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Inside the processor
We'll be using the latest high-end AMD processor today in this review as well as that X2 4000+ CPU I already mentioned. We got to play around with an AMD Athflon FX-62 also.
For the last couple of months, all we've heard about is dual-core processors. Intel is pimping the Pentium-D, Pentium-XE processors, Core DUO as their line of multi-core desktop & mobile solutions, whereas AMD's Athlon 64 X2 and Opteron dual core processor line ups are dictating the gaming and server market. The FX-62 is the second ever dual-core FX processor released.
Exactly this is the disturbing factor which was key in the slow sales of dual-core technology. We simply need software written in a way that it can utilize both cores and only then well start noticing the raw performance of dual-core technology. Some applications are ready for this and we'll show a couple of them in our benchmarks. Single core processors have irrefutably lost a good deal of their magnetism due to development of dual-core technology though, as the level of enhanced multi-threaded application performance of dual core processors are winning over users worldwide. People are finally getting a taste of what all server administrators have known for a long time, two is better than one, at least when it comes to processors. And by the time we hit 2008 .. read my lips: Quad-Core.
Let's talk business and compare the current series of FX processors.
Right then, the FX-57 as stated is today's fastest single-core processor for the consumer market. The FX-62 the fastest AMD dual-core processor for the consumer market. The FX-62 actualyl has two Fx-57 cores !
There are quite a few FX processors in AMD's FX series ever since it was launched a while ago. The first FX processor was the FX-51 with a Socket 940 design similar to the Opteron series. Let's look at the history of the FX releases:
| CPU | Internal Clock | L1 Cache | L2 Cache | Socket | Hyper Transport | Cores | DDR Dual Channel |
| Athlon 64 FX-51 | 2.2 GHz | 128 KB | 1 MB | 940 | 800 MHz | One | Yes, Registered |
| Athlon 64 FX-53 | 2.4 GHz | 128 KB | 1 MB | 940 | 800 MHz | One | Yes, Registered |
| Athlon 64 FX-53 | 2.4 GHz | 128 KB | 1 MB | 939 | 1 GHz | One | Yes |
| Athlon 64 FX-55 | 2.6 GHz | 128 KB | 1 MB | 939 | 1 GHz | One (Clawhammer) | Yes |
| Athlon 64 FX-57 | 2.8 GHz | 128 KB | 1 MB | 939 | 1 GHz | One (San Diego) | Yes |
| Athlon 64 FX-60 | 2.6 GHz | 2x128 KB | 2x1 MB | 939 | 1 GHz | Two (Toledo) | Yes |
| Athlon 64 FX-62 | 2.8 GHz | 2x128 KB | 2x1 MB | AM2 | 1 GHz | Two (Windsor) | Yes, DDR2 |
As you can see it seems that only the clock frequency of the new FX-62 was increased a little, precisely the FX-57. 2x 1 MB of L2 cache Throw in SSE3 to the mix of x86 ISA enhancements that AMD's flagship dual-core CPU supports and you have one of the fastest processors to date. The FX-62 is effectively two FX-57 processors on an AM2 socket with a DDR2 controller and thus DDR2 memory support.
