Amd Athlon Ii X2 240 Regor

Athlon II X2 240

New Athlon Two X2 processor models are based on one of three native core designs manufactured by AMD. First there is is Deneb, a Quad Cadre, that is implemented in all Phenom II models, with some variations to core number and L3 cache size. The second cadre is Propus, also with four logic cores, but no L3 enshroud. We reviewed an Athlon II X4 620 model a while back, and nosotros have reviews of Athlon 2 X3 models planed in the near future, which are based on the same core pattern with one core disabled.

That brings us to the third and terminal cadre pattern. Cheapest, smallest and basic, the Regor with its two logic cores is implemented in all Athlon Two X2 models and market entry Sempron models. All three cores are based on same K10.five compages, and the only real differences betwixt them are the size of L2 and L3 enshroud memory. Deneb has 512 KB L2 cache per core and a large 6 MB L3 cache buffer that is shared between all cores. To brand cheaper and slower models, Deneb, with some of its cores or some of its L3 cache memory disabled, were then renamed to Callisto/Heka and sent to market every bit Phenom Ii X2, X3 or X4 800 models. This is a neat way to run a cost efficient production and offer a big selection of products to the client.

It's the same story with the Propus core which is the base for Athlon 2 X4 processors. It also has 512 KB of L2 enshroud but lacks whatever L3 cache. This enables AMD to brand small, power-efficient and cheap Quad Core processors, and if whatever of its logic cores is faulty - no problem, disable it and sell information technology as even cheaper Athlon II X3 (Rana) processor.
Finally there is the Regor cadre. Information technology follows the same philosophy, but it has 2 logic cores, a total of 1 MB L2 cache memory per cadre, and no L3 enshroud memory.

To brand the Regor core, AMD physically removed 2 cores from Propus (Quad Cadre). The resulting dice area was so small-scale that AMD had the opportunity to make some improvements while keeping the core dice at a very price efficient size. They increased the L2 enshroud from 512 KB to 1 MB per core. This means they nullified some of the performance impact of not having whatsoever L3 cache retention on board. Compared to L3 cache, L2 cache works at higher frequency, takes less cycles to procedure the instructions needed and has more bandwidth, so information technology should make some difference and we're going to check that out later in testing. In total, Regor'southward core die size measures 117 mm², not as modest equally Intel'south Cadre two Duos but close enough.

Prototype courtesy of mAJORD from XtremeSystems.

Our Athlon 2 X2 240 works at 2.8 GHz frequency, i.425 V stock voltage and has a 65 Due west TDP rating. For anyone who is familiar with AMD'due south electric current architecture this means three things: competitive price/performance ratio against Intel's Pentium processors, depression heat output and great stock overclocking potential.

AMD is asking $60 for its Athlon II X2 240, and that'south a off-white deal right there. If yous look at Intel'southward offering at that price bespeak, Celeron E1600 and Pentiums E5x00 might just not exist plenty. When y'all put in play Athlon'southward flexibility with AM2+/AM3 and DDR2/DDR3 back up plus all of the features information technology's packing including MMX, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4A instructions, Enhanced 3DNow!, NX flake, AMD64, Cool'north'Tranquility, and AMD-V applied science... it'due south clear that Intel needs something fresh in the lower marketplace segments. Probably the almost important feature is the AMD's virtualization engineering science, which Intel supports only with higher end Core two Duos and Core 2 Quad processors. Again, pocket-sized concern will love this feature at a $lx price betoken.

When talking about memory support, information technology's worth to note that the retentivity controller in Athlon II X2 models has beed downgraded to DDR2 1066 MHz and DDR3 1066 MHz, unlike other Athlon X3 and X4 models that back up DDR3 up to 1333 MHz. But that's not a problem equally you can manually become the memory to work up to 1600 MHz without a hitch. Yous may use the processor on either the AM3 or the older AM2+ platform, giving the opportunity for users to do a cheap update if they want to continue using their AM2/AM2+ motherboard and memory.

Overclocking is only possible past raising the HT Link frequency, as the multiplier is locked to 14x and tin can only be lowered.

It is clear that AMD is targeting non demanding users, or budget users if you like, with the new Athlon II X2 Series. It offers everything that the average user would e'er want from a processor: low ability consumption, low oestrus output, good performance and technology back up and most important, cheap price. HTPC builders will rather choose the energy efficient "e" models of the Athlon II X2 or X3 lineup which were recently introduced. The normal version comes at college voltage, resulting in higher power consumption, heat and libation noise needed to disperse generated the heat. Gaming wise, information technology will exist interesting to come across how close the Athlon II X2 tin can become to AMD's Phenom Ii X2, which is a popular choice of some budget oriented gamers.

Like in our final review, we will exist checking some non-standard features of AMD'due south Athlon II X2 240, including overclocking, reducing operational voltage and comparative performance to Phenom 2 Dual Cadre processor at the same clock speed.

Specifications

In the tabular array beneath yous tin can review detailed specifications of Athlon II X2 240 and other models that volition prove upwards afterward in the performance graphs. We will be using a clocked downward two.80 GHz Phenom Ii X2 to bear witness the performance differences betwixt Regor and Callisto cores at same frequencies. Intel is represented by two models in the similar cost segment, Celeron E1600 and Pentium E5200. Core ii Duo E8200 is included to compare Athlon II X2 240 functioning to some higher end Intel Dual Core processors.

Processor	AMD Athlon II X2 240	AMD Phenom II X2 550 BE	AMD Phenom Ii X3 710	Intel Celeron E1600	Intel Pentium E5200	Intel Core 2 Duo E8200
Number of cores	Dual	Dual	Triple	Dual	Dual	Dual
Core codename	Regor	Callisto	Heka	Allendale	Wolfdale 3M	Wolfdale
Socket	AM2+/AM3	AM2+/AM3	AM2+/AM3	LGA775	LGA775	LGA775
Cadre speed	2800 MHz	3100 MHz	2600 MHz	2400 MHz	2500 MHz	2660 MHz
L2 Cache	1 MB/core	512 KB/core	512 KB/core	512 KB	ii MB	6 MB
L3 Enshroud	-	6 MB	6 MB	-	-	-
Process Node	45 nm	45 nm	45 nm	65 nm	45 nm	45 nm
Core die size	117 mm²	258 mm²	258 mm²	77 mm²	82 mm²	107 mm²
TDP	65 W	fourscore W	95 W	65 W	65 West	65 W
Toll	$ 60	$ 102	$ 100	$ 62	$ 67	$ 115