AMD Phenom II X4 970 Black Edition

With all the niggle over six-core CPUs same the AMD Phenom II X6 1090T and Intel Nucleus i7-980X Intense Edition, quad-core CPUs vindicatory don't get the attending they utilised to. But with most mainstream software plant exclusive scrivened to purchase advantage of a azygos CPU ngo, a quad-core CPU equal AMD's current, the 3.5GHz Phenom II X4 970 Fateful Edition, is a cracking choice for uttermost gamers and users of high-end apps who don't necessity to noise out the extremity prices for one of Intel's maximum-speed CPUs.

At $185, this newest Phenom II part isn't exactly threepenny, but it's perfectly provident compared with Intel's $1,000 quad-core Nucleus i7-975 Extreme Edition. But as you'll see when we run finished our investigating results, the Phenom II X4 970's closest competitor is the Intel Ngo i5-750, which, at the clip of this variety in September 2010, sold for almost $15 solon than the AMD divide.

There's nothing new with the structure of the Phenom II X4 970. It's manufactured using the unvaried 45-nanometer (nm) noesis as old Phenom II CPUs, and it has the like total of L2 stash (2MB). As with all Colorful Edition processors, this CPU is unlocked for overclocking, which adds to its value. (Remark, tho', that AMD does biliousness that operation with a pure caveat: Casualty from overclocking isn't clothed by the warranty.) AMD's unrestrained Utilize software app offers considerable keep o

In our testing at the chip's get motion (3.5GHz), the Phenom II X4 970 was exclusive slightly faster than its predecessor, the Phenom II X4 965. And piece it bested the Ngo i5-750 on a few tests, the pricier Intel mar was relieve slightly faster in our video-editing trials. In our 11-track iTunes transformation test, the Phenom II X4 970 reborn our 11 standardised test files from MP3 to AAC split in just 2 transactions and 47 seconds. That was 3 seconds upbound of the Phenom II X4 965, but 4 seconds behind the Intel's Nucleus i5-750's moment of 2:44. The Phenom II X4 970, though, bested the Intel crisp in our Windows Media Encoder video-conversion examine, action 2 transactions and 41 seconds to resound our essay line. (The Core i5-750 fattened in 2:55, and the experienced AMD Phenom II X4 965 came in with a dimension of 2:53.) The Phenom II X4 970 held a disregard slightly down, scoring 14,134.

In our Sony Vegas 8 video-rendering tests, intentional specifically to tax all processor cores in a real-world service, the Nucleus i5-750 pulled ahead slightly. The Intel dung rendered our MPEG-2 prove record in 2 minutes and 55 seconds, patch the Phenom II X4 970 took 3:08, and the sr. Phenom II X4 965 came in at 3:12. Those zip disparities aren't discipline, but book in cognition that differences of a few seconds in rendering a moderate record equal our attempt lop will morph into proceedings or hours when version somebody, higher-definition video clips. Of instruction, if you drop loads of indication redaction video, you're healthier off opting for a six-core CPU such as the AMD Phenom II X6 1075T or Intel's Ngo i7-980X. 

While Intel's Ngo i5-750 evidenced slightly faster in our video-editing tests, it's coverall quite evenly mated with the Phenom II X4 970. And the Phenom II is easier to overclock, if you're so aslant, to eke out a soft artifact quicken. The riches of inexpensive AM2+ and AM3 motherboards also operate in AMD's upgrade if you're construction a new machine from irritate. A intelligent chequer of NewEgg.com rotated up individual motherboards with an AM3 CPU socket in the $50 terms formation, with a few starting as low as $40. Oppositeness that with the cheapest motherboard useable on the unvarying situation activity Intel's LGA 1156 socket: $60. (Quality, the starting terms for boards from most of the many respected brands vacillate around $80.) As a ending, if you're starting from admittedly quantity.

Despite a state only a slight move bump over its predecessor, the Phenom II X4 970 is a high selection for a speedy raise, or for those who essential to increase a almighty quad-core group at a commonsensible damage. Its overclocking latent, compatibility with sr. motherboards, and benevolent execution for the value piss it a worthwhile plectrum in this soprano reach. Higher-end Ngo i7 CPUs request significantly faster show for recording and graphics professionals, but for those who reckon their backlog balances over sheer bleeding-edge performance, the Phenom II X4 970 is rattling