AMD Phenom and Spider unveiled

AMD today unveiled its new platform codenamed “Spider”, with the first true quad-core processor supporting scalable graphics for The Ultimate Visual Experience™. The AMD Spider platform combines the introduction of AMD Phenom™ quad-core processors, ATI Radeon™ HD 3800 Series graphics processors with Microsoft DirectX® 10.1 support, AMD 7-Series chipsets with CrossFireX™ and AMD OverDrive™ software.

The architecture of the new AMD Phenom processor is based on the Barcelona core, otherwise known as the Agena core for the desktop market. The AMD Phenom processor is only the first part of a three part platform message that AMD is trying to present. The second part was the new AMD Radeon HD 3800 series of graphics. The third part is a new chipset, the second from the new AMD, known as the AMD 790.

With the release today AMD is only going to have two Phenom models on the list: an AMD Phenom 9600 and Phenom 9500 clocked at 2.3 GHz and 2.2 GHz respectively. Both are set at a TDP of 95 watts and will come with a total of 2MB of L3 cache and 2MB of L2 cache, 512KB to each core.

Phenom 9600 @ 2.3 GHz - $283 (available now)
Phenom 9500 @ 2.2 GHz - $251 (available now)
Phenom 9700 @ 2.4 GHz - under $300 (Q1 2008)
Phenom 9900 @ 2.6 GHz - under $350 (Q1 2008)

A video showcasing AMD's Overdrive utility has surfaced on YouTube. Sami Maekinen from AMD's chipset division explains what Overdrive is, how to use it, and its benefits. Unlike other utilities, AMD Overdrive controls the whole platform. That platform being Spider, this utility works with a Phenom processor, 790FX chipset and AMD's new videocards.



AMD OverDrive Utility - Before and After Demo



Official Items:
Spider Platform page
Phenom pricing

Reviews:
Real World Labs
Techware Labs
Hexus Phenom 9600
PC Perspective
Tech Report AMD 790FX chipset
Hot Hardware Spider Platform
Tech ARP AMD Spider Technology Report

Read More

AMD "Spider" Package

AMD is to launch three series of products for Q4'07. AMD Phenom, RD790 and RV670 are all supposed to arrive in at the same time. AMD is calling its CPU+GPU+Chipset package "Spider"



Theo Valich managed to get the chance to play around with the demo machine AMD set up in cooperation with Sapphire. The processor for this system is no other than long-awaited Agena. The motherboard was Sapphire's own RD790 creation.



The two graphic cards were the new ATI RV670 worked in Crossfire, hidden in huge Thermaltake chassis. These boards had a dual-slot cooler, and power consumption is such that it can run just from the PCIe 2.0 slot alone. However, in order to keep the compatibility with PCIe 1.1 motherboards on the market, six-pin PEG connector was used.

Read More