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Like the superheroes of old, the AMD Phenom II streaks out of the night to lay waste to your enemies with three 2.8GHz cores having L1 and L2 caches for each core and 6MB of L3 cache to be shared to handle really heavy loads or large data sets.
Memory transfers get faster than ever. HyperTransport Generation 3.0 mode allows up to 16.0GB/s of bandwidth. Up to 17.1GB/s memory bandwidth for DDR2 and up to 21GB/s memory bandwidth for DDR3 memory controller delivers an amazing 37GB/s of processor-to-system bandwidth. This unprecedented bandwidth is needed to feed the data hungry AMD64 with Direct Connect Architecture cores.
You'd think that all of this power would be too hot to handle. Think again. AMD's Cool'n'Quiet 3.0 technology works with CoolCore Technology to minimize heat while keeping power and efficiency up. Now the cores can shut down unused parts of the processor when not in use. This saves power and helps to reduce the amount of heat generated. This function is built in so there's no need for drivers or BIOS updates.
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- 5
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- 93%
- 4
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- 4%
- 3
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- 1%
- 2
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- 1%
- 1
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| Product Rating: |
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| Total Reviews: |
909 |
The AMD Phenom II 720 is the current value leader
- Pros: Great mix of performance, reasonable tdp, Black edition, unlocked multiplier with great overclocking headroom, at a very reasonable price. DDR3 ready. Also compatable with current AM2+ chip sets with a bios flash, and inexpensive DDR2. Increased L3 cache and improved overall archatecture.
Stock Cooler is actualy fairly good with copper heat pipes. Idles around 42C when overclocked to 3.5 per core, runs stable overclocked on the stock heatsink with a small voltage bump.
Third core adds multitasking stability, can actualy run anti virus now without a noticeable performance hit. Defrag your hard drive, while playing Unreal Tournament III, thats pretty awesome.
95 Watt TDP reasonable for this much processing power.
- Cons: Only that other Phenom II's are offering a free game in a bundle, that might make those a better value for you.
- Other Thoughts: AMD realy has pulled through. Has this much overclocking and performance ever been available for this little? Competition is good.
O 720, How do I love thee...
- Pros: Let me count the ways:
- 45nm - runs cool - not even close to overheating, and room on the die for lots of cache.
- Fast - 20% faster @stock over an A64x2 5400BE@3.1
- 95W TDP - great for 780G chipsets (Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H Rev 1.0, F7 BIOS) with sketchy 125W support
- Unlocked multiplier + generous OC Headroom (see other thoughts) - made OCing easy
- Excellent upgrade path - easy drop-In upgrade for AM2+, but still AM3 ready for the future, especially when the 8xx chipsets come out.
- Full HT bandwidth
- Cons: I wanted this chip soooo badly, but Newegg's pricing merry-go-round made me dizzy (2 price increases on the first day alone... and no free shipping!). I ended up getting this somewhere else (sorry, Newegg, but I still love ya'...)
- Other Thoughts: My results for multiplier/voltage adjustments only:
Fully stable OC 3.4 @ Vstock, although 32-bit XP was able to boot 3.6 @ Vstock.
Fully stable OC to 3.6 with a nominal voltage bump (+0.075V = 1.40V).
Mostly stable* to 3.8 @ 1.5V (Vmax in specs was 1.550), that's where I stopped.
All in all, not too shabby - +1GHz over stock without redlining voltage. Even at 3.8 under load, max temp was under 25C over room temp, with a Rosewill RCX-Z2-EX HSF, well below max temp. These results were also fairly typical amongst the various reviews.
Overall, I'm very pleased with the 720, and I'd recommend this CPU for any enthusiast...it's really a tremendous value.
*Mostly stable=passed stability tests (1 hr runs) except for AOD's. However, it seemed to test run games, 1080p video playback, and applications just fine, but I wouldn't run any critical tasks/updates at this setting.
Other Other thoughts: I think the magical Tri-to-Quad only applies to Biostar 790 chipset mobo'
| Model | HDZ720WFGIBOX |
| Series | Phenom II X3 |
| CPU Socket Type | Socket AM3 |
| Multi-Core | Triple-Core |
| Operating Frequency | 2.8GHz |
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- 5
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- 93%
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909 |
Excellent Performance for Non-Gamers.
- Pros: Idle temperature is between 30 and 38 C, depending on the ambient temperature and what was previously processed. With a 3.0 15-minute load average (a.k.a. "100% processor usage for at least 15 minutes") the temperature tops out at 45C in a warm room.
I've had it up to about 3.7GHz without issue for a short period of time, with no extensive testing. But it can happen, and it's nice to know that, in four years when it starts to show its age, I can clock it up a bit to get some more life. I know that's not what overclocking is intended for, but it works for me.
I do a lot of work in linux and FreeBSD, and it's always very fast. I can compile rings around my friends.
Paired with an ASUS M4A78T-E motherboard.
The included fan is also quiet, and never goes faster than about 2500RPM.
- Cons: Linux has no problem getting temperature and fan-speed readings, but FreeBSD does, in both x86 and -64 versions. That seems like it's motherboard-related, but if you're one of the two other BSD users out there, you may want to know. Furthermore, the motherboard and CPU seem capable of managing their own speed-throttling and temperature issues without software, which is more than I can say for the Core 2 Duo T7300 that I used to have.
- Other Thoughts: Great value. I highly recommend this product as a "first step" into the AM3/DDR3 series of processors.
I would buy it again!
- Pros: Unlocked 4th core and upped multiplyer to 15 @ 3.01 ghz no volt jump or nothing (got in a combo with gig 790gx and best board i have had for a long time!!)
- Cons: U wish!
- Other Thoughts: buy the combo and save 40$ unlock and have a P ii X4 940 for free ... I did :P
Love It
- Pros: I must say that I didn't carry out any fancy testing, other than installing this CPU on a brand new motherboard. However, this CPU replaced an Athlon 2.2 GHz and I'm just impressed with the speed. From opening a word document, to viewing a movie this CPU just does the job well and without hesitation. The included cooling fan and heat-sink work wonderful to maintain the operating temp low and the fan is whisper quiet. Installation was a breeze and the heat-sink comes with the proper amount of thermal grease already applied.
- Cons: I can't think of any.
- Other Thoughts: May not be as fast an equivalent Quad-Four AMD CPU, but cost a heck of a lot less.
| Model |
| Brand |
AMD |
| Series |
Phenom II X3 |
| Model |
HDZ720WFGIBOX |
| CPU Socket Type |
| CPU Socket Type |
Socket AM3 |
| Tech Spec |
| Multi-Core |
Triple-Core |
| Name |
Phenom II X3 720 |
| Operating Frequency |
2.8GHz |
| Hyper Transports |
4000MHz |
| L1 Cache |
128KB+128KB |
| L2 Cache |
3 x 512KB |
| L3 Cache |
6MB |
| Manufacturing Tech |
45 nm SOI |
| 64 bit Support |
Yes |
| Thermal Design Power |
95W |
| Cooling Device |
Heatsink and Fan included |
| Manufacturer Warranty |
| Parts |
3 years limited |
| Labor |
3 years limited |
Introduction
Like the superheroes of old, the AMD Phenom II streaks out of the night to lay waste to your enemies with three 2.8GHz cores having L1 and L2 caches for each core and 6MB of L3 cache to be shared to handle really heavy loads or large data sets.
Memory transfers get faster than ever. HyperTransport Generation 3.0 mode allows up to 16.0GB/s of bandwidth. Up to 17.1GB/s memory bandwidth for DDR2 and up to 21GB/s memory bandwidth for DDR3 memory controller delivers an amazing 37GB/s of processor-to-system bandwidth. This unprecedented bandwidth is needed to feed the data hungry AMD64 with Direct Connect Architecture cores.
You'd think that all of this power would be too hot to handle. Think again. AMD's Cool'n'Quiet 3.0 technology works with CoolCore Technology to minimize heat while keeping power and efficiency up. Now the cores can shut down unused parts of the processor when not in use. This saves power and helps to reduce the amount of heat generated. This function is built in so there's no need for drivers or BIOS updates.
Highlights
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AMD64 Triple-core Technology
AMD64 is designed to enable simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing with no degradation in performance. With Triple-Core technology, three complete processor cores on a single die run at the same frequency to deliver exceptional multi-tasking power, allowing users to surge through the most demanding processing loads, including advanced multitasking, critical business productivity, complicated visual design and modeling, serious gaming, and visually stunning digital media and entertainment.
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Integrated DDR2 and DDR3 DRAM Memory Controller
The AMD Phenom II X3 Triple-Core processor is integrated with DDR2 and DDR3 DRAM memory controller capable of supporting registered and ECC DRAM. The integrated memory controller changes the way the processor accesses main memory, resulting in increased bandwidth, reduced memory latencies, and enhanced processor performance.
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HyperTransport Technology
HyperTransport Technology (HT or HTT) is a high-speed, low latency, point-to-point link designed to increase communication speeds between integrated circuits in computers, servers, embedded systems, and networking and telecommunications equipment. With HT 3.0 technology the AMD Phenom II X3 triple-Core processor enjoys 4000MHz system bus speeds.
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AMD Cool'n'Quiet 3.0 Technology
AMD's Cool'n'Quiet 3.0 technology is an enhanced solution available on AMD Phenom II X3 processor-based systems that can effectively lower power consumption and enable a quieter-running system while delivering performance-on-demand.
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AMD Virtualization
Virtualization on desktop computers allows a single PC to act like multiple virtual machines. AMD Virtualization can enable client computers to seamlessly support multiple operating environments. And it also helps make it easier for PC enthusiasts to upgrade and maintain their PCs through emulation.
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AMD CoolCore Technology
AMD CoolCore Technology reduces processor energy consumption by turning off unused parts of the processor. Power can be switched on or off within a single clock cycle so that energy is saved without compromising performance.
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Quick Specs
| Brand | AMD |
| CPU Socket Type | Socket AM3 |
| L1 Cache | 128KB+128KB |
| L2 Cache | 3 x 512KB |
| L3 Cache | 6MB |
| Manufacturing Tech | 45 nm |
| Operating Frequency | 2.8GHz |
| Series | Phenom II X3 |
| Thermal Design Power | 95W |
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Reviewed By: on 2/12/2009
Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: 1 day to 1 week
