[AYTRIX Technologies]

AMD Athlon 64 FX7 Series

I assume that this AMD's answer to the Intel Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme that have been launched. Having already waited over a year to release a Quad Core CPU they have brough a series of 3 CPU's which is an "attempt" at best to compete. These are known as the AMD Athlon 64 FX7 Series. This new series of CPU's are based on the Opteron 2200 Series but despite this it uses a new logic core chipset: nForce 680a.

One problem. Only one board has been released so support this CPU the Asus L1N64-SLIWS. It has two CPU Sockets which is mad in itself as it takes up alot of space but it that isn't crazy enough then read the following:

It has 4 RAM slots. Ok whats wrong with that? well its 2 slots for each CPU. Which means if you have 4 Gig of ram altogether each CPU will only be able to Access 2 GIG of RAM Each daft!!!

There are FOUR and i mean FOUR PCI-E slots so in case you wanted to have two graphics cards on SLI heck why not have 2 more.

The board has 3 fans for airflow across the board but that does not stop the board from getting EXTREMLY HOT because the 64FX7 is incredibly energy-inefficient. If you uy this board be prepared to watch your electricity bill!!!

AMD only release 3 CPU's for these series.
64 FX-70 Skt F 2.6Ghz
64 FX-71 Skt F 2.8Ghz
64 FX-72 Skt F

Cache
all have 2 x L1=128Kb & 2 x L2=1Mb


AMD have promised that next year sometime they will release Quad Core CPU's for the L1N64-SLIWS but don't hold your breath. My description on this new technology from AMD is slow, clunky, electricity eating, and hot running. AVOID at all costs.

right not sure what im going to review next so any ideas please let me know


James
AYTRIX Technologies

[Daveskater]

Originally Posted by AYTRIX Technologies

There are FOUR and i mean FOUR PCI-E slots so in case you wanted to have two graphics cards on SLI heck why not have 2 more.

Sounds good to me, four nVidia 8800 Ultra's in SLI? Why not? Just don't ask me to foot the bill

Cache
all have 2 x L1=128Kb & 2 x L2=1Mb

That's a massive difference and defining point IMO between AMD and Intel CPU's. AMD put less cache than Intel do, but doing so is probably one of the things that keeps cost down. On the other hand, putting less cache in will affect performance, so it's a double edged sword, really.

[AYTRIX Technologies]

yes but think of the space. course there is an overheating problem with this mobo so ther coud be cut out issues.

[Daveskater]

Thats a good point mate. Watercooling may be the solution here, or a whole load of fans

[AYTRIX Technologies]

problem with watercooling is the space and will be dammed if you get a leak would be about 3 grands worth of gaming rig mushed lol

[Daveskater]

True, that would not be nice to replace at all

I've not heard of Socket F, I'm assuming it's something new. Seeing as AMD's have loads of pins, I'm guessing this socket has about 1,400

[AYTRIX Technologies]

Actually the socket F was more for the sever lines and has something like 1200 pins. was used in the develpment of the X2 Chips not really a desktop CPU.

[Daveskater]

Ooh so I was close then haha

I'm not sure what to make of AMD chips having so many pins (940) as opposed to Intel who release all their latest ones on 775 pins and have greater performance. You'd expect that if there were more pins then there'd be the possibility of more data transfer or something, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Unless it's because the AMD's have less L2 cache on them than Intels.

[AYTRIX Technologies]

well as mentioned in another thread YES they do have lower cache in order to make them cheaper but of course that affects performance.