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I have
been waiting to try these new AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ processor for
a while now and I got my chance when a new client of mine asked me to build a
system for him with the new dual core processor. I told him about these X2
series processor and he readily agreed to get this 4800+. The X2 series of
processor are just the FX processor with dual cores and some other enhancements,
so you can only expect the best power and performance from these. AMD says it is
their intention to make the FX series processors the ultimate desktop PC
processor, therefore the jump to dual core technology. AMD claims that these new
processors are perfect for not only games, but for all multi-thread projects
that would require a dual core processor. After some benchmark tests, I can
confidently say that Intel is not even close to these AMD processors; now that
AMD has the new FX-60
available, I think Intel will have a hard time just trying to catch up.
Please refer to the
How to purchase a processor guide for
full details on what questions to ask yourself before purchasing a processor.
THE INSTALLATION :
I think AMD’s choice to stick with the 939 socket design is great because it
will compatible with you current 939 socket compatible motherboard. Since this
is a 939 socket compatible processor, it is as easy to install as all previous
939 processors that AMD made. If you have installed as many processors as me, by
now you will be able to install these correctly and quickly without any
problems. And AMD makes their processors easy to install anyways. But if you are
still not sure about some steps or if it is just your first time installing
these--follow the instructions in the quick installation guide. If you follow
the steps listed in the guide properly, you should have no problems what so
ever. If you install the stock heat sink and fan, your job will be even simpler,
but you may need to follow instructions for the other heat sink if you choose
not to use the manufacturer supplied one.
Overclocking: This 4800+ is a very overclocking friendly
processor, just like all AMD processors; this was the main reason I switched
from Intel a while back. Even though, this processor is fast, you can easily
achieved an overclocked speed of about 2.6 GHz without much effort; I did not
have the cooling system to go any higher (I used the stock heat sink and fan for
this overclock). If my client wants I can always get better cooling on it and
try to go higher (I am pretty sure it can achieve higher speeds). I have read
many articles that suggest this processor can be safely overclocked to 2.7 GHz
with better cooling. If you want to overclock your system, here are some tips
you may need: you should lower the HT (HyperTransport) multiplier to 3x or 4x or
the HT frequency to 1.1 GHz or lower; the default HT multiplier is set to 5x; I
did not have to raise the vcore voltage from 1.4V; I did have to raise the
memory voltage to 2.9V and had it run at 333 MHz instead of 400 MHz; you will
definitely need a very good cooling system; also use good thermal grease like
Arctic Silver for optimal performance. By now you are probably wondering about
the temperature… right? Well guess what, with good cooling or even the stock
cooling at 2.6 GHz, the temperature never went over 45 degrees. At 2.7 GHz I was
able to keep it well below 55 degrees. So basically, you will be pleased with
the low voltage needs of this processor. I always like to recommend against
overclocking your processor if you use the stock heat sink and fan for cooling
it because you can seriously hurt your system. But in this case, I was able to
overclock about 8 percent without it overheating or crashing. But I would still
advice caution as it is an expensive processor and I assume everyone would
regret frying it. And this processor is very fast already so you technically do
not have to overclock it (for a little while anyways). I would highly recommend
you use Arctic Silver thermal grease to install your heat sink because it
transfers heat more efficiently to keep your processor running cooler at all
times. You can purchase these from your local computer store or online for about
five to eleven bucks a piece.
Suggesstions: Even with normal usage, your heat sink
will/may accumulate dust and dirt over time, so the best thing you can do to
prevent this is to clean the inside of your computer every two to three months
or so. Some months ago, I had not cleaned mine for over six months and I noticed
that the processor was running hotter than usual, but after I good clean up of
the head sink and the inside of my computer, it was back to normal again. You
can use the Falcon Dust Off duster to blow all the dirt and dust off; it will
only cost you between four and nine dollars per can.
The First Boot: The first boot is always the trickiest one
of all as anything can happen; you will never be able to predict if the system
will work proper or not. So, it is best to clear your CMOS/Bios settings to
factory defaults to start out with a clean system and avoid any complications
that can cause serious crashes or problems. Some new systems will not work
properly if you do not reset the settings anyways. You may not have to do this
if you are just replacing or upgrading your processor only. You can always go
back and change the settings to your needs once you have it working properly.
Some motherboards now allow you to have multiple settings saved which will come
in handy in situations like this.
Installing the Operating System: Once you have the system running up to where
stops and asks for an operating system, you can then go ahead and install your
favorite operating system or if you already have an operating system installed,
just boot up. One thing to keep in mind when booting up for the first few times,
is to keep a close watch on the processor and memory (RAM) temperatures;
especially if you used a different heat sink and even more if you overclocked
the processor. I also suggest that you make sure the memory sticks you used are
compatible and can overclock without problems. If your memory sticks are one of
the cheaper one’s or are not compatible, you system may be unstable or will not
boot at all. I can say this from experience.
SO, WHATS HOT?
First and most importantly, the dual core computing makes this processor stand
out from the rest and on top of that the high speed rating of this processor
moves it almost ahead the long line of processors even more. Even though it is
rated at 2.4GHz which looks lower than some single core processors but it feels
ways faster as it has dual cores.
When you compare any AMD processor with its competitor Intel’s processors, you
may think that AMD processor are slower (because of Intel’s higher speed ratings
standards), but when you use these processor for yourself, you will notice that
they perform way better than any Intel can and then some. I will always
recommend AMD processors over any Intel just because they are easy to overclock,
install, use, maintain, and plus they perform better too.
With these processors, your computer will boot up way faster (does not matter
which operating system you have installed) and your applications will startup
much quicker than you would normally expect. This is one of the fastest dual
core processors I have had experience with and I am glad I got the chance with
this new client of mine. If you cannot afford this Athlon 64 X2 4800+, I would
highly recommend the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ or
AMD Athlon 64 X2
4400+ as an alternative; they perform about the same but cost a lot
less.
Many of my customers often ask me if 64-bit dual core processors actually are
better than the 32-bit single core ones. I always assure them that it is the
best way to go and once they try it for themselves, they know they will be ready
for the future with great power and performance. If the client does not mind
paying a bit more for the upgrade I would highly recommend the newer dual core
FX-60 processor. I think the dual core processors are more powerful and they
will probably stick around for a long time and replace the single core
processors very soon.
This processor uses the 939 pin design like most AMD 64-bit processors. The
1024KB x 2 (2048KB or 2MB total) L2 cache memory will run the 2000MHz (1000MHz x
2) of FSB (Front Side Bus) with maximum performance. You will experience more
power and speed if you combine this processor with the right motherboard that
will speed up you DDR memory.
AND, WHATS NOT?
A full review is not complete without the cons or not so hot parts of the
product. So now you are probably wondering that this processor is too good to be
true… right? Well guess what, it is real and the performance and power is
amazing. So I did not really notice or experience any problems with this
processor. All AMD processors are very reliable and you can never go wrong with
an AMD. I usually update all software, drivers, and games to make sure there are
no problems. I do not like to take any chances with the systems I build, even
though this one was for me. I would recommend that you check for driver and
software updates at least once a month or as needed. I would also recommend
updating your motherboards Bois regularly to keep it performing at its best and
to remove any issues that exist.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE :
I have used this new system for about a week and my client has had it for about
two weeks now. Both of us think that it is an amazing system for all your
computing needs. As of now, neither my client nor I have come across any
problems of any kind; the whole system runs at high speed and does not ever get
hiccups with high maintenance software or games. My client later overclocked it
and it has not overheated as of yet. I did perform some benchmarks while I had
it with 3DMark 05 and got a score of 6210 (actual data). CPU test 1 score was
3.3 frames per second, and CPU test 2 score was 6.2 frames per second (higher is
better in these tests). This benchmark is accurate as of February 06th, 2006.
The computer runs very fast with Windows XP Pro SP2 installed on it and boots up
in just less than 15 to 20 seconds and becomes ready for use.
WARRANTY INFORMATION :
As usual, AMD provides us with a three-year limited hardware warranty that
includes phone support. You can visit
www.amd.com
or dial (408) 749-3060 to get warranty support. You may be asked
for the serial/model number and date of purchase for this unit, which can easily
be found by following instruction in the manual or asking one of the
representatives on the phone.
FINAL THOUGHTS :
My client is happy with his decision to go with the new dual core processor but
if money was not an issue for him, I would have recommended the dual core
Athlon FX-60
that costs an arm and a leg for us not so rich individuals. My client loves his
new system and cannot stay off of it. After experiencing this processor for a
week or so, I wish it was a little cheaper so I could upgrade my own system at
home. This is the best processor for your gaming rig, but not everyone can
afford it yet. The AMD
Athlon 64 FX-60 is the boss of all processors and costs a lot too,
but this processor is not too bad in price and performance. So if you want a
very fast computer and do not care too much about the price, I would highly
recommend the new dual core
FX-60 processor or all FX series processor for
that matter. You will definitely be amazed by the speed and power of these
processors. Best of all, your computer will startup faster, all applications
will run quicker, and you will be able to multi-task seamlessly. And plus your
wallet will be a lot lighter (I think that is a good thing). |
