AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor for Socket AM3: review, reviews

AMD Athlon II X4 635 было представлено в январе 2011 года и позиционировалось компанией как продукт среднего класса с хорошим запасом производительности и достаточно демократической стоимостью. The AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor solution was introduced in January 2011 and was positioned by the company as a middle-class product with a good performance margin and a fairly democratic value. It is about its capabilities, hardware specifications and other important nuances associated with this chip, and will go further speech.

Positioning

In 2011, the main processor socket of AMD was Socket AM3 . It was for the installation in it that the hero of this review was intended. The microprocessors of this socket were divided as follows:

1. Septron. Personal computers for office use were based on the Septron CPU . A total of 1 computational core, minimum cache size and very low frequencies were excellent for solving exactly such ones, but it was impossible to get something more in this case. Also the cost in this case was very low, and this moment made such computing systems very affordable.

2. Athlon II X2 & Athlon II X3. The basic game systems were based on the Athlon II X2 & Athlon II X3 series chips . The number of computational units in this case was increased to 2 or 3, respectively. Also, the amount of cache memory increased, there were higher clock speeds. As a result, such semiconductor solutions provided a much higher level of speed and allowed to solve almost any problem. игрушки на подобном программном обеспечении запускались с далеко не максимальными настройками. It should be noted that some toys on such software were launched with far from the maximum settings.

3. родвинутые игровые системы в обязательном порядке основывались на ЦПУ семейства Athlon II X4. P rovvinutye game systems were compulsorily based on the CPU family Athlon II X4. The number of cores in this case increased to 4, the clock frequencies had even greater values, the cache also increased significantly. All this allowed the owners of such PCs to solve any problems, not paying attention to the requirements of software to the hardware. It was to this class of semiconductor solutions that the central processor belonged, which will be considered in this material.

4. Phenom II. The premium system blocks were assembled on the basis of microprocessor solutions of the Phenom II family . The key difference from all the previous products of the AMD company in this case was the organization of the cache. If all previous chips had only 2 levels of such fast memory, then in this case the third level appeared. It was his presence and provided an impressive increase in performance. количество в рамках этого семейства процессоров могло достигать 6, и тактовые частоты кремниевых решений были существенно увеличены. Also the number within the family of processors could reach 6, and the clock speeds of silicon solutions were significantly increased.

Types of equipment and what they include

The AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor solution was available in two possible configurations. Trail и включал следующее: The first one was designated as Trail and included the following:

• The chip itself is in rigid plastic packaging.

• Warranty card.

• Quick installation and use guide.

• Branded sticker with the name of the CPU family.

очень крупных сборщиков системных блоков, которые в составе своих ПК использовали специализированные системы охлаждения. This configuration was aimed at very large system unit builders who used specialized cooling systems as part of their PCs. BOX. The second option for bundling such a microprocessor was called BOX. In addition to all the above, it was supplemented with the following:

• ирменным кулером компании АМД. F is an AMD cooler.

• Thermo-paste.

таком исполнении данный ЦПУ был нацелен на нишу мелких сборщиков, которые не могли себе позволить специальную, более дорогостоящую систему охлаждения. In this performance, this CPU was aimed at a niche of small collectors who could not afford a special, more expensive cooling system. As experience has shown, even the capabilities of a regular cooler were quite enough for normal and stable operation of such a semiconductor solution.

Types of sockets

As noted earlier, the main processor socket for this chip was Socket AM3. Actually, this CPU was designed precisely for it. But, as is known, AM2, AM2 + and AM3 + were physically compatible with this computing platform. AMD Athlon II X4 635, был ориентирован на работу с модулями памяти стандарта DDR3. The RAM controller integrated into the AMD Athlon II X4 635 was designed to work with DDR3 memory modules . з-за того, что АМ2 мог работать только с DDR2, рассматриваемый в этом материале полупроводниковый продукт хоть мог быть установлен в такой процессорный разъем, но нормально работать в сочетании с ним он не мог по причине несовместимости ОЗУ с материнской платы и контроллера, интегрированного в ЦПУ. And because AM2 could work only with DDR2, the semiconductor product considered in this material could at least be installed in such a processor socket, but it could not work properly in combination with it because of the incompatibility of RAM from the motherboard and the controller integrated In the CPA. DDR2, так и DDR3. The AM2 + platform was hybrid and allowed to install both DDR2 and DDR3. If the motherboard was with the last type of RAM, then the hero of this review in it could successfully function. But in the board with AM3 + this microprocessor can be installed. DDR3. It will work successfully as part of such a system, for the reason that only DDR3 slats are used in its framework . Therefore, this chip can be installed in one of the 3-way connectors of AMD company and successfully work as part of such a PC:

• DDR3). AM2 + (provided that there are DDR3 slots ).

• AM3.

• AM3 +.

Technological process. Frequency, thermal aspects and temperature conditions

² . According to technological standards, which corresponded to 45 nm, AMD Athlon II X4 635 was produced. The Processor had an area of 169 mm ² . This chip had a clock speed of 2.9 GHz. . The maximum temperature for him was fixed at 71 degrees . . In practice, this parameter, as a rule, was in the range from 50 to 62 degrees . The power of this semiconductor solution was 95 W.

Cash. Memory subsystem

As it was already noted, AMD Athlon ^TM II X4 635 had only 2 levels of fast memory. The total volume of the first level was 512 KB, which were physically divided into 4 equal parts of 128 KB. Each of these 128 KB were bound to a specific kernel and could only store information processed by this computational module alone. Also, these 128 KB were divided into 2 equal parts of 64 KB. The first 64 KB stored only the instructions of the chip, and the second - the data. The total size of the cache on the second level was already 2 MB. They were also divided into 4 equal parts of 512 KB, assigned to a certain core. In this case there was no strict separation of instructions or data storage and the address space was common. The RAM controller was integrated into the semiconductor chip of the processor unit, and it was two-channel. The optimal RAM for it is DDR3-1333.

CPU Architecture

The review of AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor indicated that its computing modules were based on the Propus architecture . The number of cores in this case was 4, and the number of levels of the cache memory was limited to two. This is the maximum capabilities of this silicon crystal, and somehow improve its capabilities by unlocking additional elements was not possible.

Overclocking of this silicon product

At a value of 14.5, the multiplier of the AMD Athlon II X4 635 is fixed. Overclocking it, as a result, is possible only on the frequency of the system bus, the nominal value of which in this case is 200 MHz. An additional increase in performance in this case can also be obtained by increasing the voltage on the processor core. The order of overclocking of such CPUs is as follows:

• We lower the frequencies of all PC components in "BIOS" or in specialized application software.

• Then gradually increase the frequency of the motherboard bus. After each such increment, we check the frequencies of the components of the PC: they should not exceed those values that were before the acceleration. If somewhere it went beyond acceptable limits, then we lower it. We reboot the PC and check the stability of the work.

• As soon as we reach the maximum frequency, and the PC stops working at the same time, we start to increase the voltage. In parallel, we are trying to increase the frequency of the microprocessor.

• As soon as the combination of increasing frequency and voltage ceases to produce results, and the system does not start stable, we restore the previous values of frequency and voltage. The CPU has reached the limit of overclocking.

As experience shows, with a staff of 1.1 V and 2900 MHz, this processor can be completely overclocked to 1.425 V and 3828 MHz. As a percentage, this allows you to get 32% to speed.

The cost of a 4-nuclear chip. Opportunities for today. The opinion of PC owners on its base. Reviews

At the start of sales, this microprocessor was valued at 110 dollars. Now, such chips can be purchased for 2000-2500 rubles on the Internet on various international trading platforms. And in a completely new state. Only with a positive side characterize this CPU reviews. AMD Athlon II X4 635 is still an up-to-date product and allows you to run most of the toys. Including modern and most demanding. The presence of real 4 computational modules allows this chip to pass restrictions, which in some of them are realized at the level of the program code. Well, excellent overclocking potential allows this CPU even to overtake more modern processor products.

Summary

One of the best and most affordable chips in 2011 in the mid-level solutions segment was the hero of this review. And although AMD Athlon II X4 635 was released by the standards of the computer world for a long time, but it is still relevant, and the level of its performance is acceptable.