AMD Athlon 64 FX-74 & Quad FX Platform Review(Core2Quad or 4x4?)

[H]ardOCP ^ | 11/30/2006 | Paul Jastrzebski

[Echo Talon]

AMD's much hyped "4X4" system today brings dual socket Athlon 64 FX processors to the desktop allowing two dual-core AMD processors to be used. This in effect gives us a quad-core system and paves the way for a true octo-core desktop platform next year.

Introduction

If you take a look back at the microprocessor industry, and more specifically the battles between Intel and AMD over the last few years, you see that a see-saw pattern of enthusiast market dominance tends to emerge. We see either Intel or AMD on top for a while, then due to an ambitious product launch or manufacturing delay, the reigning king is usually dethroned and the cycle starts over. The enthusiast segment is the cream of the crop for both companies, and although there isn’t a lot of volume in $999 processors, bragging rights that your’s are the fastest in the world provides marketing leverage that cannot be purchased. AMD was the first to reach 1GHz (And [H] was the first to destroy one!) while Intel dominated the Athlon XP with the Pentium 4, but then the Athlon 64 emerged and single-handedly whipped Intel for three years running. Fast forward to present day and Intel’s Conroe chip remains dominant on the desktop front, with the company’s Kentsfield quad-core chip the dominant performance leader at the ultra high end.

[Echo Talon]

Click the link to read the article if you're interested, lots of benchmark charts compared to Intels QX6700 Core2Quad..

[Echo Talon]

Here is a related article, "AMD Announces Quad FX Platform" Daily Tech
11/29/06

[AmericaUnited]

If you do any video editing work, these quad setups are the way to go.

[Echo Talon]

yea, video editing or 3D rendering.. ;) oh yea! Actually Games are going to start being multi-threaded so... this will be great... I believe the game is called "alan wake" or something like that... I'm not a huge gamer, just something to look out for, I like the 3D modeling and rendering though... :)

[Zathras]

It requires a $300 power supply, a $400 motherboard and memory can only be added in 4x increments.
Power consumption is 2x Intel.
The fans to keep it cool are very very loud.

All for a platform slower than Intel's 2.4Ghz Quadcore.

[Echo Talon]

yea... we need to wait and see what AMD's "true" Quad-Core can offer coupled with this or other mobos. As it stands right now Intel has the crown... :( oh it hurts to say...

[Echo Talon]

AMD's Quad FX: Technically Quad Core

Here is Anand's review of the 4x4...

[Echo Talon]

AMD's pricing structure, including the new Quad FX processors, is as follows, with Intel's upper echelon CPUs thrown in for comparison:

CPU	Clock Speed	L2 Cache	Price
AMD Athlon 64 FX-74*	3.0GHz	1MB per core	$999
AMD Athlon 64 FX-72*	2.8GHz	1MB per core	$799
AMD Athlon 64 FX-70*	2.6GHz	1MB per core	$599
AMD Athlon 64 FX-62	2.8GHz	1MB per core	$713
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+	2.6GHz	1MB per core	$403
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700	2.66GHz	4MB per 2 cores	$999
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600**	2.40GHz	4MB per 2 cores	$851
Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800	2.93GHz	4MB	$999
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700	2.66GHz	4MB	$530

* Note: These processors come in pairs of two, pricing is for both CPUs
** Note: The Core 2 Quad Q6600 is an unreleased CPU and will be introduced in January 2007.