AMD Phenom II X4 955 CPU Review :: Features

07-08-2009 · Category: Hardware - Processors

By Benjamin Sun
  • Deneb core
  • C2 Stepping
  • 45nm
  • Quad core
  • 3.2GHz clock speed
  • 4 x (64KB Data+ 64KB Instruction) L1 cache
  • 4x512KB L2 Cache
  • 6MB L3 cache
  • 1.15-1.425V VCore
  • TDP 125W
  • Socket AM3 interface
  • Part Number HDZ955FBK4DGI
  • 4 x (64KB Data+ 64KB Instruction) L1 cache
  • HyperTransport 2000MHz
  • DDR3-1333MHz support
  • Dual Channel memory controller
  • 758 million transistors
  • 258mm2 die size

The Phenom II is AMD’s first architecture built on the 45nm Silicon on Insulator process at their manufacturing plant in Dresden Germany. Each Phenom II CPU is 258mm2 in size and has 758 million transistors. The CPU has 128KB of L1 cache (64KB Data+64KB Instruction) per core, 512KB L2 cache per core and a 6MB L3 cache shared by all cores.


AMD Phenom II X4 955 CPU Review CPU Front

CPU Front

AMD Phenom II X4 955 CPU Review CPU Pins

CPU Pins


AMD has traditionally allowed older motherboards to be upgraded with new CPUs since the advent of the Socket AM2 platform. The AM3 CPU has 938 pins which is 2 less than the AM2+. The pin configuration is identical minus the two pins, meaning you can fit an AM3 CPU on an AM2+ motherboard. The reverse is not true as the AM2+ CPU would have two extra pins that would not fit on an AM3 interface.

In terms of multimedia instructions the Phenom II CPU has support for MMX+, 3Dnow1 (+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4A and x86-64 instructions. The Phenom II is a true 4 core CPU in other words all four cores are on the same die. As you might recall, the Intel Core 2 Quad CPUs had two Core 2 Duo CPUs on one die. The 955 Black Edition CPU is clocked at 3.2GHz which is the fastest available Phenom II CPU on the market today.

The HyperTransport bus is the replacement for the FSB on AMD CPUs and chipsets. The AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition supports HyperTransport 3.0. The CPU has a HT bus speed of 2000MHz, giving a bandwidth between the CPU and the chipset of 14.4GB/second. The memory controller on the Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition supports dual channel DDR3-1333MHz which provides a maximum of 21.328GB/second. This means that the total bandwidth available is 35.728GB/second.

Here’s a chart comparing the various AMD CPUs on the market today with the latest prices off Newegg:


CPU Cores Clock L1/L2/L3 Cache HT Bus speed Socket TDP Price 06/25/09
Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 4 3.2GHz 4x128KB
4x512KB
6MB
2000MHz AM3 125W $245
AMD Phenom II X4 945 4 3.0GHz 4x128KB
4x512KB
6MB
2000MHz AM3 125W $225
AMD Phenom II X4 940 4 3.0ghZ 4x128KB
4x512KB
6MB
1800MHz AM2+ 125W $189
AMD Phenom II X4 920 4 2.8GHz 4x128KB
4X 512KB
6MB
1800MHz AM2+ 125W $189
AMD Phenom II X4 810 4 2.6GHz 4x128KB
4X 512KB
4MB
2000MHz AM3 95W $187
AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE 3 2.8GHz 4x128KB
3X512KB
6MB
2000MHz AM3 95W $139
AMD Phenom II X3 710 BE 3 2.8GHz 4x128KB
3X512KB
6MB
2000MHz AM3 95W $119