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Published: Feb 06, 2010 Author: Ville Ilonen Editor: Amber Lupala Provider: AMD Share this article:

Introduction & specifications

Today we will take a look at AMD:s newest consumer class quadcore processor, the AMD Athlon II X4 635. With Athlon II X4 series you get quadcore cpu for around 100$. Let's see how this performs against Intel's product priced in same range and how well it compares with a little more expensive AMD Phenom series.

About AMD:

Check out their website for more information, http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/AboutAMD/0,,51_52,00.html

Specifications:

Model Number, Core Frequency & Price:   X4 635 / 2.9GHz
L1 Cache Size: 64K of L1 instruction and 64K of L1 data cache per core (512KB total L1 per processor)
L2 Cache Sizes: 512KB of L2 data cache per core (2MB total L2 per processor)
Memory Controller Type: Integrated 128-bit wide memory controller *
Memory Controller Speed: Up to 2.0GHz with Dual Dynamic Power Management
Types of Memory Supported: Unregistered DIMMs up to PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066MHz) -AND- PC3-10600 (DDR3-1333MHz)
HyperTransport 3.0 Specification: One 16-bit/16-bit link @ up to 4.0GHz full duplex (2.0GHz x2)
Packaging: Socket AM3 938-pin organic micro pin grid array (micro-PGA)
Process Technology: 45-nanometer DSL SOI (silicon-on-insulator) technology
Approximate Die Size: 169 mm2
Approximate Transistor count: ~300 million
Nominal Voltage: 0.875-1.425V
Max TDP: 95 Watts

The Product:

Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures

Athlon II X4 635 is AM3 based processors like most of the new AMD processors are. It has both DDR2 and DDR3 memory controllers making it compatible with AM2/AM2+ motherboards, as long as your bios supports it. This is consumer class cpu priced around 130$ and fastest Athlon II class processor available at this time. Nothing fancy to say about the looks of the processors, it looks just like any other AM2/AM3 processor manufactured by AMD.

Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures

CPU-Z recognizes the processor correctly showing it has a codenape "Propus" and that its made with 45nm technology. Also it clearly shows that it has frequency of 2900MHz with 4x512KB (2MB total) L2 cache.