Tech Reaction

With the 965BE C3 stepping making so much noise in the AMD overclocking community it was bound to happen, AMD would release a core reduced version for people that did not need or want a quad core processor.

The 555, like its predecessor the 550, is a dual core AMD processor based on the Phenom II architecture.  The original 550BE was released with a half step lower multiplier and was based on the C2 stepping, although a subsequent C3 stepping has recently appeared on Newegg as a tray processor also a half step reduced for a 3100 MHz Core frequency.  Both are Black Edition processors, meaning they are multiplier unlocked upwards, and if the 550 is an example of 555 performance, we can expect great things from this chip.

The 555 Black Edition is a C3 stepping core reduced 955/965 edition quad core processor.  With the right motherboard and a little luck it is possible to unlock them to quads (4 core processors) or trikes (3 core processors). It is not a given though, and at the price point (~$100) if you want a quad core, the 955 C3 stepping quad is $160.  Buy it and be happy.  Or buy this processor, if all you need is a high speed dual core, pat yourself on the back if it unlocks, but do not complain if it does not.

As an overclocking enthusiast, and a proclaimed Hardware Junkie, I usually know what to expect with a given architecture before it is ever in my hands.  As a budget minded consumer, I also know that more is not always better.  So $100 for a dual core processor from AMD is a lot of money.  Especially with the L3 cache-less Athlon II x4 quad core processors selling for the same price.  Benchmarks show that there is not a lot of difference between the two architectures so why bother?

Archer of techreaction.net and overclockers.com did a great review of AthlonII vs PhenomII architecture.  As you can see in the tests that he ran, it was fairly even until he put multitasking on the table. As a subjective reference, I recently had the opportunity to run a few athlon II chips myself, and they feel ‘slow’. I will start another blog explaining this as this thought process is along and arduous one that carries over 10 years of enthusiast PC usage.

Back to the 555.

Series Phenom II X2

Model HDZ555WFK2DGM
CPU Socket Type Socket AM3
Tech Spec, Core Callisto
Multi-Core Dual-Core
Name Phenom II X2 555BE
Operating Frequency 3.2GHz
Hyper Transports 4000MHz
L2 Cache 2 x 512KB
L3 Cache 6MB
Manufacturing Tech 45 nm
64 bit Support Yes
Hyper-Transport Support Yes
Virtualization Technology Support Yes
Voltage 0.875V – 1.40V
Thermal Design Power 80W

The chip was used on two different motherboards, the high end Crosshair III formula under water cooling in winter.  Again on the gigabyte 890GX under Dry ice. This was my first attempt and dry ice and I had not yet learned the intricacies of extreme cooling.  It was a borrowed aluminum pot with a too small core to meet the size of an AMD IHS.  Temps swung 40C under load, and this was partially due to using alcohol instead of acetone.  I will be retrying later under DIce with an F1 pot and acetone as the sublimating medium.

The water run was poor, and AOD was not usable on the CHIII for some reason so I could not use the normal validating trick of dropping multi and bringing it back up to pass validation

Under a poor dry ice run at only –45C I was able to pull this off

4628.5 CPUZ validation link

5122.83 CPUZ validation link

Not the best of group but I will be working on it soon.  4.6GHz was definitely good for water  cooling I expect to see a bunch of 4.2-4.4GHz air cooler soon despite the coming warmer months in the US.

My initial impressions are that this chip is one monster overclocker, and I am apt to call it, an E8400 in sheep’s clothing.  I will post back when I reach 6GHz.