A high-performance processor with excellent technical characteristics and excellent performance is the Phenom II X4 960T. This chip is universal and suitable for any task. Its parameters, cost, reviews about it and other important nuances associated with this processor device will be discussed below.
What computers is this processor designed for?
This processor belonged to the AM3 computing platform. Also, this chip can be installed in AM2 + and even AM3 + sockets . As part of the computer platform, AMD chips were distributed as follows:
Entry-level CPUs had one or two processing units and belonged to the Septron lineup. Also, the clock frequencies in this case are minimal, and the cache size is reduced. As a result, personal computers based on such chips were perfectly suited for the implementation of office computing systems or multimedia stations.
The processors of the Athlon II family were located higher in the AMD range. The number of cores in them could be from 2 to 4 pieces, the frequencies were increased and the cache was increased. As a result, such CPUs were suitable for entry-level or even mid-level gaming systems, graphic stations, and document management servers.
Maximum performance was provided by solutions of the Phenom II model range. In this case, silicon crystals were equipped with 3-6 cores, had a significantly increased cache size and higher frequencies. As a result, such processors could be used in ultimate gaming systems, high-performance graphics stations, and entry-level servers. It was to this group of processor devices that the Phenom II X4 960T processor belonged.
Possible delivery options
AMD has two options for the Phenom II X4 960T. One of them was called BOX and included such elements:
The second delivery option in the price lists was called TRAIL, and it almost completely corresponded to the previous list. From it, the manufacturer excluded the cardboard box and the cooling system. The latter consisted of a cooler and thermal paste. In this case, the cooling system had to be purchased separately. As a result, the second configuration option initially had a lower cost, but in the end it was more expensive. The BOX equipment was best suited for using the chip in nominal mode, and in the second it was possible to overclock it and get higher performance as a result.
Chip architecture
Interestingly enough, the silicon wafer layout was made in the Phenom II X4 960T. The characteristics of the chip indicated the presence of 4 cores on it. But in reality, the number of computing units was 6. Two of them were artificially disabled by the manufacturer. As a result, under a favorable set of circumstances, it was possible to get a full 6-core from a 4-module CPU. The code name for the compute modules is Zosma, and the chip architecture is K10. The processor socket of this processor is AM3, but it could also be used on motherboards with an AM2 + or AM3 + socket.
Frequencies
In nominal mode, this processor has a minimum frequency of 3.0 GHz. Additionally, AMD processor TurboCore support was implemented in this processor. Its essence boils down to the fact that in the case of solving a problem of increased complexity, the level of chip speed increased due to an increase in the clock frequency. Also, with a significant increase in temperature, the frequency value decreased. The maximum frequency in nominal mode is 3.4 GHz.
Cache
A high level of performance Phenom II X4 960T provided the organization of cache memory. In this case, it consisted of 3 levels. The first level consisted of 512 Kb. It was divided into 4 parts of 128 KB. In turn, these 128 Kb were divided into 2 parts of 64 Kb. Half could only store data, and half - instructions. The second cache level also consisted of 4 clusters of 512 Kb. In total, this gave 2 MB of memory. The third level was 6 MB in size. The first two levels were assigned to a specific core, but the third was common to all computing resources of the chips.
RAM
The RAM controller for this processor was dual-channel. Unlike modern chips, in which it is included in the semiconductor chip, this element of the computing system in this case was part of the chipset on the system board. Depending on the model of the motherboard, this processor could interact with RAM standards DDR2 or even DDR3. The largest amount of memory that can be installed in such a PC was 16 GB.
Energy efficiency. Power consumption and temperature
The silicon substrate AMD Phenom II X4 960T was manufactured using the technology “silicon on dielectric” with tolerances of 45 nm. Due to the use of such a far from advanced technological process with a high degree of energy efficiency, this chip could not boast. Its thermal package was installed by the manufacturer at 95W. The manufacturer set the maximum temperature for this CPU at 105 0 . In the nominal mode, its value was in the range from 55 to 75 0 . In the acceleration mode in combination with an improved cooling system, the maximum value of this parameter did not exceed 85 0 . But with a regular cooler, such an operation is not recommended.
Increase in productivity
There are several ways to increase the performance of this microprocessor device. These include:
Increase the clock frequency by increasing the multiplier.
Increasing the frequency of the system bus.
Unlocking deactivated cores.
The first two methods were official and allowed to achieve an additional increase in frequency up to 3.9-4.0 GHz, but unlocking of Phenom II X4 960T from the manufacturer was not allowed. As a rule, poor-quality kernels were blocked and their unlock did not give the desired result.
Test results
As the opponents of the Phenom II X4 960T Black Edition, it is most optimal to choose the Phenom II X6 chips of the 1090T model from AMD and the i7-920 and i5-750 from Intel. The first two microprocessor solutions were the flagship companies and provided the highest performance computing systems in 2012. The last test chip was a direct competitor to the hero of this article. In the iTunes test, the CPUs showed the following results:
i5-750 - 1.23 min.
i7-920 - 1.33 min.
1090T - 1.34 min.
960T - 1.38 min.
This software mainly uses only 1 core. Therefore, the improved Intel architecture in this case makes itself felt. AMD solutions feel better in programs optimized for multithreading. For example, in the 7-zip archiver, the following results are obtained:
1090T - 0.57 min.
i7-920 - 1.00 min.
960T - 1.14 sec.
i5-750 - 1.15 seconds
In this case, all the computing resources of the microprocessor are involved and the more cores, the higher the speed.
Reviews and price
Certain flaws were in the chip in question. Among them, the owners attributed only high energy consumption, which is due only. But also the AMD Phenom II X4 960T processor boasted a number of advantages. In this case, the owners indicated the following:
High performance.
Fairly low cost.
The ability to increase productivity by increasing the frequency or by unlocking unused computing cores.
At the time sales began in 2012, such a microprocessor solution could be purchased for 3600 rubles. And now it can still be bought in new condition from stocks. Its cost has decreased to 2400 rubles.
Summary
The Phenom II X4 960T was a truly unique solution. The composition of its crystal included 6 real cores, but there were only 4 active ones. Therefore, in practice it can be turned into a full-fledged 6-module chip. Another important feature of the processor in question is the unlocked multiplier. Therefore, to disperse such a semiconductor crystal was not difficult. This made it possible to get an additional 25 percent to speed. As a result, the model range of the company really had a high-performance microprocessor device, offered to the user at a very affordable cost.