| AMD Phenom II X4 810 AM3/AM2+ Processor |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Processors | |
| Written by Olin Coles | |
| Sunday, 08 February 2009 | |
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Phenom II X4 810 ConclusionIn the majority of our gaming benchmarks and some of the CPU tests, the AMD Phenom II X4 940BE either matched or outperformed the Intel Core i7-920 processor, and most often times the X4 810 was closely behind it. For many, performance may be defined as a artificial score from a synthetic benchmark. But when it comes down to it, the person who can play games, browse the Web, rip music, and update their personal finances at the same speed with one processor as they could another, I begin to become wary of how we calculate performance. If the Core i7-920 could render a better frame rate, or open my programs faster, I might easily declare the AMD Phenom II X4 810 HDX810WFGIBOX a subordinate CPU. Since only a few benchmarks could place the Intel processor ahead of the AMD counterparts, it seems that we must rely on other factors to define performance... such as functionality, overclock ability, and value. AMD Is certainly happy the Phenom II processor series has launched with success, and I'm certain the battered company could use a break from its recent history of 'bad luck'. Thankfully, the Phenom II series is bug-free and constructed the way we would expect a global name to produce products. The X4 810 is built to perform, and offers every an excellent design for overclockers to take advantage of the larger integrated heat spreader contact surface. Adding DDR3 support to the integrated memory controller also helps, and if anything speaks to the level of refinement by AMDs engineering team. Functionality is one particular area in which AMDs Phenom II processor series is already ahead of the competition. The irony is that it's really only going to get better as Intel prepares to launch yet another processor on a new socket. While the AM3 socket is completely backwards compatible to AM2+ sockets, the competition is already preparing to role out yet another socket to further divide its consumer base. You could read my Final Thoughts to under the upcoming concern, but when AMD is already making strides to provide more value across its product line, it's nice to also see functionality becoming a key asset. Although we didn't go into detail on our overclock results (which will be published separately in another article), our preliminary results indicate that the latest AM3 processors are easily capable of giving everyone the opportunity to have more for less by overclocking. Enthusiasts and overclockers can cool the large contact surface while pushing the Phenom II X4 810 well past its limits, while pushing the core speed higher thanks to a forgiving architecture. As of March 2009, the individual boxed retail packages using part number HDX810WFGIBOX appear at NewEgg for $175. Using the Benchmark Reviews price comparison tool, there were several other online retailers offering deals, too. There are tray quantities available with part number HDX810WFK4FGI. In conclusion, the AMD Phenom II X4 810 processor receives my recommendation and approval, but not without consideration for the existing Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition. While the X4 810 HDX810WFGIBOX offers excellent value and quad-core performance for both socket AM3/AM2+ motherboards, and can manages either DDR2 or DDR3 system memory, I still have a soft spot for an unlocked processor ready for unrestricted overclocking. You've probably caught onto my repetitive reminder of how the Phenom II processors perform so closely to the Core i7-920 in real-world computing that the added expense seems a waste, but I've been using the X3 720 for a week now and have yet to notice a moment of difference between it and my Core i7 system. If you've got money to burn and a personal love-affair with Intel products, then by all means go help the economy. But if you're like the rest of us, and finding a hidden gem with outstanding features and functionality, then the AMD Phenom II X4 810 is a great choice. Pros:
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