Like the superheroes of old, the AMD Phenom streaks out of the night to lay waste to your enemies. The 8750 has 3 cores that run at 2.4GHz. The tri-core Phenom processor has 128KB L1 and 512KB L2 caches for each core and a total of 2MB L3 cache to buffer really heavy data flows.
Memory transfers get faster than ever. HyperTransport Generation 3.0 mode allows up to 16.0GB/s of bandwidth. Add that to the 17.1GB/s from the integrated memory controller for an amazing 33.1GB/s of memory 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 could get too hot to handle. Think again. AMD's Cool'n'Quiet 2.0 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.
AMD64 Triple-core TechnologyAMD64 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.
HyperTransport 3.0 TechnologyHyperTransport 3.0 Technology (HT 3.0) 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 8750 Toliman processor enjoys 3600MHz system bus speeds.
AMD VirtualizationVirtualization 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.
AMD CoolCore TechnologyAMD 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.
AMD Cool'n'Quiet 2.0 TechnologyAMD's Cool'n'Quiet 2.0 technology is an innovative solution available on AMD Athlon 64 processor-based systems that can effectively lower power consumption and enable a quieter-running system while delivering performance-on-demand.
Integrated DDR2 DRAM Memory ControllerThe AMD Phenom 8750 Toliman Quad-core processor is integrated with a DDR2 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.
Pros: Very good overclocker; with my not so competitive setup (Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe, 4 GB Kingston Value Ram - PC-6400, GeForce 9600 GT), I was able to push it to 2913.43 MHz by changing only the multiplier to 14.5. The core voltage was at stock, and I do not like playing with it. Replaced an x2 5000+ OC to 3014 MHz, and the registered temp.s with my previous CPU was room temp + 19-20 degrees with Zerotherm BTF 92 OC edition cooler. With this one, the idle temps are room temp + 13-15 when OCd! The highest temps seen with this processor was 46 degrees, compared to x2 5000+'s 52-53, at room temps of 23 when running Prime95 under constant full load. This thermal behavior is amazing... Probably with an SB750 chipset MB, this may even go higher up to 3.2GHz range.
Cons: None from the processor, but from the Windows Vista (or XP as well as Google reveals!) itself. As soon as I upgrade the processor, and boot up into Vista, I received "Digital Cable device application registration Stopped Working" error, repeatedly every couple of minutes. When I Googled, it turned out to be a flaw of the Windows itself but not the processor, and solution was easy...
Overall Review: As one of the reviewers pointed out, I do not think there are many applications benefiting from four cores, but the triple core; aside from WMV (go figure). The facts with Everest are; - CPU Queen= x2 5000+ 9094 vs. x3 8750 11292 (+24%) - CPU Photoworxx= x2 5000+ 7363 vs x3 8750 13414 (+82%) - CPU Zlib= x2 5000+ 29104 vs. x3 8750 48302 (+66%) - CPU AES= x2 5000+ 6708 vs. x3 8750 12056 (+80%) - Futuremark Virtualmark= x2 5000+ 8700 vs. x3 8750 9900 (+14%) When x2 5000+ OCd to 3.0GHz vs x3 8750 OCd to 2.9GHz; - CPU Queen= 10466 vs. 13654 (+30%) - CPU Photoworxx= 7835 vs. 14162 (+81%) - CPU Zlib= 33970 vs. 58192 (+71%) - CPU AES= 7732 vs. 14415 (+86%) - Futuremark Virtualmark= 9800 vs. 11100 (+13%) Even at this current state, this CPU blows the streamline Intel dual core processors and combining the power with the latest SB750 MB, OCable RAM and HD4XXX graphics card will definitely give the user a straight winner! Until AMD releases its next gen quadcores, it is a very good se