Introduction

In January, AMD launched their new quad-core Phenom II processors that were compatible with existing AM2+ motherboards and DDR2 memory. The new Phenom II processors were the first truly competitive AMD CPUs since Intel's introduction of the Core 2. The Phenom II 940 and 920, priced at $275 and $235, performed better than the equivalently priced Intel Q9400 and the Q8200. Now AMD has filled out the Phenom II line with five new models with integrated DDR3 and DDR2 support.

Intel responded quickly with Core 2 price cuts as we discussed, and AMD countered quickly with price adjustments that placed the Phenom II processors at price points where they compete very well with similarly priced Intel Core 2 processors. With the new Phenom II models just recently introduced, we now have a complete line of AMD Phenom II processors.

AMD Phenom Processors
Model	Clock Speed	HT Speed	L2 Cache	L3 Cache	TDP	Price
AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE	3.0GHz	1.8GHz	2MB	6MB	125W	$225
AMD Phenom II X4 920	2.8GHz	1.8GHz	2MB	6MB	125W	$195
AMD Phenom II X4 910	2.6GHz	2.0GHz	2MB	6MB	95W	OEM
AMD Phenom II X4 810	2.6GHz	2.0GHz	2MB	4MB	95W	$175
AMD Phenom II X4 805	2.5GHz	2.0GHz	2MB	4MB	95W	OEM
AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE	2.8GHz	2.0GHz	1.5MB	6MB	95W	$145
AMD Phenom II X3 710	2.6GHz	2.0GHz	1.5MB	6MB	95W	$125
AMD Phenom 9950	2.6GHz	2.0GHz	2MB	2MB	140W	$149

The new Phenom II processors are truly important introductions for AMD. In testing the new 45nm CPUs are competitive with the latest Intel Core II Quad (Penryn) processors. They are also the first AMD processors in over two years that can also compete with Intel processors in overclocking. In our own tests we were able to overclock to the 3.8GHz range with some Phenom II samples. The new Phenom II does exactly what AMD needs it to do to compete through the midrange.

The first Phenom II processors, the 940 and 920, feature a DDR2-only controller and an uncore bus of 1.8GHz. These two models will be phased out over time and replaced with the 945 and 925, which should begin shipping in April. The 945/925 will run a 2GHz uncore speed and will feature the dual DDR2/DDR3 controller used on the rest of the newest Phenom II processors. This will matter to some but it is a moot point from a performance perspective, since we have not found any real performance difference in DDR2 and DDR3 on Phenom IIs that support both memories.

Intel's latest Core i7 is still as much as 30% faster in some applications than the Core 2 Quad/Phenom II processors, so AMD did not reclaim the ultimate performance crown. However, Core i7 is at present a high-end CPU, with prices starting at $300 and extending to over $1000 just for the CPU.

With AMD competitive again through the midrange of the CPU space, it is time to take a closer look at putting together systems with the new Phenom II processors. With a broad CPU price range of around $120 to $230, there are quite a few choices in processors for a Phenom II system.

This Phenom II Buyers' Guide looks at three different builds that you might be considering. For builders who want a Phenom II system for as little money as possible we put together a Phenom II Entry system. The goal was simple - build a competent and balanced Phenom II system for as little money as possible.

Another typical buyer is attracted to the Phenom II because of the tremendous overclocking potential of the processor - something AMD fans have really missed for the last two years or so. As discussed in our overclocking analysis of the latest Phenom II, AnandTech reached 3.31GHz at stock voltage on the 2.8Ghz Phenom II 720 BE and 3.81GHz on the same CPU by increasing voltage and tweaking BIOS settings. That 36% overclock is something we often see with Intel Core 2 processors, but it is the best overclocking we have seen with an AMD CPU in a very long time.

Finally, there is the full-blown or performance Phenom II system. We hesitate to call this a High-End System, since the most expensive Phenom II is just $225. This is a very midrange CPU price. Our system components for the full-blown Phenom II are more upper midrange than high-end. That means we will not be pairing the Phenom II with a $1200 30" LCD monitor for 2560x1600 gaming. However, the CPU power is there if you aspire for more. You could definitely use a high-end graphics card and 30" monitor on a Phenom II 940 or 945 if you choose, and you would achieve superb performance.

Phenom II Entry

With Intel and AMD price reductions and AMD filling out the Phenom II line you can now buy a Phenom II CPU for as little as $119. With Phenom II pricing that low you can put together an entry Phenom II system for a very low price and still expect amazing performance and superb value.

If you look back at the earlier System Buyers' Guide: PCs for Under $1000, you will find our cheapest AMD system, based on the $63 Athlon 64 X2 505E Brisbane, had a base system price (before monitor, speakers, input devices and OS) of $324. Today's Phenom II Entry PC is two generations more recent, 3 cores, and 6MB L3 cache. It achieves much higher performance than the Athlon 64 X2 system and yet the base system cost is just $40 more. That represents phenomenal value and bang for the buck.

Phenom II Entry PC
Hardware	Component	Price
Processor	AMD Phenom II X3 710 (2.6GHzx3, 3x512KB L2, 6MB L3 Cache)	$119
Cooling	AMD Retail HSF	-
Video	Integrated Graphics	-
Motherboard	ASRock A780GXE/128M (CF Capable) 780GX ATX	$80
Memory	Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - Model JM4GDDR2-8K	$43
Hard Drive	WD Caviar GP WD5000AACS 500GB	$59
Optical Drive	Samsung 22X DVDRW/DL SH-S202G	$24
Audio	On-Board Audio	-
Case	SIGMA La Vie ABWBP Black Aluminum/ SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply (after $25 rebate)	$40
Power Supply	Sigma 500Watt (included with case)	-
Base System Total		$365
Display	ASUS VK221D Black 21.6" 5ms Widescreen LCD (1680x1050) - with 1.3MP Webcam	$150
Speakers	Logitech R-20 12 Watts RMS 2.1 Multimedia Speaker	$18
Input	Microsoft CA9-00001 Black PS/2 Standard Keyboard and Optical USB/PS2 Mouse - OEM	$16
Operating System	Microsoft Vista Home Premium OEM	$99
Complete System Price		$649

Prices on all processors are continuing to drop in the face of the continued, aggressive pricing strategy adopted by Intel. The new AMD Phenom II 710 is priced at just $119, but that $119 gets you a 2.6GHz triple-core CPU with each core featuring 512KB of L2 cache (total 1.5MB). The three cores share the same 6MB L3 cache as the more expensive X4 Phenom II chips. Performance in our tests was generally competitive with the Intel Core 2 Quad at $170 and the AMD Phenom X4 9950 at $148. Clearly, the 710 is a good value at $119.

 

The 780G chipset is one of the best budget IGP designs we have worked with over the years. This is the chipset that made integrated graphics relevant again. One of the best boards in this price category is the ASRock A780GXE. The A780GXE features the ATI Radeon 3200 integrated graphics. ASRock loads the board with six 3Gb/s SATA ports featuring RAID 0/1/10, 5.1 HD audio, Gigabit LAN, two PCI-E x16 slots, one PCI-E x1 slot, three PCI slots, and support for 16GB of memory. Durability is addressed with solid capacitors for CPU power and duracap long-life capacitors for the rest. This board has been rock solid for us and supports AM2/AM2+ and AM3 (running DDR2) CPUs.

 

The A780GXE has 128MB of sideport memory for additional performance. It fully supports the Phenoms I and II, and it can do dual x8 CrossFire. The A780GXE used to be a $100 board, so it is a good value at the current $80 price. If you are really pinching pennies ASRock also manufactures the A780FullHD motherboard, which is $23 less at $57. The cheaper ASRock is a Micro ATX board where the 780GXE is full ATX, and the A780FullHD does not support CrossFire. The A780GXE is the better value for most users, but if every penny counts you will not be disappointed in the performance of A780FullHD. Both boards are among the best values ever seen in the motherboard market and are solid performers.

With DDR2 prices so very low, we went for 4GB of DDR2-800 this time. This is double last year's entry recommendation for less than half the price. This 50% to 75% drop in DDR2-800 memory prices in the past year is why you're not seeing much memory advertising these days. RAM prices as a whole are certainly in the commodity category as of late. We recommended the Kingston 4GB DDR2-800 kit, but you could just as easily choose OCZ, G.Skill, Corsair, Crucial, GeIL, Patriot, or any other quality DDR2-800 name and shop for the memory based on a combination of price and the company's support reputation. Again, if you are truly pinching pennies you can save about $13 by going with 2GB of memory instead.

 

Hard drive capacity continues to grow, as you can see in our selection of the Western Digital Caviar 500GB for our entry system. It seems a waste to choose a lower HD capacity when 500GB is now available for around $60 - even from www.amazon.com. While there are differences between hard drives, outside of running benchmarks most people aren't likely to notice the variation in performance between Western Digital, Seagate, Samsung, Hitachi, and other major brands. All are worthy of consideration if the price per gigabyte (or terabyte) is right.

 

For the optical drive we went for value with the dependable Samsung 22X DVDR. With the rise of the 25GB/50GB Blu-Ray burners, DVD writers have continued to drop in price. A DVD writer that supports double-layer and 22X DVD writes for $24 is a bargain indeed.

 

With the greater performance of the Phenom II Entry system, we have balanced it with a better monitor. The LCD display resolution for the Phenom II Entry system is a nominal 22" 1680x1050 LCD from ASUS for just $150. The monitor is one of the new class of monitors that more honestly report their true size and this 21.6" display would have been called a 22" by many manufacturers. This ASUS VK221D provides a lot of LCD at a tiny price in the entry system.

 

If you prefer a full 1080p HD monitor the ASUS 21.5" 1920x1080 LCD is available for just $30 more at $180. If you are pinching pennies you can get by with the smaller 17" Hanns-G HB-175APB 17" 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor with 1440x900 resolution for just $99. You can also do away with speakers and save another $18 if you can live with the speakers built into the monitor.

Finally, Vista Home Premium OEM runs the system, but you could opt for an OS alternative like Ubuntu and save some money if you prefer. With Ubuntu or a similar free OS, the price comes extremely close to $500, which is awesome for a complete system packing this much performance.

Phenom II Overclocking

It has been quite a while coming, but AMD fans can once again put together a screaming overclocking system with Phenom II. There are two apparent CPU candidates for the Phenom II OC system. The obvious choice might appear to be the 940BE, but the new 720BE has many charms at a lower price.  Personally we would prefer the upcoming 945BE as the CPU for a monster Phenom II OC system, but that CPU is not currently available though it should appear beginning in April.  For those reasons the 720BE is the heart of the Phenom II OC system.

As discussed in many overclocking articles here, there are normally two types of overclockers. First are those who overclock for value, which are those that select cheaper parts rated at lower specs for their ability to overclock to much higher performance levels. Second, there is the overclocker who is trying to reach the highest overclock possible, and who usually chooses the highest priced and higher-performance parts to overclock even further. This last group should likely wait for the 945BE for the flexibility if nothing else.

Generally, parts were selected because they are a good value that becomes an outstanding value when overclocked. Since the newer Phenom II processors, like the 720BE, support either DDR3 or DDR2 there are two Phenom II Overclocking systems - DDR3 and DDR2. They only differ in the motherboard and memory choice.

The choice of the $145 Phenom X3 720BE for the Overclocking System pushes our OC perspective toward the value side of the overclocking equation. That means we have paired the 720 with a new DDR3 $135 motherboard instead of the very best $200 ASUS M4A79 Deluxe. It also means we matched the Full HD monitor with a cheaper video card that can deliver performance as good as you will likely get on a 1920x1080 monitor. It makes little sense to suggest a higher performing video card or CF or SLI graphics system if you can only see the better performance on a 30" monitor that is not part of this system.

Phenom II DDR3 Overclocking PC
Hardware	Component	Price
Processor	AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE (2.8GHzx3, 3x512KB L2, 6MB L3 Cache)	$145
Cooling	Xigmatek Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail	$40
Video	MSI R4850-512M OC Radeon HD 4850 512MB ($30 Rebate)	$125
Motherboard	Asus M4A78T-E	$135
Memory	OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Model OCZ3RPR16004GK ($40 Rebate)	$65
Hard Drive	Samsung SpinPoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB	$100
Optical Drive	LG BD/HD DVD / 16x DVD+/- RW GGC-H20L - Retail	$115
Audio	On-Board Audio	-
Case	COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-SKN2-GP Black/Silver Aluminum & Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower	$50
Power Supply	BFG Tech LS Series LS-550 550W Continuous@40C SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified ($20 Rebate)	$60
Base System Total		$835
Display	ASUS VH222H Black 21.5" 5ms HDMI Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor (1920x1080)	$180
Speakers	Logitech X-540 70 Watts 5.1 Speaker System ($20 Rebate)	$59
Keyboard	Logitech G11 USB Gaming Keyboard	$59
Mouse	Logitech MX518 8-Button/1 Wheel USB 1800dpi Laser Mouse	$40
Operating System	Microsoft Vista Home Premium OEM	$99
Complete System Price		$1272

With the careful selection of components there is no real penalty in choosing DDR3 for your Phenom II OC system. Some already have very good DDR2, however, and they may prefer a mature DDR2 board. Below are the component selections for a Phenom II DDR2 OC system. The only real changes are the motherboard and memory.

Phenom II DDR2 Overclocking PC
Hardware	Component	Price
Processor	AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE (2.8GHzx3, 3x512KB L2, 6MB L3 Cache)	$145
Cooling	Xigmatek Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail	$40
Video	MSI R4850-512M OC Radeon HD 4850 512MB ($30 Rebate)	$125
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-UD4H	$139
Memory	OCZ Reaper 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2-1150 (PC2 9200) ($15 Rebate)	$66
Hard Drive	Samsung Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB	$100
Optical Drive	LG BD/HD DVD / 16x DVD+/- RW GGC-H20L - Retail	$115
Audio	On-Board Audio	-
Case	Cooler Master Centurion 534 RC-534-SKN2-GP Black/Silver Aluminum & Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower	$50
Power Supply	BFG Tech LS SERIES LS-550 550W Continuous@40C SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified ($20 Rebate)	$60
Base System Total		$840
Display	ASUS VH222H Black 21.5" 5ms HDMI Full HD Widescreen LCD Monitor (1920x1080)	$180
Speakers	Logitech X-540 70 Watts 5.1 Speaker System ($20 Rebate)	$59
Keyboard	Logitech G11 USB Gaming Keyboard	$59
Mouse	Logitech MX518 8-Button/1 Wheel USB 1800dpi Optical Mouse	$40
Operating System	Microsoft Vista Home Premium OEM	$99
Complete System Price		$1277

As mentioned in the Phenom II X4 810 & X3 720 launch review, the new 720BE is something of a value overclockers dream. For just $145 you get an unlocked multiplier, three cores each with 512KB of L2 cache, and the same 6MB L3 cache used in the X4 Phenom II processors. Rated speed is 2.8GHz, which basically makes this an unlocked 920 with a disabled core. In bench testing we easily reached 3.8GHz, about the same as the most expensive 940BE Phenom II, and you will only miss that forth core in the few applications that actually take advantage of parallel processing. All in all the 720BE is a value overclockers dream CPU.

 

We've paired the Phenom II 720BE with one of the first AMD DDR3 motherboards to emerge as a fast and stable computing tool in our test labs. With the latest BIOS the ASUS M4A78T-E is very stable at standard speeds and a prolific overclocker with good quality DDR3 memory. This is quite an accomplishment for a new technology motherboard that sells for just $135. The Socket AM3 790GX M4A78T-E easily reached 3.9GHz in our testing with the Phenom II 720 and quality DDR3 memory. That is as good as speeds we have achieved with the best Phenom II DDR2 motherboards.

 

You may be surprised to find that the Phenom II Overclocking system can be fitted with 4GB of high performance DDR3 memory for just $65. OCZ has a $40 rebate on their DDR3-1600 Reaper, but the normal price of $105 is still competitive. DDR3-1600 gives you headroom and flexibility in high overclocks. To keep the comparisons as fair as possible the DDR2 OC system is equipped with 4GB of OCZ Reaper DDR2-1150, which has performed very well in overclocking tests. There is a $15 rebate on this memory that drops the net price to $66. This is about the same price as the premium DDR3 kit.

 

The DDR2 version of the 720BE OC system is powered by the well-regarded Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-UD4H at $139. This Gigabyte is one of the best overclocking boards in this price range. The $200 ASUS M4A79 Deluxe, chosen for the Performance Phenom II build, is a slightly better overclocker but you will pay a good deal for the small increase in OC ability. Those who want the very best overclocker, however, will not be disappointed in the abilities of the ASUS M4A79 Deluxe.

 

While the stock AMD cooler is adequate for modestly overclocking a Phenom II, better cooling is needed to push the CPU to its limits. The Xigmatek Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm did very well in the lab and it is a good match to the Phenom II 720 BE at a price that won't break the bank. You also will not need to remove the motherboard to attach the Dark Knight since it uses a push clip to mount to the existing AM2/AM2+/AM3 CPU cage.

 

The Cooler Master Centurion 534 is a good value no matter how you look at it. It does come in different configurations, and the RC-534-SKN2-GP case is a good choice since it comes with three 120mm fans (front, side, and back) for cooling and installation requires no tools other than a screwdriver for mounting the motherboard. There are also plenty of drive bay options with five external 5.25" bays, one external 3.5", and four internal 3.5". Front USB/Firewire/Audio connectors are also available. Builders report smooth edges and no sharp pieces to cut your hand during assembly. Even the expansion slots are screwless in this design. Our selection at $50 is black with a brushed aluminum and mesh front, but the case is also available in all black if you prefer at $55.

 

The power supply for the Phenom II OC system is the winner of the recent 500W to 550W PSU roundup. The BFG Tech LS-550 grabbed our Gold Editors' Choice in the roundup for its great balance of performance and value. The BFG delivered good performance in every aspect, with tight voltage regulation and ripple well within specifications. Efficiency was through the roof, with 86% efficiency at 20% load. It also generated the highest maximum efficiency of 88% on 230VAC and 86% on 120VAC. With a good selection of connectors and reasonable cable lengths, the LS-550 is a great PS for a value-oriented overclocking system.

 

We have paired the R4850-512M OC Radeon HD 4850 512MB with the Phenom II Overclocking systems. As pointed out in the recent Two-way Multi-GPU comparison, the 4850 is one of the best values in resolutions up to 1920x1080. At the value price of just $125 after a $25 rebate the MSI 4850 was hard to resist, particularly when you consider MSI's excellent reputation as a video card manufacturer. If you want more performance you can add a second 4850 in CrossFire mode and you can even drive a 30" monitor very adequately for gaming (though the 1GB cards or 2GB 4850X2/4870X2 are the better route for such resolutions). For a total investment of just $250, the 4850 CrossFire will provide performance for the price that nothing else can really touch. That is a very good match to the goals of a Phenom II value overclocking system.

 

The hard drive used in the OC Phenom II system is the Samsung SpinPoint 1TB (1000GB) with true 7200RPM speed, 32MB cache, and a 3-year warranty. Samsung drives have performed well in our recent hard drive roundups and the 1TB should perform well in the OC system.

 

The Logitech X-540 has been a perennial favorite of users as a reasonably priced but decent performing powered 5.1 computer speaker system. It will certainly not challenge the performance of a separate Dolby amplifier powering audiophile speakers, but it will provide surprisingly good sound for the price.

 

The last major component to discuss is the display, and here the tilt was toward best value at full 1080p HD (1920x1080) resolution with the ASUS VH222H. The new class of 16:9 21.5" LCD monitors provide true 1080p resolution at the break-through price of just $180. That stellar value shows just how far LCD technology has progressed. If your budget allows, or you just prefer a slightly bigger screen at the same resolution, you can move up to a 24" 1080p LCD that is selling today for around $300. Alternately, you can downgrade the resolution to 1680x1050 for slightly larger pixels (i.e. more readable text) if you purchase a 22" LCD and save a bit of money.

 

The last area to discuss is input devices, where we went with gamer value favorites in the Logitech G11 USB gaming keyboard and the MX518 8-button mouse. Both are very well regarded devices that fit well with the capabilities and concept of the Phenom II Overclocking system. If gaming is not your goal you could easily move to the $16 Microsoft OEM keyboard and mouse used in the Entry Phenom II build and get the complete system price down to $1194. If you will use your OC system for graphics and photo editing but not gaming, you can also drop the G11/MX518 and select precision input devices that better fit your needs.

Phenom II Performance System

The fully decked out Phenom II includes the best motherboard tested so far in our lab for the AM2+/AM3 CPUs. Because the top Phenom II is DDR2-only the motherboard is by necessity a DDR2 board. The Phenom II 940 and 920 will be phased out by the end of 2009 and replaced with the new 945 and 925, which support either DDR3 or DDR2 like the most recent Phenom II CPUs. The 945/925 are expected to begin shipping in April.

The 940/920 still outperform the Phenom II 810 even though the newer Phenom II features four cores like the older 940/920. At 2.6GHz the 810 is slower than the 940/920, and the multiplier is locked where the 940 BE features an unlocked multiplier. In addition, the L3 cache on the 810 is 4MB where the 940/920 is 6MB. While the 810 is an excellent CPU, it really doesn't challenge the 940/920 for the performance crown. The advantage of the 810 is the dual DDR2/DDR3 memory controller. Frankly, we have yet to see a real performance advantage for DDR3 memory on the Phenom II so there was no real reason not to choose the current 940 for the Phenom II Performance system.

The new 945/925 will also be 6MB L3 cache, and the HT or uncore speed will be 2.0GHz instead of the 940/920 speed of 1.8GHz. The real impact of this is very small, but when the 945/925 enter the pipeline they will provide more options at the top of the Phenom II line. This will also likely create some bargain prices for the 940 and 920 processors that remain in the market after the 945/925 introduction.

Anand is completing testing for a massive SSD roundup that will be published soon. There are new performance and value leaders that will be revealed in that roundup, and we will definitely be recommending SSD drives and SSD RAID boot arrays in future System Buyers' Guides. For now, we are holding off on any recommendations pending final testing. Besides, you can easily add an SSD down the road if the need arises.

While the Phenom II 940 is definitely the most powerful AMD processor yet released it is not really a competitor to today's top Intel Core i7 processors. However, as has been said in every recent review of Phenom II, it definitely competes well with Intel's Core 2 architecture which means it competes with Intel CPUs through the $290 upper midrange price point. Since the processor is upper midrange, the components selected are top-performing for their price but not always the best you can buy. You could easily extend the Phenom II Performance system to a 30" monitor and a more powerful CrossFire or SLI graphics system. AMD fans who are avid gamers may choose that route, but we kept the selections more in line with the midrange price and performance of the Phenom II. For the money the Performance Phenom II system is a heck of a system, as we hope you will agree.

Phenom II Performance System
Hardware	Component	Price
Processor	AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE (3.0GHzx4 4x512KB L2, 6MB L3 Cache)	$225
Cooling	Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme	$65
Video	MSI R4870-T2D1G Radeon HD 4870 1GB ($25 Rebate)	$195
Motherboard	ASUS M4A79 Deluxe	$200
Memory	G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1100 (PC2 8800) - x2 8GB	$154
SSD	To Be Determined	-
Hard Drive	Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s	$130
Optical Drive	LG 6X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 6X Blu-ray DVD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Burner GGW-H20LK	$200
Optical Drive	Samsung 22X DVDRW/DL SH-S202G	$24
Audio	On Board	-
Case	Antec P182	$130
Power Supply	Corsair CMPSU-750TX 750W SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified ($25 Rebate)	$90
Base System Total		$1413
Display	BenQ E2400HD Glossy Black 24" 5ms/2ms(GTG) HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen (1920x1080) ($20 Rebate)	$280
Speakers	Logitech G51 505 watts 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers	$158
Keyboard	Logitech G15	$90
Mouse	Logitech G5 7 Buttons/1 Wheel USB Laser Mouse	$50
Operating System	Microsoft Vista Home Premium OEM	$99
Complete System Price		$2090

You can read our review of the Phenom II X4 and the Phenom II X4 810 & X3 720 for additional information. The Phenom II 940 X4 at 3.0GHz is the fastest of the currently shipping AMD Phenom II processors. The Phenom II is very similar in L2/L3 cache configuration to the recently introduced Intel Core i7. Performance is also comparable to the best Intel Core 2 chips. As the first 45nm AMD processors, the Phenom II also overclocks very well, finally approaching the overclocking levels enjoyed by Intel since the introduction of the Core 2 Duo.

 

We've paired the Phenom II 940 with the superb ASUS M4A79 Deluxe. At $200 the ASUS is not cheap or even a great value for a 790FX/SB750 setup, but it is the most loaded, best performing, and most overclockable AMD board we have used this year. ASUS loads the board with Gigabit LAN, IEEE 1394 support, four PCI-E x16 slots (dual x16, tri x16/x8/x8, or quad x8), two PCI slots, an eSATA port, and six 3Gb/s SATA ports featuring RAID 0/1/5/10. The M4A79 Deluxe works very well with Phenom II and end-users will not be disappointed in performance or overclocking capabilities. Memory is DDR2 as AM3 DDR3 boards are just now entering the market. Until a DDR3 board dethrones the M4A79 Deluxe it is the top board for a top Phenom II.

 

A number of old and new coolers work well on AM2+/AM3 processors, but the cooler choice for the Performance Phenom II is still the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme. This is basically the top performing Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme from our Core 2 tests. Thermalright has been changing the packaging and names of their Ultra-120 coolers so you may have to look closely at the new packages and descriptions to make sure you are getting the Ultra-120 eXtreme. The original Ultra-120 also performs very well with the Phenom II processors and will save you about $15 to $20 if you are stretching a budget.

 

Memory is very cheap today, so the Performance Phenom II is paired with two 4GB kits for a total of 8GB. You may be wondering why we have chosen 8GB of G.Skill DDR2-1100 when AMD warns that the maximum speed for 4 DIMMs is DDR2-800. That warning is certainly true on lower end boards, but we have found the ASUS M4A79 Deluxe paired with quality memory can run 4x2GB at DDR2-1066 without any trouble. The 1100 speed also gives some headroom should you decide to overclock this unlocked Black Edition Phenom II 940.

 

For the video card we have selected the MSI R4870-T2D1G Radeon HD 4870 1GB. As pointed out in the recent Multi-GPU comparison, the 4870 1GB provides optimum performance on a 1080p monitor such as the BenQ 24" chosen in this system. Higher spec graphics and high-end CrossFire or SLI really require a 30" display (2560x1600) to see the performance improvements they bring to the system. The MSI is a well-regarded card that is just $195 after the current $25 rebate. The 4870 1GB is a very popular card because it matches well with the monitors most users actually own and buy. It is available from MSI, Diamond, ASUS, HIS, Power Color, and others so you can shop for the best buy.

 

The hard drive used in the Performance Phenom II system is the Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB (1000GB) with true 7200RPM speed and a 32MB cache. The cheaper Western Digital drives use a "variable speed" 5400-7200RPM spindle that performs well and is very quiet, but the 7200RPM drives are a bit faster.

 

We feel the optical drive for the Phenom II Performance system needs to both play Blu-Ray disks and burn 25GB/50GB Blu-Ray discs. We have upgraded the optical drive to the flexible LG GGW-H20LK burner, which is now selling for just $200 and has the ability to read and write Blu-Ray disks. It also can burn DVDs at 16x speed in single or dual-layer formats. A DVD burner is also included to simplify disk archiving and backup tasks. Two optical drives can be very handy in any system.

 

The speakers have been upgraded to the Logitech G51 155W RMS 5.1 surround sound speakers. The G51 system works well with the ASUS onboard Realtek ALC1200 audio. They also perform well with the addition of sound card if you decide sound needs an upgrade. The $40 rebate is gone for the G51 system, but they are still a very good value in a powered speaker system.

 

The LCD display resolution is the same 1080p HD resolution chosen for the Phenom II overclocking systems. The size of the monitor is now 24" so everything on screen is just a little larger. The BenQ E2400HD 24" provides inputs for whatever graphics adapter you may need with HDMI, DVI, and an analog VGA port. Panel speed is rated at an incredible 2ms, but we have found most current LCD panels perform similarly and the speed rating does not really guarantee very much. The BenQ monitor provides a sharp image, good colors, and fast panel speed at a very good price of $280. However, there are certainly larger, better, and more expensive panels available. For more information on what matters in a monitor and how to read LCD specifications, take a look at our Holiday 2008 Display Guide.

 

The remaining items are upgrades of the Overclocking System. The keyboard and mouse have been upgraded to high performance choices in the Logitech G5 USB laser mouse and the Logitech G15 precision control keyboard. If those choices are not important to you, the substitution of a Microsoft wired OEM keyboard and optical mouse for $16 could save you $133 on the system price. Alternately, the drop back to the Logitech G11 keyboard and MX518 8-button optical mouse could save you $50 off the performance choices with little compromise in system performance.

 

Final Words

The Intel Core i7 processor currently owns the high-end market, which is the reason the CPU prices remain high relative to the Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad and the AMD Phenom II and Phenom. The cheapest Core i7 920 CPU is around $300, with two more models going for up to $1010. In addition, the Core i7 uses a new Socket 1366 and supports the first triple-channel DDR3 memory configuration. Both the socket and memory configuration are unique right now to the higher priced Core i7, which keeps i7 supporting component prices high.

Just below that high-end i7 you will now find a broad range of competitive AMD Phenom II processors. These new CPUs are 45nm and compete very well against Intel Core 2 Duo and Quad. The new Phenom II processors even overclock well, something that has been very much missed by AMD fans in the last couple of years. With the latest Phenom II introductions there is now a very complete Phenom II product line ranging from the $119 710 to the top line 940 BE Phenom II. In the middle of the line at $145 you will also find the Black Edition unlocked 720BE, which is proving to be a DDR3 and DDR2 overclockers "dream" CPU.

With the broad line of Phenom II processors, computer builders have quite a few choices in the computing directions they pursue with Phenom II. In this guide we put together a high value entry-level Phenom II for just $365. Even equipped with a 22" LCD Monitor supported by the integrated motherboard graphics and including the Vista Home Premium OS, keyboard, speakers, and mouse the complete Phenom II 710 system comes in at just $640. We can't remember a time in recent memory where so much computer power could be purchased for so little money. While we have said that a lot lately, the bang-for-the-buck in today's systems continues to impress us - particularly at the entry and lower midrange. That's certainly a good thing in a worldwide economy that is struggling. Computers are really a necessity in our plugged-in world and you can get a lot of computer today for very little money.

The Overclocking Phenom II combined a hot new $135 DDR3 motherboard with the 720 BE unlocked processor and 4GB of DDR3-1600 memory. At AnandTech, this combo easily pushed to 3.9GHz, which is the kind of overclocks we have not seen from AMD in quite a while. With competent AMD 4850 graphics, this powerful overclocking system still comes in at base price of $835. Add a Full HD 1080p monitor, precision input device, 5.1 speakers, and Vista Home Premium and you can still buy a complete DDR3 Overclocking Phenom II system for around $1275. Those who have performance DDR2 memory they want to take to Phenom II or those who prefer a DDR2 system will find the DDR2 OC Phenom II system costs all but the same as the DDR3 option.

Finally, we put together the Phenom II Performance System. Since the most expensive Phenom II X4 3.0GHz is still selling for just $225, the Performance system is not really high-end. Instead we upgraded the LCD to 24", the graphics to AMD Radeon 4870 1GB, and the memory to 8GB. Even with all the upgrades from the Phenom II OC System, the base price is around $1400 and the full-blown system with monitor, speakers, upgraded keyboard/mouse, and Vista OS is about $2000 for the complete system.

This broad range of Phenom II builds should provide you with mix and match choices to meet whatever needs you are aiming to fill in your new Phenom II system. You can also extend the system even further if that meets your goals with 4870X2 graphics or 4850 CrossFire with two reasonable 4850 cards (total cost about $300) powering a 30" panel at 2560x1600.

The Phenom II provides tremendous value in the computer midrange. Fortunately, the associated components are also a good value, which makes Phenom II systems very competitive in today's market. Whether your goal is an entry-level setup, a screaming overclocker, or midrange performance AMD is a good choice again. The choices provide good alternatives to Intel and the competition keeps prices for components low so you get maximum value from your computer hardware.