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| Product | AMD Phenom 9500 (2.2GHz, OEM) | AMD A8-3850 | AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ | AMD Phenom X4 9850 (2.5GHz) | Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition |
| Price | $284.56 | $78.99 to $263.55 | $113.18 | $268.42 | $779.99 to $1,539.71 |
| CNET editors' rating | 3 stars | 3.5 stars | 3.5 stars | 3 stars | 4 stars |
| Average user rating | 3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4 stars | 4.5 stars | 4 stars |
| Release date | November 19, 2007 | Info unavailable | May 23, 2006 | March 27, 2008 | November 2, 2008 |
| Bottom line | AMD's new Phenom quad-core CPU has little to recommend it over competing chips from Intel. The Phenom is marginally less expensive, but not enough to make up for its subpar performance. Unless AMD drops prices more aggressively, it looks like Intel will maintain its grasp on the CPU market for the foreseeable future. | We recommend the AMD A8-3850 to mainstream desktop PC users in search of capable gaming power and multithreaded application performance. | AMD's new high-end dual-core CPU offers plenty of bang for the buck, outpacing Intel's Pentium 965 Extreme Edition, which costs $200 more. Sounds like a good deal, but wait to see what Intel's next-gen Core 2 Duo chips have to offer when they debut later this year. | AMD's new Phenom X4 9850 is overpriced and outclassed compared with its Intel-based quad-core competition. If PC vendors can use this chip to make cheap systems (as they did with older Phenoms), we might have nicer things to say, but as a DIY part at this price, we can't recommend AMD's latest quad-core CPU. | Thanks to an expensive new motherboard requirement, Intel's new Core i7 desktop processors will remain enthusiast and professional-level parts until more affordable complementary hardware comes out later next year. Speed never comes cheap, however, and if you're willing to spend for it now, you'll find yourself in possession of the fastest CPU on the market. |
| Product Description | AMD Phenom X4 9500 / 2.2 GHz Processor | AMD A series A8-3850 / 2.9 GHz Processor | AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ / 2.6 GHz Processor | AMD Black Edition AMD Phenom X4 9850 / 2.5 GHz Processor | Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition i7-965 / 3.2 GHz Processor |
| Packaged Quantity | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Product Type | Processor | Processor | Processor | Processor | Processor |
| Processor Type | AMD Phenom X4 9500 | AMD A series A8-3850 | AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Energy Efficient | AMD Phenom X4 9850 | Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition i7-965 |
| Number of Cores | Quad-Core | Quad-Core | Dual-Core | Quad-Core | Quad-Core |
| 64-bit Computing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compatible Processor Socket | Socket AM2+ | Socket FM1 | Socket AM2 | Socket AM2+ | LGA1366 Socket |
| Processor Qty | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Clock Speed | 2.2 GHz | 2.9 GHz | 2.6 GHz | 2.5 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| Manufacturing Process | 65 nm | 32 nm | 65 nm | 65 nm | 45 nm |
| Features | Enhanced Virus Protection AMD Virtualization HyperTransport technology AMD Cool'n'Quiet Technology | Integrated memory controller AMD64 technology | Integrated memory controller Enhanced Virus Protection AMD Virtualization HyperTransport technology AMD64 technology 3DNow! Professional technology AMD Cool'n'Quiet Technology | Enhanced Virus Protection AMD Virtualization HyperTransport technology AMD Cool'n'Quiet Technology | Execute Disable Bit capability Hyper-Threading Technology Enhanced SpeedStep technology Intel Virtualization Technology Intel Thermal Monitor 2 Intel 64 Technology Enhanced Halt State (C1E) Demand Based Switching |
| Compatible Slots | 1 x Processor - Socket AM2+ | 1 x Processor - Socket FM1 | 1 x Processor - Socket AM2 | 1 x Processor - Socket AM2+ | 1 x Processor - LGA1366 Socket |
| Manufacturer Warranty | 3 years warranty | Info unavailable | 3 years warranty | 3 years warranty | 3 years warranty |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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