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Today we are checking out the latest AMD quad-core processor, known as the Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition. The latest successor from a long line of Phenom II X4 processors, this version operates at 3.80GHz using an 18.5x clock multiplier. Although much the same from AMD, this new release does mean that previously released quad-core processors are going to become slightly cheaper again...
Late last year AMD released five new desktop processor models to help bolster their existing line up. One such processor was the Phenom II X4 970 Black Edition, which would replace the current, at that time, AMD flagship quad-core part, the 965 Black Edition. Offering a mere 100MHz speed bump increase, this new quad-core arrived at $185, which was the launch price of the Phenom II X4 965.
Since then AMD has released the Phenom II X4 970 with the 975, which again bumped up the speed by 100MHz by operating at 3.6GHz. The Phenom II X4 975 slotted in at $190 and in the process pushed the 970 down to $170, the 965 to $160, and the 955, which is still an unlocked Black Edition processor, costs just $140. Less than 6 months since the Phenom II X4 975 refresh AMD is at it again, this time releasing the Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition processor. The Phenom II X4 980 is expected to come in at about the same price as the 975, pushing that down to the 970 and so on and so forth. Once again we are faced with a mere 100MHz speed bump, pushing the operating frequency of AMD’s fastest quad-core processor out to 3.7GHz. |
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