From the very beginning of computer epoch, opinion was that parallelization and everything connected to computers needs to be scaled to the second power, although it doesn’t matter if you have 1, 2 or even 73 cores. In any case, everything will work properly, unless we are talking about some old version of synthetic benchmark programs that doesn’t recognize processor with odd number of processors. If one worker will do the job for 24h, two will do for 12h and for three workers you can guess by yourself. This analogy goes for multi-thread software which can recognize multi-core processors.
Has this one “the bug”?
New AMD K10 architecture is what is all about here. We have explained this technology very thorough, so we won’t waste your time on this subject here again. Phenom 8750 belongs to so called xx50 series, which means that this is new B3 revision that doesn’t have infamous TLB bug. This actually means that processor will work on full speed on any motherboard and only because TLB patch will not be active. Some motherboards simply don’t have in their BIOS possibility to turn off this patch and that’s the reason why “bug-free” CPU is more than welcomed.
Performances
During the test, triple-core processor has showed as more efficient solution than duo-core CPU, even at significantly higher frequencies, for rendering and video compression. That is quite understandable because these sorts of applications have almost ideal scalability with increasing number of cores. We must underline that scaling from 2 to 3 cores is, in percentage, much better than from 3 to 4, so it comes out that, in real conditions, this X3 hybrid isn’t much slower from its high-end brothers. Phenom 8750 is able to pull out practically the same FPS in games like quad-core 9750, and that’s because games are limited by graphics card and because just few games on the market, at this point, have support for CPU’s with more than two cores.
Overclock
B3 revision has far better overclock potential than its predecessor B2. Unfortunately, AMD will not launch Phenom Triple-Core Black Edition, so our hopes for easy overclocking, using just simple multiplier change, fell to the ground. Good overclock of 8750 requires excellent motherboard with “overclock pedigree”. Did someone whisper DFI?! Well, of course, that chipper Biostar boards with AMD 770 chipset will do, and also will do new series of nForce 750a based motherboards and, of course, unavoidable Asus Crosshair Formula II 780a. Even users with little overclocking skills and some courage, that have these motherboards, can easily pull out the maximum from AMD Phenom X3 Triple-Core 8750. We managed to push frequencies up to 3 GHz for tested sample and if you low frequencies for memory controller it is possible to get even 3.1-3.2 GHz with default voltage for 65nm CPU’s. You will also need, for this kind of overclock, proper cooler based on heatpipe technology.
| AMD Phenom X3 8750 triple-Core Specifications | |
| CPU clock | 2.4 GHz |
| L1 cache | 128KB x 3 |
| L2 cache | 512 KB x 3 |
| L3 cache | 2048KB x 1 |
| Memory Controller | dual 64-bit |
| Memory Controller Clock |
1.8 GHz |
| Supported Memory Types |
DDR2 400/533/667/800/1066 |
| HyperTransport 3.0 | 1.8GHz ÷ 3.6GHz full duplex |
| Socket | AM2+ (940) |
| Manufacturing Process | 65nm SOI / DSL - Silicon On Ilustrator - Dual Stress |
| Transistor N⁰ | ≈460×106 |
| Nominal Voltage | 1.15 ÷ 1.25 V |
| Power Dissipation | 95W with integrated nortbridge |
Test Configuration: AMD Triple-Core X3 8750, 2x1GB Kingston HyperX 1066 DDR2 4-5-5-15-2T,
GeForce 9600GT , Win XP PRO SP2
Test Configuration: AMD Triple-Core X3 8750, 2x1GB Kingston HyperX 1066 DDR2 4-5-5-15-2T,
GeForce 9600GT , Win XP PRO SP2
Conclusion
AMD Phenom X3 Triple-Core 8750 isn’t “native” triple-core processor. It is actually “crippled” quad-core CPU with one core disabled by manufacturer. This, in fact, doesn’t make any operational problems to end user. We have seen this technique in past: if CPU has ¾ of cache less, than we declare it as, for example, Celeron. The biggest objection that we have for tested 8750 is a little bit higher price. For a few ten-euro bills more you can buy real quad-core CPU. Some chipper, but also interesting solution, can be 2.1 GHz 8450 triple-core with price tag similar to X2 6000+, just a little above 100€. Upcoming dual-core series 6x50 will bring down K10 architecture in price range under 100€. If we have in mind that AMD constantly advances manufacturing process, in the following period we can expect even chipper 65nm CPU’s with better overclocking possibilities. It’s up to us to say only: Go for it AMD!
