AMD Phenom II X4 920: specifications, review and reviews

The processor solution with a high level of performance and affordable price is the AMD Phenom II X4 920. Although this chip was released in March 2009, even now the hardware characteristics of its semiconductor chip still allow the launch of any software. Moreover, even the most demanding software on this basis will function without any problems. The only limitation is that in some cases it will be necessary to abandon the maximum possible settings.

What kind of computer is this chip aimed at?

The AMD Phenom II X4 920 processor is aimed at implementing high-performance personal computers. AMD chips at the time of launch of this product were distributed as follows:

• Septron is an entry-level CPU. These solutions included only 1 or 2 computational units, had understated clock frequencies and shortened clock speeds. As a result, such chips are excellent for creating office workstations or home computers budget entry-level.
• Athlon II series could boast of higher performance and performance levels. They included 2, 3 or even 4 software code processing modules. They also increased the values of the nominal clock frequency and had more cache volume, which consisted of 2 levels.
• The maximum level of performance and performance was provided by the Phenom series chips, to which the solution in question belonged. The key difference that ensured their superiority in real applications was the cache memory, which consisted of 3 levels. Also the frequency in this case increased significantly.

Possible delivery options

In two types of configuration, it was possible to meet AMD Phenom II X4 920. In the name of this chip there was no prefix Black Edition and the multiplier is blocked. Therefore, the most optimal option for its delivery is BOX, which consists of the following components and accessories:

• Processor device.
• Protective transparent box for safe transportation of the CPU.
• Sticker-logo with the name of the family of processors.
• Certificate of full compliance of this device with different norms and directives.
• Cooler in an improved version with special copper tubes for heat removal.
• Quick User Guide in paper version.
• Thermal grease.
• Warranty card.

This option is sufficient to start using this processor solution for its intended purpose. There was also a second option for the chip - TRAIL. From it, the manufacturer excluded the company cooler and thermal grease. In this delivery, this chip was of the greatest interest for computer enthusiasts and large companies - assemblers of fixed system units.

Processor connector. Sets of microcircuits

The main processor socket for the AMD Phenom II X4 920 is AM2 +. But also such processor solutions can quite successfully function in sockets AM3 and even AM3 +. All these processor connectors are compatible with each other. But the most optimal in conjunction with this processor is to use motherboards based on AM2 +. This chip can work in the chipsets of 7ХХ, 8ХХ and even 9ХХ series. All these sets are developed by AMD company.

Architectural features of the processor solution. Frequency

The code name for the microprocessor architecture of AMD Phenom II X4-Deneb chips. 920 and 940 are the first processors of this family. All of them included 4 computing cores of the x86-64 architecture. That is, they could work both in 32-bit computing mode and 64-bit. The multiplier of this solution is blocked at 14x. The nominal clock frequency of each core is 2.8 GHz. The system bus operated at a frequency of 1800 MHz.

Thermal package. Temperature regimes

In 125 W the manufacturer installed a thermal package for AMD Phenom II X4 920. The characteristics of the same processor indicate that it was produced using the technology of 45 nm, and the area of the silicon crystal was 243 mm ² . The CPU power supply voltage could be in the range from 0.875 V to 1.5 V. The maximum temperature, after which a breakdown of the semiconductor substrate of the CPU is possible, was 62 ^° C. In nominal mode, its temperature was in the range from 50 to 55 ^° C. After the acceleration This value in some modes can reach 60 ⁰ C. To increase the margin of reliability of the computer in this mode, it is necessary to install improved modifications of cooling systems.

Cache

One of the key features that provided high performance to computer systems based on AMD Phenom II X4 920, was the organization of cache memory. As in any other modern processor, it consisted of 3 levels. The total volume of the first level of fast memory was 512 KB. In turn, these 512 KB were divided into 4 parts of 128 KB, which were assigned to a certain computing unit. In the future, these 128 KB were divided into 2 parts of 64 KB. One of these parts was intended for data storage, and the second - for instructions of the program code. At the second level, the total cache size was 2 MB, which were divided into 4 parts of 512 KB. As in the previous case, each such segment of memory was assigned to a specific kernel. The total capacity of the third level was 6 MB, and it was common for all the computational elements of the semiconductor chip of this processor solution. The main purpose of the cache is to reduce the exchange of data and instructions with a random access memory due to the fact that the most requested information is inside the chip. Moreover, this fast memory operates at higher frequencies and, due to this, has a higher speed.

Specifications for RAM

The main type of random access memory DDR2 for AMD Phenom II X4 920. The specifications indicated that the memory controller of this chip could address no more than 16 GB. Motherboards were equipped with 4 memory slots. Therefore, in such a slot it was possible to set the bar to 4 GB. The frequency of the memory chips should be 400, 533, 667, 800 and even 1066 MHz. Again, the memory controller was part of the north bridge chipset. Therefore, in practice, such a chip could also work in conjunction with DDR3 modules. Only in this case, a special increase in the speed of the operation of the personal computer did not work because the frequency dropped to the maximum possible 1066 MHz and these slats worked essentially in DDR2 mode.

Overclocking CPU

Phenom II X4 920 boasts a phenomenal increase in performance due to the clock frequency. Overclocking it has achieved a performance gain of about 30 percent. As it was mentioned earlier, the nominal clock frequency of this chip is 2.8 GHz, and the system bus functions at real 200 MHz or effective 1400 MHz. The voltage in this case on the CPU is 0.875 V. After the overclocking the chip frequency can reach 3.7 GHz. The voltage on the semiconductor chip can reach 1.5 V. The bus operates at 265 MHz or 1855 MHz. To overclock this computer system should be completed as follows:

• Advanced model of the motherboard with improved organization of the power supply subsystem.
• Power supply with a solid power margin. The minimum value in this case should be 750 W.
• Memory modules must have a margin in frequency.
• In such a system unit, a heat sink system must be well organized. And both on the chip itself and inside the system unit.

The algorithm for increasing the performance in this case is as follows:

• The frequencies of all PC elements are reduced.
• Step by step voltage on the processor.
• When the maximum frequency is reached, it is already necessary to increase the voltage and frequency simultaneously.
• When reaching 1.5 V or the limit of stability of the system, the maximum acceleration is obtained.
• Also, it is necessary to check the computer after that with the help of special software.

Synthetic tests

The considered chip belongs to 4 nuclear solutions, that is, in its name one can find the word Quadcore. AMD Phenom II X4 920 shows impressive results in both single-threaded and multithreaded tests. As the opponents of this chip are Phenom X4 9950, Core 2Quad Q9300 and i3-2100. In the PC Mark05 test, the strengths in points are distributed as follows:

1. I3-2100-9394.
2. II X4 920 - 8474.
3. Q9300 - 8014.
4. X4 9950 - 7662.

Slightly changes the arrangement of processors in the test CrystalMark version 0.5:

1. I3-2100 - 48876.
2. Q9300 - 45156.
3. II X4 920 - 44536.
4. X4 9950-41056.

In synthetic tests, this chip can compete on an equal footing with the second generation of Core processors. If there is a difference somewhere, then it is not so significant. A more significant argument in this case is that even the freshest chips of the FX series showed identical results.

Results in toys

More interesting test results are obtained in games. The list of compared CPU chips is identical to that given earlier. The image quality in all cases is maximum, and its resolution is 1280 x 1024. It should also be noted that the computer system is equipped with 2 GB of DDR2 RAM, a 650W power supply and a GeForce 9800 GTS graphics accelerator with a 1 GB GDDR3 video browser. In the game Tom Clancy's HAWX results in fps are as follows:

1. II X4 920 - 125 fps.
2. X4 9950 - 115 fps.
3. Q9300 - 106 fps.
4. I3-2100 - 98 fps.

All processors have a comfortable level of gameplay. But AMD chips show that in this case the availability of more computing resources allows to increase the speed. Cardinally changes the alignment of the forces of the test in Far Cry version 2. This results in the following results:

1. I3-2100 - 101 fps.
2. II X4 920 - 82 fps.
3. Q9300 - 74 fps.
4. X4 9950 - 73 fps.

In the first place comes the most recent solution, "Intel", but the hero of this article is not so much from him lagging behind and provides a quite comfortable level of play. A similar situation is obtained in the Race Driver:

1. I3-2100 - 110 fps.
2. II X4 920 - 92 fps.
3. Q9300 - 80 fps.
4. X4 9950 - 79 fps.

The advanced architecture of the company "Intel" makes itself felt, but the gain in relation to the AMD chip is not that big - only 18 frames. But the difference in cost between the CPU is more significant. The other two processors X4 9950 from AMD and Q9300 from Intel show comparable results and significantly lag behind the performance level from more advanced CPUs.

The price of the processor solution

At $ 192, AMD Phenom TM II X4 920 was evaluated. The Processor with such parameters in 2009 really cost so much. In addition, it was a flagship solution, which had a phenomenal level of both performance and speed. Now completely in a new state, such a CPU can not be bought for the reason that the stock of all components within AM2 + and AM3 is sold out. In the second hand, such a chip can be bought at a price of 30-40 dollars. To buy it for today has only the sense in the case when it is necessary to repair a broken system unit based on this platform. In all other cases it is better to look towards more new computer solutions.

Owners opinion

The AMD Phenom TM II X4 920 became an excellent chip for the AM2 + and AM3 platforms. At the time of its release, it could adequately compete with similar Intel solutions. In addition, it can be noted that even now such a chip allows you to play any toys and perform any most demanding software. The only downside to it is energy efficiency. But the CPU, manufactured by such a process, could not be any other way. This is exactly what the user feedback indicates.

Results

Although it was released long ago by the standards of the computer industry AMD Phenom II X4 920, but even now the availability of such a processor device still allows you to solve any problems. This list includes the most demanding toys, graphic editors, and other resource-intensive software. Of course, in some cases it will be necessary to set the settings not to the maximum values, but it is necessary to take into account when this chip was released.