AMD Phenom II X4 960T processor: description, features and reviews.

The high-performance processor with excellent performance and excellent performance is the Phenom II X4 960T. This chip is universal and suitable for any task. Its parameters, cost, reviews about it and other important nuances associated with this processor will be discussed below.

For which computers is this processor?

This processor belonged to the computing platform AM3. Also this chip can be installed in AM2 + and even AM3 + sockets . Within the same computer platform, the AMD company's chips were distributed as follows:

• The entry-level CPUs had one or two computing units and belonged to the Septron model line. Also, the clock frequencies in this case are minimal, and the cache size is reduced. As a result, personal computers based on such chips perfectly suited for the implementation of office computing systems or multimedia stations.

• Above in the AMD model line there were processors of the Athlon II family. The number of cores in them could be from 2 to 4 pieces, the frequencies are increased and the cache is increased. As a result, such CPUs were suitable for gaming systems of the initial or even average level, graphic stations and servers of document management.

• The maximum speed was provided by the solutions of the Phenom II range. In this case, silicon crystals were equipped with 3-6 cores, had a significantly increased cache size and higher frequencies. As a result, such processors could be used in ultimate gaming systems, high-performance graphics stations and entry-level servers. It was to this group of processor devices that the processor Phenom II X4 960T belonged.

Possible delivery options

Two options for the Phenom II X4 960T are provided by AMD. One of them was called BOX and included such elements:

• CPU.

• Warranty card.

• Box of transparent plastic for safe transport of the chip.

• Branded cooler.

• Certificate of conformity.

• Thermal grease.

• User guide.

• Cardboard box.

The second option in the price lists was called TRAIL, and it almost completely corresponded to the previous list. From it, the manufacturer excluded a box of cardboard and a cooling system. The latter consisted of a cooler and thermal paste. In this case, the cooling system needed to be purchased separately. As a result, the second option bundle initially had a lower cost, but in the end it was more expensive. The VOX equipment was best suited for using the chip in the nominal mode, and in the second one it was possible to overclock it and get a higher performance as a result.

Architecture of the chip

Interestingly, the silicon substrate was arranged in Phenom II X4 960T. The characteristics of the chip indicated the presence of 4 cores on it. But in reality the number of computational units was 6. Two of them the manufacturer company artificially disconnected. As a result, under favorable circumstances, it was possible to get a full 6-core from the 4-module CPU. The code name of the computational modules is Zosma, and the architecture of the chip is K10. The processor socket of this processor is AM3, but it could also be used in motherboards with AM2 + or AM3 + sockets.

Frequencies

In nominal mode, this processor has a minimum frequency of 3.0 GHz. In addition, AMD's TurboCore AMD technology was implemented in this processor. The essence of it is reduced to the fact that in the case of solving the problem of increased complexity, the level of the chip's speed was increased by increasing the clock frequency. Also, with a significant increase in temperature, the frequency decreased. The maximum frequency value in the nominal mode is 3.4 GHz.

Cache

A high level of performance Phenom II X4 960T provided the organization of the cache memory. In this case, it consisted of 3 levels. The first level consisted of 512 KB. It was divided into 4 parts of 128 KB. In turn, these 128 KB were divided into 2 parts of 64 KB. Half could store only the data, and half - the instructions. The second cache level also consisted of 4 clusters of 512 KB each. In total, this gave 2 MB of memory. The third level was 6 MB in size. The first two levels were assigned to a certain core, but the third one was common for all the computing resources of the chips.

RAM

The controller RAM for this processor was two-channel. Unlike modern chips, in which it is included in the composition of a semiconductor crystal, this element of the computer system in this case was part of the chipset of the motherboard. Depending on the model of the motherboard, this processor could interact with RAM of DDR2 or even DDR3 standards. The largest amount of memory that can be installed in such a PC was 16 GB.

Energy efficiency. Power consumption and temperature

Silicon substrate AMD Phenom II X4 960T was manufactured using the technology of "silicon on dielectric" with tolerances of 45 nm. In connection with the use of such a far advanced technology process with a high degree of energy efficiency, this chip could not boast. Its heat bag was installed by the manufacturer in 95W. The maximum temperature for the CPU was set at 105 ^° C. In the nominal mode, the value was in the range from 55 to 75 ⁰ C. In the acceleration mode in combination with the improved cooling system, the maximum value of this parameter did not exceed 85 ^° C. With a regular cooler, this operation is not recommended.

Increase in productivity

There are several ways to increase the performance of this microprocessor device. These include:

• Increase the clock frequency by increasing the multiplier.

• Increase the frequency of the system bus.

• Unlocking deactivated cores.

The first two methods were official and allowed to achieve an additional increase in the frequency to 3.9-4.0 GHz, but the Phenom II X4 960T was not allowed to be unlocked by the manufacturer. As a rule, low-quality kernels were blocked and their unlocking did not give the desired result.

Results in the tests

As opponents of the Phenom II X4 960T Black Edition, the most optimal choice is the Phenom II X6 model 1090T from AMD and i7-920 and i5-750 from Intel. The first two microprocessor solutions were the flagships of companies and provided the highest speed of computing systems in 2012. The last test chip was a direct competitor to the hero of this article. In the iTunes test, the CPUs showed the following results:

1. I5-750 - 1.23 min.

2. I7-920 - 1.33 min.

3. 1090T - 1.34 min.

4. 960T - 1.38 min.

This software mainly uses only 1 core. Therefore, the improved architecture of Intel in this case makes itself felt. AMD solutions are better for themselves in programs optimized for multithreading. For example, in the 7-zip archiver, you get the following results:

1. 1090T - 0.57 min.

2. I7-920 - 1.00 min.

3. 960T - 1.14 sec.

4. I5-750 - 1.15 sec.

In this case, all computing resources of the microprocessor are used and the more cores, the higher the speed.

Reviews and Price

Certain drawbacks were in the chip under consideration. Among them, the owners attributed only the high energy consumption, which is due only to. But also the AMD Phenom II X4 960T processor boasted a number of advantages. In this case, the owners indicated the following:

1. High performance.

2. Quite low cost.

3. The ability to increase performance by increasing the frequency or by unlocking non-involved computing cores.

At the time when sales began in 2012, such a microprocessor solution could be purchased for 3,600 rubles. And now you can still buy it from the warehouse in the new state. Its cost has decreased to 2400 rubles.

Results

The Phenom II X4 960T was really a unique solution. The structure of its crystal included 6 real nuclei, but active was only 4. Therefore, in practice, it can be turned into a full-fledged 6-module chip. Another important feature of this processor is the unlocked multiplier. Therefore, to disperse such a semiconductor crystal was not difficult. This allowed to get an additional 25 percent to the speed. As a result, the company's model line really had a high-performance microprocessor device, offered to the user at a very democratic cost.