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Work or Play with Multiple Programs without Any Stalling or Waiting
- Increase Your Performance by up to 80% - |
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Dual Core AMD Processors
AMD has recently announced their new dual core CPUs, launching solutions for both desktop and server markets. The new Athlon 64 with dual core technology has been baptized Athlon 64 X2, while the new dual core Opteron processors keep the same name, but changing their model number system to indicate dual core feature.
With two cores the system works as if two independent CPUs were installed on the system. Thus, only multiprocessing operating systems are capable of taking advantage of dual core CPUs – Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and all Unix flavors like Linux, FreeBSD, etc. Also, only users that really need a CPU-intensive machine will sense a real performance boost.
The dual core approach from AMD is slight different from Intel. Since in AMD Athlon 64 and Opteron CPUs the north bridge is embedded in the processor, the CPU itself can control the multiprocessing (this task is done by the north bridge), allowing the two cores to communicate directly without the need of going outside the CPU. On Intel approach, if one core wants to talk to the other core, it has to ask permission to the north bridge, which is located outside the CPU and accessed at a lower speed. |
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Athlon 64 X2
Athlon 64 X2, the new Athlon 64 with dual core technology, is the same as the current Athlon 64 processors with the difference of having two cores. This CPU uses the socket 939 platform and all socket 939 motherboards that provide 1.4 V CPU voltage are capable of accepting this new CPU (a BIOS update may be necessary). Since it is based on the socket 939 platform this CPU has DDR Dual Channel memory support. |
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The announced models were the following: |
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| Model |
Frequency |
L2 Memory Cache |
| 4800+ |
2.4 GHz |
1 MB + 1 MB |
| 4600+ |
2.4 GHz |
512 KB + 512 KB |
| 4400+ |
2.2 GHz |
1 MB + 1 MB |
| 4200+ |
2.2 GHz |
512 KB + 512 KB |
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Take multi-tasking to a whole new level with the AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor |
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The AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor puts the power of dual-core technology on the desktop. Dual-core processors contain two processing cores, residing on one chip, that perform calculations on two streams of data, thereby increasing efficiency and speed while running multiple programs and the new generation of multi-threaded software.
For the end-user this means a significant increase in response and performance when running multiple applications simultaneously. The AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor outperforms the highest-performing AMD Athlon 64 4000+ single-core processor on multi-tasking benchmarks by up to 30%. |
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Setting the Pace in Digital Media |
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Digital media software demands simultaneous processing of data streams, the perfect use for the incredible multi-tasking power of the AMD64 dual-core technology. Dual-core technology is like having two processors working together, each one taking care of different applications, so power-users actually experience greater performance when multiple applications are running. Digital media enthusiasts can usher in the next generation of digital media software for amazing high-definition video and photo editing, content creation, and audio mixing. With the AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor, your PC will perform up to 80% faster than a single-core AMD Athlon 64 4000+ processor on the latest power-hungry digital media software applications. |
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Ready for the 64-bit future |
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Like all the processors in the AMD Athlon 64 family, the AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor is designed for people who want to stay at the forefront of technology and for those who depend on their PCs to keep them connected, informed, and entertained. Systems based on AMD Athlon 64 processors are able to deliver leading-edge performance for demanding productivity and entertainment software today and in the future.
With AMD64 technology, the AMD Athlon 64 processor is fully compatible with existing software, while enabling a seamless transition to 64-bit applications. Both 32- and 64-bit applications can run virtually simultaneously and transparently on the same platform. AMD64 technology enables new, cinematic computing experiences and capabilities, in addition to increased performance. AMD64 technology allows end users to take advantage of new innovations such as real-time encryption, more life-like games, accurate speech interfaces, cinema-quality graphic effects, and easy-to-use video and audio editing. |
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More information on Athlon 64 X2 |
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Dual Core Opteron
Several dual-core versions of the Opteron processor were released, all using the socket 940 platform. There are two main differences between Opteron and Athlon 64 processors. First is the memory support. Both have dual channel support, but Opteron requires ECC memories, which are targeted to servers. The second main difference is the number of HyperTransport busses the processor has. Athlon 64 has just one HyperTransport bus, while Opteron can have one, two or three busses. Actually Opteron is manufactured with all three HyperTransport busses, but one or two are factory disabled depending on the processor model. |
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The Opteron 1xx series doesn't support multi processing and has only one HyperTransport bus. The Opteron 2xx series support multi processing up to two CPUs and has two HyperTransport busses. And the Opteron 8xx series support multi processing up to eight CPUs and has three HyperTransport busses. These extra busses are used to link one CPU to another. |
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Dual-core solutions were released on the 2xx and 8xx series. As you can see from the table below, dual core models numbering system advance in increments of five versus increments of two on the single core Opterons. |
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The released models are the following: |
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| Model |
Frequency |
| 875 |
2.2 GHz |
| 870 |
2.0 GHz |
| 865 |
1.8 GHz |
| 275 |
2.2 GHz |
| 270 |
2.0 GHz |
| 265 |
1.8 GHz |
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Performance
For multi-tasking and multithreaded environments, two cores offer more physical resources, enabling operating systems to prioritize and manage tasks from multiple applications simultaneously and, therefore, maximize performance. Dual-core AMD64 processors are designed to be compatible with the existing base of x86 software, whether it is single-threaded or multithreaded.
The new processors deliver up to a 90 percent performance improvement for application servers over single-core AMD Opteron processors. For desktop PC users, AMD announced the new AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core processor brand that will enable true multi-tasking capabilities for richer computing experiences.
The advantage of dual-core AMD64 technology
Dual-core processors are the next evolution of AMD64's Direct Connect Architecture and were designed from the ground up to directly connect two cores on a single die, along with memory, I/O and dedicated caches, improving overall system performance and efficiency and helping to eliminate the bottlenecks inherent in a front-side-bus architecture. |
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MSI Motherboard Support List for AMD Athlon64 X2 Processors |
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