With the release of the Phenom Processor AMD has introduced the first native quad core consumer level processor. Unfortunately as has been shown in reviews around the net the Phenom is still not the performance king despite being one of the newest processors released to the market. Thus AMD follows true to tradition and has released an unlocked or "Black Edition" of their processor. AMD intends these Black Edition processors to invigorate interest in AMD products by catering toward the enthusiast desires to overclock. Initially the Black Edition was introduced in the AMD 64 X2 6400+ and later went mainstream with the 5000+ as a method of competition against the Extreme Edition processors from Intel. as you are probably aware the Black Edition processors are totally unlocked to allow full CPU multiplier manipulation which attracts serious overclockers and enthusiasts looking to get a bit more out of their machine.

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AMD's intial Phenom release back in November of 2007 with the 9×00 series (9600/9700/9800/9900) B2 stepping processors was met with issues when TLB erratum problems surfaced and were plagued by benchmarks during testing and reviewing. While the TLB issue may have been a show stopper for enterprise/business customers if it were to spring up, it was more likely a non-issue for computer gamers and general home users. But AMD's latest processor 9×50 series prove to be just what the doctor ordered, with the new B3 stepping processors that are fixed at the silicon level and no longer have the TLB issue.

AMD has named the new series with what they are calling their '9×50 series' of processors. This makes things very easy for the consumer to identify the new cpu's when purchasing, and identifying the new B3 stepping processors from the initial 9×00 series. The four new AMD Phenom X4 processors that AMD is delivering are the 9550 (2.2GHz), 9650 (2.3GHz), 9750 (2.4GHz) and 9850 (2.5GHz).

The processor we are reviewing today is the AMD Phenom 9850 X4 Quad Core with the new B3 Stepping using the 65nm Silicon on Insulator process technology. This new processor is a 'Black Edition' and has the CPU/FSB multiplier unlocked for easier overclocking, but it has a nominal TDP of 125W making temperature control during overclocking very critical. We have also noticed that the 9850 processor has a faster 2.0GHz memory controller, making it unique versus the other '50 series' processors that retain the slower 1.8GHz memory controller.

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Introduction:

AMD has just launched several new processors, one of which being the Phenom X4 9350e, which boasts a 2GHz clock speed and operates at a comparatively efficient 65W. While other Phenom series chips released are aimed at the power-hungry gamer, the 9350e is a low power solution that will not only decrease power consumption, but will naturally run at a much lower temperature than its cousins. At the time of this writing, this processor is not yet available on the market, but will be available for around $195.

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With the demand for better graphics increasing each time a new game comes out, companies are striving to stay at the top of the charts with better, faster hardware. While most single core processors used to cut it for games like Doom and D&D, even the dual cores are being hard pressed with new games. Crysis, Call of Duty 4, and Half Life 2: Episode 2 are some of the most demanding games out on todays' market. Why have two cores when you can have four? With this in mind, Intel creates one of their newest, most successful chips, the quad-core Q9650. With a blazing 3.00GHz CPU speed, and a whopping 12MB of L2 cache, this chip is a real monster! RAWRRR!

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