- Packaging:
- Socket 754:3300+
- Process Technology:
- 90 nanometer SOI (silicon on insulator) technology
- Memory:
- 64-bit integrated memory controller - 3.2GB/sec
- HyperTransport Links:
- Supports single link - up to 6.4GB/sec per link I/O bandwidth
- Effective data bandwidth:
- Up to 9.6GB/sec (HyperTransport plus memory bandwidths)
- FSB:
- 1600MHz System Bus
- Cache size:
- 128KB (exclusive) L2 cache; 128KB L1 cache
- Voltage & Heat Dissipation:
- 62W Max
- Frequency:
- 2.0GHzPrice:$127 for 1K unit
The 3300+ Sempron CPU is AMD's answer to a budget CPU hungry market and has a price point to match that ideal. The specifications for the new 3300+ have changed a little since the 3100+ as AMD has increased the core speed from 1.8GHz to 2.0GHz and have cut the L2 Cache to 128KB, which is effectively cutting it in half as all the other Sempron and Celeron processors in this class have a L2 Cache of 512KB. Based off the new Palermo core (A Variant of the Athlon64 Venice Core) the CPU makes the transition from 120nm down to 90mn technology, but the core voltage remains at 62W like all the other Semprons seen thus far. Lower voltages helps in helping to keep the CPU running in a cooler state than the previous generation Socket A CPUs.
Adding support for Intel's SSE3 instructions is one of the differences between the 3300+ and its predecessors. The new SSE3 instructions will help in future released applications that implement support for this technology in their software. Having it just evens out the SSE support playing field and at least shows advancements in the chip in any case. AMD also incorporates a new advanced memory controller that offers improved memory mapping and loading times, plus the ability to configure and use different size memory DIMMs on the same channel without error. Beyond that, the 3300+ CPU resembles the 3100+ Sempron we reviewed last year and becomes more like the Celeron as we see the CPU core mature. Working with the AMD platform in general has been a much better experience since they changed the CPU package from an exposed bit to a concealed one and that alone makes the entire AMD line more appealing.
