VIA planning to demonstrate monolithic dual-core Nano at Computex

Subject: Processors | May 27, 2010 - 03:23 AM | Ryan Shrout
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Though Computex doesn’t start for another few days, some initial bits of information continue to flow in.  One notable piece was that VIA was planning to demonstrate the first monolithic dual-core version of its Nano processor for the mobile technology markets.  While we had indeed previously known about a dual-core variant of Nano, it was always expected to be a dual-chip package – similar to what we saw with the first Intel quad-core processors under the Core 2 Quad brand. 

Computex 2010: AMD Fusion APUs to be built at both GlobalFoundries and TSMC

Subject: Processors | May 27, 2010 - 02:00 AM | Ryan Shrout
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It should come as no surprise to the industry that AMD will be demonstrating Fusion-ready systems at Computex that are the first to combine a traditional microprocessor architecture and a modern graphics processing core on a single die for mainstream processing.  The details of the Fusion processors have been discussed by AMD at various microprocessor conferences.

AMD's epic Athlon lineup still has room for more

Subject: Processors | May 19, 2010 - 01:01 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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All of AMD's Athlon series just got an update, the X4 series gets the 640 and 610e, the X3 adds the 445  and the 415e and the X2 now has a 260 and 245e.  The 'e' you see in those names denotes a 45W processor, great for low voltage and low heat.  Josh got his hands on the 3.0 GHz X4 620 and the 3.2 GHz X2 260, which will cost $122 and $76 respectively.  Neither processor is going to overtake the Core i7 series for the performance crown but AMD is gaining a lead in the performance per dollar category. 

AMD's new low power and low cost CPUs

Subject: Processors | May 11, 2010 - 12:06 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Arriving today are 6 new processors from AMD, mostly a refresh of some of their older and lower end CPUs.  Neoseeker has two of them, the Athlon II X4 610e and X4 640.  The 640 is clocked at 3.0GHz and the 610e at 2.4GHz, both are quad core 45nm parts and neither are unlockable Black Editions.  That doesn't mean you can't overclock, as Neoseeker hit 3.85GHZ on the 640 which is a nice jump from the 635.  The X4 610e was tested a little differently, since it is low voltage they tested how low the voltage could go while keeping the stock speed and the answer would be 0.992V.&n

The Phenom II X2 555 BE fills its niche well

Subject: Processors | May 7, 2010 - 12:14 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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At its default clock speed the 3.2GHz Phenom II X2 555 BE
is only 100MHz faster than the X2 550, but being a Black Edition the default clock speed matter all that much.  What matters is the overclock that can be reached and that is exactly where Bjorn3D started their testing.  First off they unlocked the two unused cores and tried to boot into Windows without increasing the voltage.

New Atom Processor Platform Using Significantly Lower Power Readies Intel for Smartphone, Tablet Pus

Subject: Processors | May 5, 2010 - 11:11 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 4, 2010 – Benefitting from the company's power-saving architecture, transistor and circuit design expertise, plus unique manufacturing process techniques, Intel Corporation today unveiled its newest Intel Atom processor-based platform (formerly "Moorestown").

The technology package provides significantly lower power consumption and prepares the company to target a range of computing devices, including high-end smartphones, tablets and other mobile handheld products.

AMD's phenomenal sexy-core CPU

Subject: Processors | April 30, 2010 - 03:25 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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AMD's 1090T six core processor continues to dominate the news, as it is one of the biggest things to come out of their Fabs in quite a while.  It is a dream for Folders, the Folding@Home points per day performance sits in the middle of the Core i7 series from Intel and for a lot less money.  Overclockers are also going to have a smile; for instance, The Tech Report fired up AMD's Overdrive

Thuban arrives with the coming of the Phenom II X6 1090T

Subject: Processors | April 27, 2010 - 01:08 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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There is a little bit of math involved determining how well AMD's brand new 6 core Phenom II X6 1090T performs.  At the base of the equation is price and you can currently pick up the

Have you heard the one about the Core i5 680?

Subject: Processors | April 21, 2010 - 03:38 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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The Core i5 680
appeared on Intel's pricing list rather quietly and didn't get a lot of press for what seems a rather attractive chip.  About $10 more than the i5 680 it is replacing and is a 3.6GHz 32nm Clarkdale with two cores, four threads and 4 MB L3 cache.  It was accompanied by the E5500, which will sell under $100, has an 800MHz FSB and clocks at 2.8GHz.  Drop by HEXUS to see more.

How much does that overclock add to your energy bill

Subject: Processors | April 13, 2010 - 03:08 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Picking up a processor and overclocking it until it is just short of melting is a definite way to get more value out of your PC.  Why pay $500 when you can pick up a $300 chip and get it to go just as fast as the more expensive one?  X-Bit Labs thinks there might be a hidden cost to your overclock though.  More power translates directly into more power, especially if you are playing with your processors VCore.

A quick overview of your multicore choices

Subject: Processors | April 6, 2010 - 05:37 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Since having 4 cores or even 8 threads is now completely passe, The Inquirer has assemble a quick primer on Nehalem EX and Magny Cours. Pressing questions like whether 12 cores at 3.46GHz will beat 24 cores at 2.3GHz
and just how scalable is adding these extra cores going to effect performance.  Most of the information is not new, but it is very nice to have it assembled into a quick reference.

Die shrinking the Xeon

Subject: Processors | March 25, 2010 - 03:29 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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We do tend to focus more on the evolution of desktop processors here at PC Perspective, but the server side of the silicon world has been benefiting from the same jumps in technology.  The Xeon X5680 is 32nm Gulftown CPU, sitting in an LGA1366 socket and has 6 cores.  It has a TDP of 130W at its full 3.6GHz speed and presumably a little less at its non-boosted speed of 3.33GHz.  iXBT Labs examines the effect of extra cores on performance and tests the efficiency of the die shrink wh

Phenom II X6.... What We Know So Far

Subject: Processors | March 22, 2010 - 11:44 AM | Josh Walrath
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Before we get locked down with an NDA, I thought I would post what info we have seen so far about AMD's upcoming 6-core CPU.

Heavy reading - over 50 CPUs rounded up for your perusal

Subject: Processors | March 19, 2010 - 04:56 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Athlon II's and Phenom II's in both triple and quadruple core flavours, Celerons, Xeons and Pentiums, Plus Core 2's Core i5's and Core i7's, all put together into one giant review.  Processors running from under $100 to a dollar below $1000, it is a large gamut to get through.  One must imagine that no matter how long it takes you to read through the review you know that it took iXBT Labs longer to assemble it.

Intel Launches its Most Secure Data Center Processor - Intel Xeon Processor 5600 Series

Subject: Processors | March 16, 2010 - 11:56 AM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 16, 2010 – Combining unprecedented security, performance and energy efficiency, Intel Corporation today launched the Intel Xeon Processor 5600 series.

For those without the need or the ability to spend $1000 on an Intel CPU

Subject: Processors | March 15, 2010 - 12:48 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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Grabbing a new 6 core Gulftown processor the second it becomes available is certainly fun, but if you are building a machine that is going to be surfing the web and doing light office work then you are wasting your money.  Why not consider an AMD processor that costs about 10% of what that top of the line Intel CPU would?  MektuMods reviews four of the new CPUs AMD offers, the

This 6 core processor knows how to scale

Subject: Processors | March 11, 2010 - 03:03 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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With the Core i7 980X Intel has not only shipping out the first 6 core/12 thread CPU, it has also delivered one of the biggest stock heatsinks to date.  That size will enable you to actually get a decent overclock without resorting to a third party cooler; though if you already have one for your current i7 system it will certainly be compatible and let you go further.  The scaling from the additional two cores is rather impressive especially when looking at the more processor intense rendering applications though Ryan did hit an interesting snag on the 7-Zip benchmark as it decided t

Intel's new budget Core i3-530

Subject: Processors | March 4, 2010 - 03:15 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
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The new Core i3-530 is a 2.93GHz dual core processor that will set you back only $120 but you have to sacrifice support for Turbo mode if you do pick it.  Ryan proved you don't actually need that button as without tweaking voltage he hit 4.08 GHz and by bumping up the voltage to 1.35V that soared to almost 4.5GHz, take that Turbo button!  In many cases it out performs the Phenom II X4 965, espec