Athlon II X4 TDP 45W 2.4 Ghz under 100 USD? Oh my!

[Zachstar]

http://www.techpowerup.com/98975/AMD...5W_Models.html

Some of AMD's first products based on Propus have surfaced thanks to a leak from a motherboard manufacturer. It reveals an initial lineup of four models, including two low-wattage ones. Enter Athlon II X4 600e, 605e, 620, and 630. These chips' clock speeds range between 2.20 and 2.80 GHz. Unlike with Regor, each core on the Propus keeps 512 KB of L2 cache, which makes it 2 MB of total L2 cache. The most surprising part of the specs is the TDP of the low-wattage chips, with the 2.20 GHz 600e and 2.40 GHz 605e, is 45W. In comparison, it took a clock-speed of 2.00 GHz for the previous-generation 65 nm Agena core to reach a TDP rating of 65W. The 2.60 GHz 620 and 2.80 GHz 630 have TDP ratings of 65W. We reckon these chips to hit shelves in this quarter. Below is a die-shot of the Propus core. It bears quite some resemblance to its 65 nm ancestor.

This is the good kind of INSANITY! Games these days rely more on power per core more than speed per core. And at 45W It will make a GREAT sub 500 USD computer.

Basically this is what I call round 2 of AMDs big sub 100 USD push. The first was the Kuma core. Which while a bit outdated today (45nm is just standard these days folks) Seriously changed the face of budget computing.

[geetrue]

a total of 2mb cache seems a little low compared to intel ...

[Zachstar]

Compared to Intel you are getting more cores for less price and power use. I think that is good enough to buy this over an Intel model.

[SUBMAN1]

I'll side with Zachstar on this one. This is 4 cores you can stuff into a microATX chassis without much heat. I'm all over this and already have a use for it.

-S

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

I'll side with Zachstar on this one. This is 4 cores you can stuff into a microATX chassis without much heat. I'm all over this and already have a use for it.

-S

I do aswell. I want to build a Home Theater Game PC. Of course it wont be near as powerful as my current build but with an X4 and with a fanless video card it will easilly beat a dual core ion at what I want it to do. Which is display HD video and be able to play games at the same time.

[Zachstar]

Just a heads up.. These will be out next month.

[SUBMAN1]

I'm buying that.

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

I'm buying that.

What kind of build do you have in mind?

For me I am seriously thinking about pulling the trigger on a cheap mobo and using the ATI 4550 along with this for an INSANE HTPC.

2 dual digital TV tuners so I can record up to 4 programs at once. Half Life multiplayer. World of Warcraft. HD Video with crystal clear 7.1 LPCM. Windows 7 and to top it all off I am going to cool the CPU with a passive copper heatsink and cool everything with 2 of those advanced new fans that hardly make any noise at all at low speeds because of the way they are lubercated.

[SUBMAN1]

One of my systems is a MicroATX and is power limited. I have an extra X2 4400+ with 2MB cache sitting here, but I won't put it in that thing due to heat/power usage. A 45 Watt CPU, coupled to a 4670 is the plan. Maybe 2 to 4GB of RAM to go along with.

Right now its running an Athlon XP 2000. Its time for an update. I just put a larger 350 WATT PSU in that tiny case, so it has a bit more juice this time around.

-S

[Zachstar]

I need to bring expectations down a tad bit here.

From info and rumor so far it looks like AMD is desperate to get some value power chips out to combat i5. So far it looks like at first there will be x3s and x4s in the 65w range.

This will mean they will be quite more powerful than the upcoming 45w versions but at the time time this ought to mean reduced prices on the 45w versions.

So my guess is 45w is coming October or so. Sorry if you had plans folks. Tho the 65 watters are going to be quite nice as well.

[SUBMAN1]

I'm not in a hurry. It's the wifes machine. She is happily peddling along at her sub-standard outdated speed.

-S

[Zachstar]

I was wrong to bring down expectations!!!

http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/15102/1/

Recession stricken consumers are a rather cashless at the moment, so AMD though it might be a good idea to offer some cacheless quads aimed at the great unwashed.

The new Propus-based Athlon II quad-cores are starting to appear in retail, and in spite of having no L3 cache, they look like incredibly good value.

Take the Athlon II X4 620 for example. It's a 2.6GHz part with 4x512kB of L2 cache and a 95W TDP. Of course, it's a 45nm AM3 part with DDR3 support. Nothing spectacular, apart from the price tag. At €82 it is truly amazing value, as this is practically dual-core money. In case you need a bit more horsepower, you can go for the 2.8GHz Athlon II X4 630, which is currently listed at €99. A quick glance at Intel's quad-core pricing reveals that the cheapest Q8200 at 2.33GHz sells for €115.

We are a bit surprised by the 95W TDP, as we hoped for a bit less. However, if heat is your concern, you can go for the Athlon II X4 600e at 2.2GHz. It has a 45W TDP and you could probably cool it with a stamp sized strip of aluminium foil glued on with a bit of spit.

Athlon II X4 600e 2.2ghz at 45W TDP

Europeans are getting first in tine for this one so I wont try to say what it will go for when it gets here but one thing is for sure it will be quite nice!

[Zachstar]

Also remember that it will be quite easy to underclock and undervolt the 95watters down to 65 and it will be quite worth it due to the likely prices.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Zachstar

Compared to Intel you are getting more cores for less price and power use. I think that is good enough to buy this over an Intel model.

I was checking cpu prices; an i7 is >$270.

I need a good processor that's compatable with my am2 motherboard.

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I was checking cpu prices; an i7 is >$270.

I need a good processor that's compatable with my am2 motherboard.

List the mobo make and model.