the 4870 1gig would match your recommendation for the "high"-end system.
Good guide overall, just wanted to give my 2 cents on the cpu cooler and gpu recommendation.
Wesley Fink - Friday, March 6, 2009 - link
The Xigmatek for Intel Socket 775 DOES use push pins. That is convenient, but many do not like the pushpin system.However, on the AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3 the Xigmatek uses a lever clip for a very secure mounting to the existing AMD CPU cage on the motherboard. This is mentioned and described on the page where the Xigmatek is mentioned. Keep in mind that AMD doesn't have a push-pin system. That is an Intel "innovation" that first appeared on Socket 775.
I mention the upgrade possibility to 4870 for a relatively low cost in the Phenom II OC recommendation. However, at a net price of $125 and owing to the fact that the 4870 is basically a 4850 clocked higher I think the recommendation of the 4850 as a value OC choice is still valid. Those who want even more graphics power can choose the "pre-overclocked" 4870 with perhaps even more head room.
Kinshinlink - Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - link
that 4850 before rebate your paying 155. for 10 bucks more you could get a 4870 from sapphire on newegg.v12v12 - Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - link
Hrmm... how do I start this — with a rant? Or with just general observations?1) Thank god for the "post a comment" option, or else you guy really did have me thinking that AMD HAD made a real comeback?! Thanks to WHATHEHEY factual breakdown, I now see that so-called "comeback" was merely a glancing blow, but didn't do any real damage to the jaw of WIntel! Makes for a nice highlight article, but fast-forward to the END of the fight and WIntel is getting interviewed and giving out shout-outs, while AMD is getting it's eye's checked by the ring doctor!
2) I think you've done your readership a HUGE disservice by not keeping the article as succinct as possible: AMD still considerably behind i7 and still behind the soon to be antiquated Penryn. If this were politics, I'd have almost voted for the LOSING candidate. Come guys, get professional and cut the tip-toeing, bias and dancing around the hard facts... as a reader had to point out the spin'n bias to us. Shame on you!
3) Thank god though AMD did make some kind of showing Vs the drunken party crasher, who thinks he's cool b/c he showed up wasted, while everyone laughs and points in dismay. HAHA! Look at who just rolled in — it's our drunken and unkempt classmate: AMD! Swaggering around touting of a comeback, breath wreaking of bias and hyped numbers, shoes on the wrong feet, stepping on customer's toes...
...Well I guess I'm glad that at least our buddy AMD did manage to show up to the party at all? Normally he'd have still been passed out in his own hype and Apple like bias, like before... See you at the party Richter! *Tossing AMD cores off the platform*
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You know it's hard to NOT vote for AMD... it's the whole "vote for a winner" phenomenon (pun intended). Even if people don't like the candidate running, if he/she is in the lead, a large one at that; people will instinctually start to side with the "winner," even though he/she is not the right candidate for them. And this is the case we see with AMD Vs WINtel. I'm on an Turion X2 right now, thinking to myself "wtf how can I trash AMD, when most of my systems are in fact AMD based?!" Guess what, my wallet doesn't give a sh!t about AMD or WINtel. My wallet cares about CASH and cash only. Whomever saves it enough cash, WILL get it's vote. As for me, personally I'd like to still champion AMD, but in the end, the Wallet is what matters at the moment... Come on AMD I KNOW you have it in you to become the former champion you once were! Until then, I'll continue to put off building a new box, but WINtel is sure looking nice with all the belts it holds.
Wesley Fink - Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - link
You might want to check out our Core i7 Buyers Guide at http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=351...">http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=351.... In both guides we are VERY clear that the Phenom II now competes in the mid-range with Intel, but that the I7 owns the top performance crown. However, Core i7 starts at around $300 and goes to $1010, while Phenom II is $120-$230.There is reason to cheer that AMD can now compete in the area where most systems are sold. That has not been true for almost 2 years. If this was not clear to you in reading the Guide then you must have skipped reading most of the article.
v12v12 - Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - link
The problem with that, as I said in another comment on this board, is SOCKET LOCK. Who wants to buy into this under performing hardware platform. Yes at this current time it is slightly competitive, but as the above break down shows, it's ONLY because of current pricing. And as minor as that is, I'd still go with the Intel b/c even if it is a smidge ahead, you know that higher end (Penryn) chips that would blow the PH-II away are coming down in price also, thus leaving the PH-II back where they started - behind.The keystone for intel is the ROAD MAP. Intel's is much more robust, and certainly deliverable; they already have a working 32nm... Where is AMD is all of this? Still trying to play catch-up with antiquated Penryns. If I had the money right now... I'd still pay ~$150 more for the intel platform. It's PROVEN; solid; reliable; and no socket-lock.
Rrcccc - Saturday, March 7, 2009 - link
Am I to assume that there is a lot of money floating around here?! You have people talking about a $100 bucks as if it is nothing at all. Income wise, I am in the top 1% of the country and I still recognize that’s real money!This article is dead on money. For our economy this article shows how you can get close to the top of performance and save money. Very few people will use this guide as a blueprint for a system. Most will use it as a guide to upgrade components or for a system overhaul. Minimum upgrade for I7 systems (realistic upgrade) is way out of most people’s league. $560 is min for cpu, board and memory – that’s an unrealistic setup. Buying an I7 and $185 board is and the cheapest memory is a fool’s errand. And it is still a $120 more than a 940 Phenom, equivalent mb (Asus M4A78T-E vs GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R X58) and memory. A realistic min I7 upgrade is more in the $650 (us) a $200 + increase.
In the real world that’s a day at Disneyland for 2-3 people. Gas money for a month or 2, ect. Not realistic for 95% of the world (98% if count out the fan boys would sacrifice a decent woman to buy there favorite chip).
I’m one the few 30+ year gamers (“there is a sword here”) And I have no loyalties to Amd or Intel. I have last years Intel upgrade next to my 2 weeks ago Amd Phenom II upgrade. Loyalties cost you money. Bleeding edge cost you money. Competition saves you money.
This article is perfect for today. And that’s what really counts. Great job Wesley Fink and Anandtech team. If the situation changes in the next couple of months… then I look forward to hearing that conclusion.
strikeback03 - Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - link
Well, your Intel socket options are currently either LGA775, which will likely see no more processors released for it; or LGA1366, which may never see what most would consider to be mainstream processors released for it.v12v12 - Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - link
GDamn it! Where is the edit button/function when you need it? Christ, tons of spelling and grammatical mistakes. Well it is ~5-6am here, so I'll let it slide, but other's wont. FIX IT PLEASE damn, people constantly complaining about the lack of B/I/U not working, nor edit features. Will SOMEONE PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR READERSHIP? Wtf is wrong with you at Anandtech?! kthxbye.