anon
01.07.09, 20:59
Rumors have been rampant recently about a new CPU from AMD that would reach amazingly high clock speeds and challenge Intel's Core i7 supremacy. The truth is a bit more subdued.
Every semiconductor manufacturing process can be improved over time to reduce defects and increase performance of the parts produced. This is how Intel and AMD are able to release CPUs with higher clock speeds several months after transitioning to a new process. There are always a few parts that do not perform as well as expected. These chips are speed binned and sold at lower price points and clock speeds rather than tossing them away.
However, there are a rare few that perform better than expected. AMD has collected the best chips from the Phenom II production line, and will be throwing them into the wild. The AMD Phenom II X4 42 Black Edition TWKR processor is a limited-edition chip created to showcase extreme overclocking with AMD's best. Fewer than 100 processors have been hand-picked and will be given away to elite overclockers. A few will also be given away in contests.
DailyTech - AMD Gives Away Phenom II X4 TWKR CPUs to Overclockers (http://www.dailytech.com/AMD+Gives+Away+Phenom+II+X4+TWKR+CPUs+to+Overclock ers/article15558.htm)
Every semiconductor manufacturing process can be improved over time to reduce defects and increase performance of the parts produced. This is how Intel and AMD are able to release CPUs with higher clock speeds several months after transitioning to a new process. There are always a few parts that do not perform as well as expected. These chips are speed binned and sold at lower price points and clock speeds rather than tossing them away.
However, there are a rare few that perform better than expected. AMD has collected the best chips from the Phenom II production line, and will be throwing them into the wild. The AMD Phenom II X4 42 Black Edition TWKR processor is a limited-edition chip created to showcase extreme overclocking with AMD's best. Fewer than 100 processors have been hand-picked and will be given away to elite overclockers. A few will also be given away in contests.
DailyTech - AMD Gives Away Phenom II X4 TWKR CPUs to Overclockers (http://www.dailytech.com/AMD+Gives+Away+Phenom+II+X4+TWKR+CPUs+to+Overclock ers/article15558.htm)