AMD's six-core Phenom II X6 CPUs will underclock three

April 8th, 2010

AMD's six-core Phenom II X6 CPUs will underclock three cores and automatically overclock the other three

Posted by Sean Portnoy @ 7:57 pm



More details have emerged about how AMD’s forthcoming six-core desktop CPUs, the Phenom II X6 lineup (a.k.a. Thuban), plan to handle all that processing power when most applications still can’t make use of four cores.

More: AMD's six-core Phenom II X6 CPUs will underclock three cores and automatically overclock the other three | Laptops and Desktops | ZDNet.com

(six cores! I just bought a quad for a new build now six!)

I too only recently built this PC. I have to say tho, I'm always in the mood to build an upgrade

Supposedly the only thing you may need to run one of these on an AM2+ or AM3 board is a possible biod update since they are still compatible with the same two socket types.

I waited for almost 3yrs. running the dual core setup still in use and it was time to upgrade but this time a quad! The quad will be seeing a somewhat faster clock speed as well as gaining two more cores.

The 6 core cpus will still be seeing a 125w model and a lower 95w model but no mention of what the actual stock speeds are besides the mention of two cores being backclocked when idle. I'll be waiting to see more specs on those.

Well at least the X4 I will be running recently saw a revision. AMD Phenom II X4 965 gets a new revision, lower TDP - TechSpot News

It seems the 6 core will only see the two speeds listed there being a limted addition to AMD's lineup of cpus. Now for the softwares that would actually place the demand on cpu time to see the two more actually come into play.

I hope not too serious since I have a 965 going into the new build. Besides a hefty cpu cooler however a case with good air flow helps especially with any 125w cpu. For most not looking for a performance build the advice would be looking at the 65w to 95w models.

That wasn''t so much an article but a brief blog on the 6 core processors. As you go along you'll likely run into other more detailed blogs and articles in the coming weeks.

Even with a dual core most of the time one core remains idle unless you have several things going at once or have an involved software running that demands cpu time. I tend to agree with the blog writer at ZD Net about simply not seeing the programs that see all 6 cores fired up at least not for any typical desktop user.

Engineering and types of advanced softwares, large CAD programming, etc. that would call for quite a bit of ram might be enough to kick all in briefly. Reality check on the initial almost promotional aspects of what you initially see with any new line of cpus by Intel as well as by AMD.

"Anticipation" is often the driving force behind sales! Everybody has some gimic for marketing. You see this with other hardwares as well as with cpus.