Here are the specs on my current CPU vs my new Phenom CPU:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Windsor 2.4GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 89W Dual-Core Processor

• Socket AM2
• Dual-core
• 2.4 GHz
• 90 nm

AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor

• Socket AM2+
• Quad-core
• 2.5 GHz
• 65 nm

“The chips come in 3 models, 920, 940, and the higher end model 965 Extreme Edition. All models of the chip feature 4 cores, 256 kb L2 Cache and 8 MB Shared L3 Cache, ranging from 2.66 GHz to 3.2 GHz, with 800-1600 MHz 3xDDR3 memory controllers, in a LGA1366 socket.“

My recommended path for the budget builder would be to get a decent LGA1366 board and throw the 920 on it.  Grab some DDR3 RAM and you’re off to the races.

As I looked around the usual suspects (NewEgg etc.) I couldn’t find any legitimate sites that offered the Core i7 nor a LGA1366 motherboard.  I can’t wait until they do and we can see what the consumer prices are.  Here are the bulk prices per CPU:

Core i7 920 – $284

Core i7 940 – $562

Core i7 965 – $999

Basically, if you’re budget conscious but you want the latest and greatest, go for the 920 chip.  It beats the pants of off any other comparable processor from AMD or Intel.  All in all they will be badass chips and you’ll enjoy some serious speed.

Intel’s next-generation CPU codenamed Nehalem sporting a brand

new micro-architecture finally gets a name; Core i7, according to PCpop. Why Core i7? Your guess is as good as anyone until Intel makes the brand name official on Monday, August 11. Probably it could mean the 7th generation of micro-architecture and the i could stand for integrated or maybe Intel got inspiration from their partnership with Apple.

Source: GPU Cafe

http://filehippo.com/download_gpuz/

CPUID.com

This is pretty amazing, I can’t wait for the prices to go down, and the capacities to continue to rise…

“

Samsung shows 256GB flash memory-based SSD

Samsung plans to begin sampling the 256GB solid-state disks in September

By Martyn Williams, IDG News Service

May 27, 2008

Samsung Electronics plans to launch within this year a flash memory-based solid-state disk that boasts a 256GB capacity and high-speed interface, it said Monday.

The drive, which was unveiled in prototype form at a Samsung event in Taipei, has the same form factor as a 9.5-millimeter high 2.5-inch hard-disk drive for which it is designed to be a drop-in replacement.

Solid-state disks (SSDs) are an emerging type of storage device that use flash memory chips in place of the spinning magnetic disks used in hard-disk drives. The memory chips mean the drives are more sturdy and typically have a higher performance but the per-byte storage cost is also much higher, so they are generally more expensive. That has largely restricted them to niche applications but as flash prices come down they are expected to become more widely used.

Samsung, which is one of the world’s largest makers of flash memory chips, is eager to see the drives become popular as their widespread use will represent a big new market for its chips.

The prototype drive announced by the company has a read speed of 200MBps and a sequential write speed of 160MBps, said Samsung.

Samples of the drive will be available to customers from September with mass production due by the end of the year.

A version with a similar form factor to a 1.8-inch drive is also expected to be available in the fourth quarter of the year, the company said.

The drive isn’t the first SSD launched at this capacity. Last month a competitor, U.S.-based Super Talent, began sales of a 256GB SSD but that drive is thicker than Samsung’s at 12.5 millimeters. It has a SATA I interface, which means read speeds of 65MBps and write speeds of 50MBps.”

Source:  InfoWorld

Image: TechGage

The final stepping revision (B3) of the Phenom X4 processors have been released on NewEgg.  The new processors from AMD have a xx50 model numbering scheme meaning that the dreaded TLB bug in the original Phenom CPUs is now entirely fixed.  If you have been waiting to upgrade to Phenom, now is the time.  The prices are right and the performance is perfect.  Although these processors are arguably not as fast as their comparable Intel Core 2 rivals, if you have an AMD motherboard or you are just a fan of AMD, this is your best bet for high performance computing power.  I am going to buy one right away!!

Phenom 9550 2.2Ghz

Phenom 9750 2.4 Ghz

Phenom 9850 Black Edition 2.5 Ghz

*Also a quick note, you MUST have an AM2/AM2+ socket AMD motherboard WITH a very recent BIOS upgrade from your motherboard manufacturer that officially supports Phenom CPUs.  If you do not have this BIOS upgrade for your particular motherboard, you could see strange, poor, or no performance from the chip.  Be sure to look into it on the website of your motherboard.

What fun!?!?!