AMD releases its fastest desktop CPU yet

Reuben Lee | Jul 01, 2008

The Sunnyvale-based chipmaker today announced three new additions to its Phenom X4 family of quadcore processors. Among them are the company's new flagship desktop CPU, the X4 9950 Black Edition (BE) as well as two other energy-efficient offerings, the X4 9350e and X4 9150e.

As its Black Edition branding indicates, AMD's latest 2.6GHz offering is clearly aimed at enthusiasts, gamers and overclockers. (AMD chips with Black Edition labels do not have a locked multiplier, which typically facilitates overclocking.) Based on several benchmarks already posted on the Web, the X4 9950 BE seems to have a performance edge over the previous flagship model, the X4 9850, which makes it possibly the fastest CPU from AMD so far.

Meanwhile, the X4 9350e (2.0GHz) and X4 9150e (1.8GHz) chips are targeted at a whole different set of users. Their low 65W power consumption is ideal for mainstream users who want an energy-efficient multi-core system. The low wattage also allows for smaller form factors that operate more quietly. Comparatively, the X4 9950 BE, which runs at 140W, will have to be paired with premium mainboards that can support the high power consumption.

The X4 9950 BE chip will retail for US$265, while the X4 9350e and X4 9150e are expected to cost US$195 and US$175, respectively. The price of the X4 9850 BE processor will also be reduced from US$235 to US$205 from July 7, according to AMD.

Filed under: PC & Peripherals
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