AMD Socket-AM2: Same Performance, Faster Memory, Lower Power

Through regular advances in process technology, AMD has also been able to reduce the power consumption of the entire X2 line on Socket-AM2.  Now all AM2 X2 parts feature an 89W TDP, whereas previously the higher model number X2s were all 110W parts.  AMD confirmed that the lower power consumption would also affect newer fabbed Socket-939 X2s, however AMD will not be changing the TDP ratings on those chips. 

On top of reducing power consumption for the Athlon 64 X2 line, Socket-AM2 will also be home to AMD's new Energy Efficient processors.  Through the same sort of TDP targeting that is used to manufacture energy efficient Opteron processors, you will now be able to pay a premium and purchase cooler running Athlon 64, X2 and Sempron AM2 processors.  The clock speeds and model numbers remain the same, but these new processors will either carry an Energy Efficient logo indicating a 65W TDP or an Energy Efficient Small Form Factor logo that indicates a 35W TDP. 

The entire list of Energy Efficient and EE SFF CPUs is listed below:

For anywhere from $20 - $60 over their 89W and 62W counterparts, you can now have 65W or 35W Energy Efficient AM2 CPUs.  The price premium is tacked onto the processors because these lower wattage parts don't yield at the same rate as the higher wattage CPUs, and thus require a higher price to make up for the decrease in yield.  But honestly, the premium on a lot of the CPUs is small enough that we can't help but recommend them (assuming the real world reduction in power is in line with AMD's reduction in TDP rating).

The Energy Efficient Small Form Factor Athlon 64 X2 3800+ at a mere 35W (less than half the TDP of the standard X2 3800+) is particularly interesting to us, but unfortunately we'll have to wait before being able to provide you all with power measurements.  While all regular AM2 CPUs are available beginning today, the new Energy Efficient models won't be available in the channel until sometime in June.  AMD did not have enough samples on hand to even provide us with one in time for publication, citing extreme OEM demand as the reason for supply being so tight.  Hopefully when these CPUs do hit the channel we won't see any sort of price gouging as they are extremely attractive. 

There are of course a long list of of new motherboards and chipsets with support for Socket-AM2, but we'll save the deep dive on both of those topics for some of our other articles in the works.  Later today you'll be able to read all about NVIDIA's new nForce 500 platform, later in the week  you'll see what ATI has to offer for AM2 and then next week we'll have our first roundup of Socket-AM2 motherboards. 

The Test