Microsoft Excel 2007

Excel can be a very powerful mathematical tool. In this benchmark we're running a Monte Carlo simulation on a very large spreadsheet of stock pricing data.

Microsoft Excel 2007 SP1 - Monte Carlo Simulation

Like Blender, we have another highly optimized Intel case - but even here the Athlon II performs admirably. It's faster than the Phenom II X3 720, slower than the Q8200 but faster than the E7500.

It's priced like an Intel dual-core processor, but outperforms it in even the most Intel-favored situations.

Sony Vegas Pro 8: Blu-ray Disc Creation

Although technically a test simulating the creation of a Blu-ray disc, the majority of the time in our Sony Vegas Pro benchmark is spent encoding the 25Mbps MPEG-2 video stream and not actually creating the Blu-ray disc itself.

Sony Vegas Pro 8 - Blu-ray Disc Image Creation (25Mbps MPEG-2)

The Athlon II X4 620 goes back to delivering the goods. Faster than a Q8200 and an X3 720 once more.

Sorenson Squeeze: FLV Creation

Another video related benchmark, we're using Sorenson Squeeze to convert regular videos into Flash videos for use on websites.

Sorenson Squeeze Pro 5 - Flash Video Creation

More of the same here.

3D Rendering Performance Archiving Performance
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  • Chlorus - Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - link

    He posted right after me...I'm kinda wondering if we should setup a drinking game or something each time he posts.
  • strikeback03 - Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - link

    Good idea, and everyone drinks when you spot a new alias.
  • deputc26 - Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - link

    I would absolutely love to see a die size comparison. That will give real information on how this chip can make AMD $$.
  • Lokinhow - Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - link

    there is a die size comparsion on the first page..

    P2 X4 = 258 mm2
    A2 X4 = 169 mm2
    A2 X2 = 117 mm2
    C2Q 8xxx = 164 mm2
  • deputc26 - Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - link

    Apparently I'm a moron. Don't know how I missed that unless it was added after initial publication as I read it right after it came out.
  • Eeqmcsq - Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - link

    Anand, how did you know whether or not your Athlon II X4s are harvested Denebs?

    Also, any idea why the Athon II X4s debut at such a high TDP with no L3? I'd think they'd be lower at 65w or at least 80w.

    AMD, $100 quad cores is nice... BUT... where's the 45w quads???
  • Lokinhow - Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - link

    I may be wrong, but..

    I think the high TDP is because we have both Propus and Deneb-Harvested Cores

    The Athlon II based on Deneb probably have this 95W TDP, while the ones based on propus core have lower TDP.

    I think they have only a few propus core to sell, so that's why they are selling harvesteds Denebs. When there wil have only Athlons II X4 propous based they'll rate it with a lower TDP.

    Makes sense?
  • Spoelie - Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - link

    Yes and no

    It's a bit strange that the deneb die (630) consumes less power than the propus die (620) in idle if that theory was valid. During load the difference is just as much as the difference in clock speed would indicate. So if the 630 is indeed a deneb (care to rip the IHS of? ;)) then this means that propus is not by definition less power hungry than deneb.
  • Anand Lal Shimpi - Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - link

    AMD specifically told us that our 620s are Propus samples, but that others may be Denebs. I'm not sure how to tell if you have a harvested Deneb just yet.

    Give AMD some time, I'm sure we'll see them down below 95W as the process matures for these dice.

    Take care,
    Anand
  • TA152H - Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - link

    Anand,

    A couple of things. You mentioned the 'small' L2 cache being a problem on one of your benchmarks, but, it's actually twice as large as the one on the Phenom. I'm not sure if this was meant to be a comparison only with the Penryns, but it's a bit confusing.

    Also, going back to the L2 cache, how can these possibly be harvested from Phenoms with a bad L3 cache. That would imply the Phenoms are built with 512K L2 cache, with half of it disabled. I really doubt this is the case. You CAN remove the L3, but how do they then double the L2 cache? This seems strange to me.

    Based on the relatively poor overclocking potential of this chip, would you attribute that to the L2 cache? Does the L2 cache run with the same number of wait states as that of the Phenom? If so, that could prove to be the main reason for the lower overclocking potential. Any ideas on this?

    Also, don't you think it's worth mentioning AMD's greatly superior IGPs, considering this product could easily find it's way in this platform rather often. The processor by itself does make sense, but, even if it didn't, the superior IGP platform still can make AMD processors somewhat attractive.

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