AMD Phenom™ 9500 quad-core processor
Feb 4, 2008 | 8:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 13,344
AMD Phenom™ 9500 quad-core processor
I am looking at a new desktop that has the Phenom quad-core processor in it. Reviews on it seem ok, but there are some that say it hangs when doing complex tasks.
Right now there is a good deal on HP media centre computers with this processor. Anyone used one or have any thoughts on it?
My last several computers have been AMD and generally I have been very happy with them, while I could switch to Intel, I would prefer to stick with AMD and continue to support the "little" guys.
Thanks,
Right now there is a good deal on HP media centre computers with this processor. Anyone used one or have any thoughts on it?
My last several computers have been AMD and generally I have been very happy with them, while I could switch to Intel, I would prefer to stick with AMD and continue to support the "little" guys.
Thanks,
Feb 4, 2008 | 9:24 am
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,593
It is more than enough computing power though it is using 65nm (so a generation behind the current quad products which are 45nm based).
The hang issue is present with all quad systems. Some software is still not multi-cpu capable (poorly written software that assumed single processor and avoided proper serialization code). On a dual such software often runs fine (the other processor tends to run mouse/video/OS and not apps). On a quad apps often run on more than 1 cpu -- and the hangs happen. If you use well-written modern software, zero problems. But using AMD or type of MP system has no effect on these hangs. And there is no indication that Phenom has any other hang issues (with the memory bus, for example, of the hardware interrupt structure). So, when switching to a quad, expect to have software problems. If you cannot deal with them, stick to a dual core for the next few years. If you want to have real fun with software defects, run a dual quad (8 processors); software that is rock solid on a uni will fail within 5 minutes on that setup, if it isn't properly serialized. And lots of mainstream stuff fails.
The hang issue is present with all quad systems. Some software is still not multi-cpu capable (poorly written software that assumed single processor and avoided proper serialization code). On a dual such software often runs fine (the other processor tends to run mouse/video/OS and not apps). On a quad apps often run on more than 1 cpu -- and the hangs happen. If you use well-written modern software, zero problems. But using AMD or type of MP system has no effect on these hangs. And there is no indication that Phenom has any other hang issues (with the memory bus, for example, of the hardware interrupt structure). So, when switching to a quad, expect to have software problems. If you cannot deal with them, stick to a dual core for the next few years. If you want to have real fun with software defects, run a dual quad (8 processors); software that is rock solid on a uni will fail within 5 minutes on that setup, if it isn't properly serialized. And lots of mainstream stuff fails.
Feb 4, 2008 | 9:55 am
#3
Original Poster
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 13,344
Thank you number_6.
I was looking a quad core as in another thread ScottC said the price of them was now competitive to dual core's. The computer I looked at is a media centre; if I switch the processor to dual core, there is actually an upcharge as the quad core is on promo right now.
The app's I would be using would be media related, word processing, internet etc. I know the quad core is overkill but I was thinking if it is cheaper than a dual core isn't it better to get the next generation vs. what is on its way out?
I was looking a quad core as in another thread ScottC said the price of them was now competitive to dual core's. The computer I looked at is a media centre; if I switch the processor to dual core, there is actually an upcharge as the quad core is on promo right now.
The app's I would be using would be media related, word processing, internet etc. I know the quad core is overkill but I was thinking if it is cheaper than a dual core isn't it better to get the next generation vs. what is on its way out?
Feb 4, 2008 | 7:31 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Programs: DL GM, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 12,171
This was enough to scare me away:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenom_(processor)
Issues
Before Phenom's release, it was discovered that a bug in the L3 cache in AMD's quad-core processors could cause a system lockup in rare circumstances. Phenom is affected by this bug up to and including stepping B2. There are BIOS and software workarounds to prevent this problem from occurring, although the workarounds typically employed incur a performance penalty of around 10%. This penalty was not accounted for in early pre-release previews of Phenom, so the performance of early Phenoms delivered to customers is expected to be somewhat below the benchmarks in these previews. Updated CPUs with the bug fixed will be named Phenom 9550 and 9650, and are supposed to arrive "mid to late Q1 2008."[9]
Before Phenom's release, it was discovered that a bug in the L3 cache in AMD's quad-core processors could cause a system lockup in rare circumstances. Phenom is affected by this bug up to and including stepping B2. There are BIOS and software workarounds to prevent this problem from occurring, although the workarounds typically employed incur a performance penalty of around 10%. This penalty was not accounted for in early pre-release previews of Phenom, so the performance of early Phenoms delivered to customers is expected to be somewhat below the benchmarks in these previews. Updated CPUs with the bug fixed will be named Phenom 9550 and 9650, and are supposed to arrive "mid to late Q1 2008."[9]