Vic Computer Medan: AMD Phenom and Spider unveiled

Monday, November 19, 2007

AMD Phenom and Spider unveiled

AMD today unveiled its new platform codenamed “Spider”, with the first true quad-core processor supporting scalable graphics for The Ultimate Visual Experience™. The AMD Spider platform combines the introduction of AMD Phenom™ quad-core processors, ATI Radeon™ HD 3800 Series graphics processors with Microsoft DirectX® 10.1 support, AMD 7-Series chipsets with CrossFireX™ and AMD OverDrive™ software.

The architecture of the new AMD Phenom processor is based on the Barcelona core, otherwise known as the Agena core for the desktop market. The AMD Phenom processor is only the first part of a three part platform message that AMD is trying to present. The second part was the new AMD Radeon HD 3800 series of graphics. The third part is a new chipset, the second from the new AMD, known as the AMD 790.

With the release today AMD is only going to have two Phenom models on the list: an AMD Phenom 9600 and Phenom 9500 clocked at 2.3 GHz and 2.2 GHz respectively. Both are set at a TDP of 95 watts and will come with a total of 2MB of L3 cache and 2MB of L2 cache, 512KB to each core.

Phenom 9600 @ 2.3 GHz - $283 (available now)
Phenom 9500 @ 2.2 GHz - $251 (available now)
Phenom 9700 @ 2.4 GHz - under $300 (Q1 2008)
Phenom 9900 @ 2.6 GHz - under $350 (Q1 2008)

A video showcasing AMD's Overdrive utility has surfaced on YouTube. Sami Maekinen from AMD's chipset division explains what Overdrive is, how to use it, and its benefits. Unlike other utilities, AMD Overdrive controls the whole platform. That platform being Spider, this utility works with a Phenom processor, 790FX chipset and AMD's new videocards.