AMD has released first three core processors since Phenom.Some cost-effective three cores in Phenom II era got wide praise.Now AMD will release three core AthlonII X3 processors.Most readers expect to learn about it as soon as possible.
AMD launched AthlonII series processors based on 45nm process in June.Until to now there is dual-core
AthlonII X2 and quad-core AthlonII X4 going public.It is well known that Athlon II series also include Athlon II X3 processors,expected to launch on around October,22th,nearly the same date of Windows 7.
According to sources we gathered,the first batch of Athlon II X3 contains AthlonII X3 425（2.7GHz）、AthlonII X3 435（2.9GHz），based on Rana with a disabled core.Their L2 cache is reduced to 1.5MB.Therefore we can disable one core of Athlon II X 4 and realize one AthlonII X3 processor.This time,AthlonII X4 620 is used to simulate AthlonII X3 425 through closing core and increasing 100MHz frequency.
In view of AthlonII X3s market orientation, we make bold speculations that two AthlonII X3 processors are priced at $81-$96.
In order to have a better understanding aboutAthlonII X3 425s performance，horizontal comparison is necessary.AthlonII X4, PhenomII X3 710 and PhenomII X2 545 are added in our review.
Test platform
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Test platform configuration table
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Hardware platform
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CPU
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Athlon II X3 425
Athlon II X4 620
Phenom II X3 710
Phenom II X2 545
Pentium E6300
Core 2 E7400
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Motherboard
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ASUS M4A79T Deluxe
ASUS X48
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Memory
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Two 2GB DDR3 1333
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HDD
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Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB
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VGA Card
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NVIDIA GTX 260+
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Audio
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Integrated
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Cooler
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OC3 HP-1204X
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Power
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Cooler Master 500W
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Operating system
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OS
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Windows 7 RTM 64bit
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Drivers
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MB Drivers
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AMD Catalyst 9.8
Intel inf_9.1.0.1012 WHQL
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VGA Drivers
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NVIDIA ForceWare 190.62
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Test description
Unleashing function can only open three cores on BIOS of ASUS M4A79T Deluxe.Interestingly,CPU-Z 1.52 immediately recoginze it as one Athlon II X3 processor.Of course,our simulation test bound to have some differences from actual Athlon II X3 products.These results are just for reference.
We dont open hardware graphics in HD vedio test. In terms of vedio play，average occupany rate is above 80%,fluent playback is impossible.
PCMARK Vantage 1.00
Athlon II X3 425 is slightly lag behind AthlonII X4 620 and Phenom II X3 710.However,it exceeds Phenom II X2 545 with a small margin.
Wprime 2.0
Wprime 2.0 has better support for multi-threading.Hence Athlon II X3 425 and Phenom II X3 710 have basically the same results,obviously lower than AthlonII X4 620.
WinRAR 3.9
Multi-core processors still have great advantages.Cache capacity also affects final results.Athlon II X3 425 lags behind AthlonII X4 620 and Phenom II X3 710;while it surpasses dual-core processors.
6:H.264 Encoder
Athlon II X3 425 loses to AthlonII X4 620.Athlon II X3 425 also slightly keeps leading place in three-core processors.
:POV-Ray
Athlon II X3 425 remains higher than Phenom II X3 710;while three dual-core processors significantly lags behind.
Casino Royale
Two three-core processors have very close result.CPU occupancy rate is below 50%. AthlonII X4 620 has lower occupancy rate.Other three core processors have over 60% of occupancy rate.
HD test:The World Natural Heritage
Three three core processors keep occupancy rate at low level.Some dual-core processors occupancy rate is over 70%.
Game performance test: FarCry 2/UT3
Athlon II X3 425,AthlonII X4 620 and Phenom II X2 545 have very close results,which lags behind Phenom II X3 710。
Phenom II X3 710 still keeps ahead. Athlon II X3 425 slightly surpasses AthlonII X4 620 and lags behind Phenom II X2 545.
Game performance test: H.A.W.X/Street Fighter 4/Left 4 Dead
Phenom II X3 710 has the best results.Athlon II X3 425 lags behind AthlonII X4 620，while it exceeds Phenom II X2 545。
Phenom II X2 545 exceeds AthlonII X3/X4 to a large extent，even higher than Phenom II X3 710，Two Intel processors also exceed Athlon II X3 425.
Phenom II X3 710 is the biggest winner.Followed by Phenom II X2 545，Athlon II X3 425 is slightly powerful than AthlonII X4 620.
Summary
Athlon II X3 425 gets the upper hand in rendering,file compression as well as vedio coding applications due to one more core. In regard to games, Athlon II X3 425 outperforms some dual-core processors.
Next,Athlon II X3 425 and Phenom II X3 710 have their own advantages in relevant tests.When it comes to games, Phenom II X3 710 with a large cache obviously shows definite advantages.
Compared to Athlon II X4 620，Athlon II X3 425 lags behind quad-core Athlon II X4 620.While it defeats Athlon II X4 620 due to higher frequency.
In a word, if Athlon II X3 425 can be available at an affordable price,it will become anticipated an product.Luckily,it is coming soon.
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