AMD's Athlon 64 X2 4800+ & 4200+ Dual Core Performance Preview
by Anand Lal Shimpi on May 9, 2005 12:02 AM EST- Posted in
- CPUs
Gaming Multitasking Scenario
Our gaming multitasking test basically performs all of the tasks from our first Multitasking Scenario, with the exception of DVD Shrink. We have Firefox loaded with all 13 tabs from our new suite test, iTunes is running and playing a playlist, and Newsleecher is downloading headers. We kept Newsleecher in this test simply because it's the best way for us to be able to have a fairly CPU/disk intensive downloading task running in the background while still maintaining some semblance of repeatability. So, replace Newsleecher with BitTorrent or any other resource-consuming downloading that you may be doing and you're good to go. Note that although we refer to Newsleecher as disk-intensive, it isn't that disk intensive at all, like most downloading operations, in the grand scheme of things; it just acts as a good real world background task to have running.Of course, Norton AntiVirus 2004 and Microsoft's AntiSpyware Beta were also running in the background.
First, we ran our Doom 3 benchmark:
Next up is Splinter Cell:
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Ender17 - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
Anand, have you tried overclocking these X2 chips?AnandThenMan - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
Very poor (pre)review IMO. Not nearly enough multi-tasking tests, and NO overclocking tests for some strange reason. And what about power consumption tests? Observations on heat output?And I agree with #18, the Q3 or Q4 statement with no explanation is odd and getting annoying.
Hothardware and Thetechreport have much better preview articles.
Anand Lal Shimpi - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
dougSF30AMD is playing a bit of a word game with regards to availability. When they say available in June, they mean that through select system system builders the Athlon 64 X2 will be available in June. Across the board availability (as in you'll actually be able to buy an Athlon 64 X2 CPU alone) will be Q3/Q4 - that is directly from AMD to my inbox. It's just that availability in June sounds a lot better, much like Intel saying that availability in May sounds good - both companies appear to be playing the same word game ;)
Take care,
Anand
Ahkorishaan - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
NIce review Anand, I've more or less chosen the 4400+ X2 as my next processor from my XP 2100+. She's getting venerable now, pushing 3 years old now.phaxmohdem - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
I just creamed my pants. Who the F*ck wants an 820 Pentium D with you can have a freaking "X2" F*ck yeah! thats Xtreme muther F*cker!Its like that "America F*ck Yeah!" song from America World Police.......
"Wal-Mart, F*ck yeah! Taco Bell, F*ck yeah! X2, F*ck yeah! Pentium D..............(Distant) fuck yeah?"
wow this is the most F*cks I've seen in a single Anand post, or thread for that matter.
F*ck it. I'm all for setting records :)
Da3dalus - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
When the time comes, an X2 shall be a nice upgrade from my current s754 3200+ :)dougSF30 - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
What's with the opening bias?(1) AMD, unlike Intel and the 840EE, does not claim to have launched the X2. Providing a performance preview != paper launch.
(2) AMD states in writing that the X2 will be available in June. Not "Q3 or Q4". This is the second time Anandtech has made these "late this year" comments which contradict AMD's official stated position, with no explanation.
Zebo - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
Thanks Anand:)DrMrLordX, if you really think it's poorly priced consider this. the lowest end San Deigo, aka the "value" line in that series, a 2.2 is $350. Adding another core is only 50% more money inside 4400.
Don't even start looking at dual opteron 248's which cost $1000 just for processors, not to mention expensive ECC and mobos pluys it's slower.
I see real value in the 4400 and I'm a huge proponet of $70 wonderchips like XP mobiles.
This is a workstation chip with a cheaper than workstation price.
Ender17 - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
Great article BTW. AT is my fav review site.Anand Lal Shimpi - Monday, May 9, 2005 - link
Zebo2-2-2-5/1T
Take care,
Anand