NOTICE: In fact, This is the old version of the 955, not the new version as Amazon claims. The new version is here AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2 GHz 4x512 KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail HDZ955WFGBMBOX and it's more than $100 cheaper, just google for "HDZ955WFGBMBOX" and you will see the difference. The M in the model "GBMBOX" marks the difference between the C2 revision of this processor (the GIBOX) and the C3 revision (the GBMBOX). The reason Amazon has the wrong listing is because AMD did mislabel the two processors at first, but later corrected the error on their website, but Amazon didn't update theirs. The new revision mainly brings some minor tweaks, but paying an extra $100 for the old version is simply ridiculous.
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A lot of reviews online are written by computer hardware enthusiasts. Think of it as asking a person who testdrives Ferrari's for a living for advice when you want to buy a car for your everyday commuting needs, and she will probably start telling you how bad Toyota Prius is without paying attention to cost or your needs. In the world of processors, this is a very good BMW that you manage to buy at a very cheap price.
I don't play high-end games at full resolution on a 55 inch plasma tv, and neither do I have liquid nitrogen around to cool my processor down. It's not that this Phenom can't do that, but we're not really going to drive this BMW *ahem* Phenom at 500 miles down the highway, so an average person doesn't need an intel i7, especially that i7's, despite being more powerful, are far more expensive. Also keep in mind that an i7 requires triple channel memory and an expensive motherboard. My memory usage, when I have many programs open, never goes above 2GB, but it's not a bad idea to invest in a 4GB memory right now as applications are becoming more memory hungry by the day.
I have been using my old desktop for 7 years, and it served me well for that time. However, I mainly use my computer for multimedia and some minor programming. So, I needed a processor that was going to let me easily view and edit those huge images from my digital camera, let me play music while doing that, and let me keep multiple youtube tabs open, chat, use a modern browser, and that won't keep me waiting for minutes or even seconds for applications to launch, this processor has surpassed all of my expectations, and it helped me save a couple of hundred of dollars while building my new computer, which is always a great thing. I am a student and that's why money is always an issue, but I am sure that normal hard-working people also appreciate saving some of their hard-earned money.
To further demonstrate what I mean, let's consider an average desktop computer, a random pick would be the HP TouchSmart 600-1055, by looking at the specifications we can see that it comes with a 2.13 GHz dual core processor - two cores, and it has a price tag of more than a thousand dollars. You can put together a computer using this 3.2 GHz Phenom II X4 - four cores - for about $650, and this includes a very good full HD monitor. This shows how overrated most numbers are, but it's not a bad idea to invest in this AMD processor right now even if you're not going to harness its full power through your everyday use, which is to have a future-proof computer, as two or three years from now programs and new operating systems may call for four cores at such high speeds. Again, I will use that BMW analogy, what's the use of buying an expensive Ferrari - intel i7 - when there are no highways where you can drive at 250 mph. Buying a BMW will provide you will all the comfort of a family-friendly sedan, and the ability to safely drive at 150mph per hour if speed limits are suddenly lifted.
What are cores about? Well, my 8 years old pc had one processor - a single core, and this means that all the applications had to share that processor. Think of it as having one adult at a daycare center taking care of many little children - open applications. Four cores means that you have four small processors on this small CPU chip, each clocked at 3.2 GHz, this means that the children will get better care as there are going to be many adults around taking care of their needs. Some high-end programs have also started using more than one core in their operation to speed things up, and this trend is very likely to continue with AMD and intel mentioning more cores as a part of their plans for future processors. HP TouchSmart 600-1055's processor only has two adults around, while this Phenom has four adults waiting to tend to the needs of all the children - waiting to serve your applications, they will even share the workload at times.
Personally, I never saw my cpu usage rise above 10%-15% with this processor. This means that Opera 10 web browser with 20-40 open tabs, all the applications running in the background, watching high definition movies, and a couple of open chat windows in addition to a music player playing all of my music collection. It handles everything well and nothing ever slows down, which is what I expect from a fine processor like this.
As for the installation, it was very easy. The box contains the processor, a user manual + warranty, and a CPU fan and heatsink. I literally installed it into my motherboard's AM3 socket in two minutes, and I haven't put a computer together for any of my friends for more than 3 years. Even the heatsink didn't take any time to be properly aligned and working. What's more, it's the first time ever for me to assemble an AMD computer. So, it was not an issue. It made the somewhat scary task of assembling a computer less scary.
As for performance, I can not keep up with my computer. Everything is almost instantaneous. What more can I ask for from a computer processor?
Windows 7 works just fine, and so is everything else. Really, this is the perfect processor. If you're considering a new computer, get one of those, and take my word on it, you won't regret it.
Notes:
- Phenom II X4 955 and Phenom II X4 965, what's the difference?
I don't think that there's any real difference between the 140W 965 available at Amazon at the time of writing and this processor. This processor can be overclocked - i.e. made to run faster - to run at 3.4 GHz just like the 965. The 965 available here consumes more power - 140W, and is more expensive at the time of writing. The difference is $25, but I still prefer this 125W Phenom. If you find a 125W Phenom II X4 965, don't mind paying a little extra, and don't plan to overclock, then get the 965, if not then get this. The 200Mhz aren't really going to make that much difference.
- What about the intel i5?
The i5 is a really good processor, but putting a system together with an i5 costs a lot of money even though it's only priced at $200. The reason is that a good motherboard for the i5 will really be expensive. I did consider buying an i5 - this is my first time using an AMD processor, but then I figured out that it's really not worth it. Both almost are the same. AMD also remain faithful to their sockets, which means that I am highly likely to be able to use the same motherboard 2-3 years from now for a new AMD processor.
- What about the new X6 Phenom? Isn't it better?
As someone who actually fell in love with this processor, I feel strange recommending another processor for you to buy. It all depends on your budget. If you have an extra $40 to spare and won't overclock, then definitely get the new non-black edition of the X6 processor. That's what I'd have done if I had the time back then. If you plan to overclock then you probably don't need my opinion on this. The extra cores will always come in handy in the future.
- What about the Phenom II X3 720?
The X3 720 is a great processor with three functional cores and a fourth core that can be unlocked. However, the fourth core may be unstable and the price difference is only $35. As more applications use more cores, this extra core of the X4 will start making a real difference.
- What about the sockets: AM3, AM2+, AM2?
The socket is the place on the motherboard where you put your processor. As time went by, AMD's new processors started using new sockets, but they still remained backward-compatible. This means that this AM3 processor will work on older AM2+ and AM2 motherboards. If you're using an AMD computer and are wondering whether you will need a new motherboard or not, just remove the side panel of your case, write down the name and the model of your motherboard, and then use google to find the specifications of your motherboard and check whether it has an AM2+ socket or not. You will probably need to download and install a BIOS update in order for your motherboard to use this AM3 processor. Remember that you should buy DDR2 ram if you will use a motherboard that doesn't have an AM3 socket.
Maintenance:
The heatsink that comes with the unit is more than adequate if you don't plan to overclock. However, after a while you will find that your core temperatures will start soaring, that's due to dust build up. I looked online and it seems that many people said that you can't take the heatsink apart in order to clean it. Actually, you can. There are four small clips holding the small AMD fan in there - without you having to release the heatsink and apply a new layer of thermal paste, once you release those four clips the fan will come off and you will have access to radiator-like blades where there will be a lot of dust. Removing that dust using a compressed air spray brought my temperatures down by 5 C. AMD Phenom II X4 955 HDZ955FBGIBOX 3.2 GHz/6 MB L3/125W Processor - Am3 - Phenom 955 - Cpu Processors - Quad Core'
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