A processor device that combines a sufficient level of performance and an excellent degree of energy efficiency is none other than the AMD Athlon II X4 640. Characteristics This processor even currently allows you to run any existing software. And its cost is very modest. All this adds up to make the hero of this review an excellent basis for mid-range computers.

Semiconductor chip niche. Possible configuration options

At the time this processor went on sale in 2009 system units PCs were divided as follows:

Office computers with a single-core processor. This market segment was occupied by Septron chips from AMD and Celeron from Intel. They had very modest parameters, low clock speeds and minimal cache size. As a result, their productivity was at a very low level, but it was quite enough to solve office problems. In addition to this, the cost in this case was also very low.

Middle-class computers were necessarily based on a 2-core processor. Also in this case, the frequencies increased, the cache increased, and the technical parameters of the semiconductor solution were significantly better. This led to an increase in the cost of computers. But the list of tasks solved on such a PC increased significantly.

Well, the most productive systems were based on 4-core CPU models. The AMD Athlon II X4 640 belonged to this segment of the computer market. Characteristics it corresponds entirelythis niche. At that time, this processor device could solve problems of any level of complexity. And even now, the presence of such a chip in a computer allows you to still run most of the existing software.

Quite a long time has passed by computer standards since this CPU appeared in stores. Therefore, it moved from the premium solutions segment to the mid-level processor niche. Possible options There were two configurations of this semiconductor product. One of them was called TRAY and included the CPU, warranty card, processor model sticker for the front panel and installation manual. The second one was designated BOX and included, in addition to everything listed, a cooler and thermal paste.

Supported socket types

The characteristics of the II X4 640 indicate that it should be installed in This is the main socket type for this chip. But it can also be installed in AM2+ and AM3+. It is the latter processor socket that today still continues to be relevant among AMD computer platforms. It is most optimal on its basis with this processor device. In this case, the highest level of performance and current technical specifications will be obtained. All this will fully reveal the potential of this semiconductor crystal.

Production technology. Frequencies, thermal package and temperatures

The technological process for producing a silicon crystal in this case was SCI (silicon on dielectric). Complied with 45 nm standards according to the AMD Athlon II X4 640 specifications. Characteristics The CPU indicated an operating frequency of 3 GHz and it was not dynamically adjusted. The thermal package of this product was equal to95 W. The maximum temperature in this case was stated at 71 0 C. In practice, this value rarely went beyond the boundaries of 45-57 0 C.

Cache and RAM

The AMD Athlon II X4 640 can boast of just having 2 cache levels. Because of this, the processor loses a lot in performance, but gains in energy efficiency. The total volume of volatile memory at the first level is 512 KB, and at the second level - 2 MB. The RAM controller is dual-channel and can work with both DDR2 and the currently most common DDR3. For the first case, the recommended frequency value is 1066 MHz, and for the second - 1333 MHz.

Architectural features

The code name of this semiconductor solution is Propus, and it belongs to the family of 4-core processors or, as they are also called in the language of professionals, QUADCORE. The AMD Athlon II X4 640 is based on the K10 architecture and can even handle 64-bit code.

Overclocking

Only the system bus frequency could increase the performance of the AMD Athlon II X4 640. Overclocking must be carried out on a system unit that is equipped with an improved, reliable and high-quality cooling system, advanced system board and a power supply with an increased power value. Also, the PC case should have improved air circulation. Otherwise, the overclocking algorithm is standard for this class of devices. Frequencies of all computer components we reduce it as much as possible, and discretely increase the system bus frequency by one nearest value. Then we check the stability of the computer. If everything is in order, then we continue to increase the bus frequency. We also pay attention to the frequencies of other computer components, which should not go beyond the permissible limits. As soon as we reach the limit at which the PC stops working stably, we begin to increase the voltage on the processor. Then - frequency. The maximum possible values ​​of this parameter for such a chip are 3.5-3.7 GHz.

CPU price. Results in practice. Owner reviews

At the start of sales of Athlon II X4 640 was priced by the manufacturer at $122. For a chip with such technical specifications it was a great price. Nowit can be purchased in new condition for $42, or 2700-2750 rubles. If you buy such a semiconductor product that has already been used, the price will drop and amount to $35, or 2100-2250 rubles. Most important parameter this CPU is what it has on physical level 4 computing cores are implemented. It is for this reason that a PC based on such a processor and a powerful discrete graphics subsystem will run all the latest gaming applications. Even if not at the highest settings, they will definitely start. And this is precisely what the owners of such computers focus on. This chip has only one drawback - the absence of a 3rd level cache. This design feature processor device significantly reduces its performance. But, on the other hand, this allows you to reduce the thermal package of the product and increase its energy efficiency due to this.

Results

A successful processor product both for 2009 and currently is the AMD Athlon II X4 640. Characteristics this chip (more precisely, 4 real computing modules) allow this CPU to pass the now very common test for the availability of the necessary hardware resources to perform program code. Well, the ability to overclock the system bus frequency allows you to get a fairly significant increase in performance. The indisputable disadvantages of this product, as previously noted, include only the absence of Level 3 cache memory. But such an engineering solution made it possible to significantly improve the energy efficiency of the CPU, which significantly compensates for this disadvantage.

Just a few years ago home computer With several central processors was considered an unaffordable luxury that only professionals could afford. Of course, this state of affairs was not accidental, because in those days only a small group of highly specialized software could use the full power of several processors. With the entry of multi-core CPUs into the market, things moved from a dead point. Gradually, “home” programs began to appear that were capable of working with several data streams simultaneously, thanks to which even ordinary users began to become interested in new solutions. Unfortunately, there was a “fly in the ointment” here too - high price prevented the truly massive use of high-tech innovations. However, there are certain advances here too. Today, AMD introduced two budget processors, each containing four cores - AMD Athlon II X4 620 and 630. Our today's review is dedicated to the younger model - AMD Athlon II X4 620, the recommended price of which is about $120.

Since the core itself is covered with a metal cover, it is not possible to see differences in the size of the crystal and the arrangement of elements on the substrate compared to other representatives of the Athlon II family. According to the manufacturer, the area of ​​the Propus core, on the basis of which the new processor is built, is 169 mm 2 . Externally AMD processor The Athlon II X4 620, except for the markings, is no different from its analogues released in the Socket AM2+/AM3 design. The table below shows the characteristics of the AMD Athlon II X4 620 and 630 in comparison with another quad-core processor, the Phenom II X4 965:

Latest version information utility CPU-Z with serial number 1.52.2, although it shows us detailed information about the characteristics of the AMD Athlon II X4 620, does not display the official logo of this CPU. The main and, perhaps, the only difference from older AMD Phenom II X4 processors that can affect the performance of the new product is the lack of third-level cache.

Overclocking and testing conditions

Unfortunately, the AMD Athlon II X4 620 processor has a locked multiplier, so maximum overclocking of these processors will largely depend on more factors than with AMD's Black Edition series processors, which are much easier to overclock. To successfully overclock AMD Athlon II X4 620 processors to high frequencies (3.6-4 GHz), it is necessary that motherboard could operate stably at clock generator frequencies of the order of 275-310 MHz, in addition, the RAM should not restrain the increase in bus frequency (provided that the processor itself and the cooling system used do not limit overclocking).

Of course, we decided to test the brand new Athlon II X4 620 for overclocking. The processor was overclocked using air cooling. After increasing the core voltage to 1.5 V, our AMD Athlon II X4 620 passed all tests at 3600 MHz without any problems. Before we move on to testing the performance of a newbie, let's get acquainted with the testing modes.

Test conditions

Because the test configurations differ only in types of processors, motherboards and kits random access memory, only these components are indicated in the table.

Testing the overclocked AMD Athlon II X4 620 with memory running at 923 MHz was due to the inability of our DDR-2 kit to consistently pass all tests at 1120 MHz DDR (this was the memory frequency that was available for installation next).

Testing

We already mentioned above that the only difference between the AMD Phenom II X4 and the AMD Athlon II X4 (besides the marking and frequency) is the absence of a third-level cache in the Athlon. To further verify this, we measured the cache latency of our test processors. In order to put the processors on an equal footing, we used a multiplier to lower the frequency of the AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition to 2.6 GHz.

AMD Athlon II X4 620 cache latency @ 2.6 GHz

AMD Phenom II X4 965 cache latency @ 2.6 GHz

As you can see, at equal frequencies the latency of the first and second level caches of both processors is the same. Using the Everest 5.0 Ultimate test package, let's look at the efficiency of the built-in memory controller, as well as the speed of Everest's computing algorithms.

Thanks to the integrated dual-channel memory controller, AMD Athlon II and AMD Phenom II X4 processors show better memory results than the Core 2 Quad QX9650. However, in most cases they are inferior to Core i5 750 and Core i7 920 processors, the only exception being the memory subsystem latency test, where AMD solutions are ahead. As for the confrontation between the AMD Athlon II X4 620 and Phenom II X4 965, when operating at equal frequencies, the leader is the Athlon II X4 620, which only benefits from the absence of an L3 cache in this test.

The results of testing Everest computing algorithms show a slight lag between the AMD Athlon II X4 620 and the AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE when operating at equal frequencies. This suggests that not all algorithms benefit from having large volume third level cache. If we compare Intel solutions with a budget new product from AMD, then leadership Core processors no doubt. However, we should not forget about their cost, because both Core i5 and Core i7 are several times more expensive than the Athlon II X4 620.

Testing in applications and games

3DMark Vantage shows the AMD Athlon II X4 620 lagging behind the Phenom II X4 965 BE, operating at equal frequencies. This means that Vantage still responds to the lack of L3 cache memory in the Athlon II X4. Concerning Core comparisons i5 750 with Athlon II X4 620, then despite the equal clock speeds the Core i5 is significantly ahead.

The FarCry2 engine demonstrates a significant dependence of the results on the presence of L3 cache memory in AMD processors, since even after overclocking to 3.6 GHz, the AMD Athlon II X4 620 cannot catch up with its brother Phenom II X4 965 BE, operating at its nominal frequency.

In the Crysis CPU test, the gap between the AMD Phenom II X4 and the Athlon II X4 is clearly visible, which is significantly reduced after overclocking the Athlon II X4 620 to a frequency of 3.6 GHz. With the transition to a difficult, so to speak, “combat” testing mode, the gap between test participants becomes noticeably smaller. Despite the lag of the unoverclocked Athlon II X4 620 from all other participants in the test, the difference of 2-4 fps can hardly be considered critical.

The World in Conflict game is sensitive to the lack of L3 cache memory in the AMD Athlon II X4 620, which, coupled with the results obtained in other games, allows us to talk about the dependence of fps in games on the amount of L3 cache memory in AMD processors.

When encoding video, AMD Phenom II X4 and AMD Athlon II X4, operating at equal frequencies, show comparable results. x264 HD Benchmark responds more sensitively to increasing clock speeds than to the amount of cache memory. The overclocked AMD Athlon II X4 catches up with the AMD Phenom II X4 and is even ahead of not only the Core 2 Quad QX9650, but also the Core i5/i7, of course, operating at the nominal frequency!

Data archiving is best achieved by Intel processors, which outperform all representatives from the AMD camp. WinRAR is definitely partial to the additional cache capacity of the AMD Phenom II X4, which even at 2.6 GHz confidently outperforms the overclocked AMD Athlon II X4 620.

The wPrime test responds very well to increasing clock speeds. The Athlon II X4 620 overclocked to 3.6 GHz outperforms the Phenom II X4 965 BE, which operates at a nominal frequency of 3.4 GHz. This test is calm about the presence of an additional bonus such as L3 cache memory. Yes, there is a difference between the AMD Athlon II X4 and Phenom II X4, but it is more relevant for benchers than for ordinary users.

The chess algorithm, like wPrime, is slightly accelerated by the appearance of the L3 cache memory in the Phenom II X4 processor, since the difference with the equally frequency AMD Athlon II X4 is small. After overclocking, the AMD Athlon II X4 confidently outperforms not only the Core 2 Quad QX 9650, but also the Core i5 750 at nominal frequencies.

The results in Cinebench R10 x64 clearly show the difference in performance between the AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE and the AMD Athlon II X4 620 when running at the same frequencies. When rendering is performed by a single core, the Phenom's lead over the Athlon is not so noticeable, but when the multi-threaded mode is activated, the Phenom II X4 is noticeably ahead of its budget brother. However, thanks to overclocking, the AMD Athlon II X4 shows a decent result in comparison not only with its older brother, but also with its competitor, the Core 2 Quad QX9650.

conclusions

In our opinion, AMD's attempt to bring a budget processor with four cores to the market was a success. Of course, you shouldn’t expect incredible miracles from an inexpensive processor. In most applications, the new product is inferior to both the Core 2 Quad QX9650 and the Core i5 750, however, the situation can be easily corrected by overclocking. In other words, the AMD product will appeal to those who prefer to get performance from their CPU comparable to older CPU models for minimal money. Well, gentlemen overclockers, this processor is for you!

Processor Athlon II X4 640, the price of a new one on Amazon and ebay is 14,950 rubles, which is equal to $258.

Number of cores - 4.

The base frequency of the Athlon II X4 640 cores is 2.8 GHz.

Price in Russia

Want to buy Athlon II X4 640 cheap? Look at the list of stores that already sell the processor in your city.

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AMD Athlon II X4 640 test

The data comes from user tests who tested their systems both overclocked and unoverclocked. Thus, you see the average values ​​​​corresponding to the processor.

Numerical speed

Different tasks require different strengths CPU. A system with a small number of fast cores is perfect for games, but will be inferior to a system with big amount slow cores in the rendering script.

We believe that for the budget gaming computer A processor with at least 4 cores/4 threads is suitable. At the same time, some games can load it at 100% and slow down, and performing any tasks in the background will lead to a drop in FPS.

Ideally, the buyer should aim for a minimum of 6/6 or 6/12, but keep in mind that systems with more than 16 threads are currently only suitable for professional applications.

The data is obtained from tests of users who tested their systems both overclocked (the maximum value in the table) and without (the minimum). A typical result is shown in the middle, with the color bar indicating its position among all systems tested.

Accessories

We have compiled a list of components that users most often choose when assembling a computer based on the Athlon II X4 640. Also, with these components the best test results and stable operation are achieved.

The most popular config: motherboard for AMD Athlon II X4 640 - Gigabyte GA-F2A68HM-S1, video card - Asus RX Vega 64 8GB ROG Strix Gaming.

The AMD AthlonIIX4 635 processor solution was first introduced in January 2011. The manufacturer positioned this product as a middle-class solution with a good performance margin and a fairly affordable price. Next, we will talk about the hardware specifications of the AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor, its capabilities and other important features associated with this chip.

AMD Athlon II X4 635: positioning

AMD's main processor socket in 2011 was SocketAM3. The hero was intended for installation in it this review. Multiprocessors of this socket were divided as follows:

— Office PCs were based on Septron series processors. The devices had only one computing core, a minimum cache size and low frequencies. They were great for everyday office work, but it was impossible to expect anything more from them. The cost of the devices in this case was quite low. This feature made such computing systems accessible.

— Basic gaming systems were based on Athlon II X2 & Athlon II X3 series chips. In this case, the number of computational units was increased to 2 and 3, respectively. The size of the cache memory also increased. Clock speeds have also increased significantly. As a result, it turned out that such semiconductor solutions could provide a higher level of performance and made it possible to solve almost any problem. It is worth noting that some computer games on such systems did not run at maximum settings.

— Advanced gaming systems were necessarily based on processors of the Athlon II X4 family. In this case, the number of cores increased to four. Clock speeds were even higher and the cache size increased. All this made it possible for the owners of such personal computers to solve any problems, completely regardless of the software requirements for hardware.

The AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor belonged to the latest class of semiconductor solutions. Premium system units, as a rule, were assembled based on microprocessor solutions of the Phenom II family. In this case, the key difference from all previous AMD products was the cache organization. Previous processor solutions had only 2 levels of fast memory. In this case, a third level appeared. Thanks to its presence, an impressive increase in performance levels has become possible. The frequency of the silicon solution has also increased significantly.

AMD Athlon II X4 635: configuration types

Existed for a configuration option for the AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor solution. The first was designated Trail. This type of configuration included the following components:

— the chip itself is in a rigid plastic package;

— warranty card;

— brief instructions for use and installation;

— branded sticker with the name of the family of central processing devices;

This configuration option was mainly aimed at large assemblers of system units, who used specialized cooling systems as part of their personal computers.

The second configuration option for the AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor solution is called BOX. In addition to everything listed previously, this configuration option was supplemented with the following components:

— branded cooler from AMD;

- thermal paste.

A central processing unit in this design was aimed at the segment of small computer assemblers who could not afford to purchase a special, expensive cooling system. Experience shows that the capabilities of a standard cooler are quite sufficient to ensure normal and stable operation of this semiconductor solution.

AMD Athlon II X4 635: socket types

As previously noted, the main processor socket for this chip was Socket AM3. This is what this processor was designed for. However, AM2, AM2+ and AM3+ were also physically compatible with this computing platform. The RAM controller integrated into the AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor was designed to work with DDR3 memory modules. Since AM2 only supported DDR2, the semiconductor product reviewed in this material, although it could be installed in such a slot, it could not work in combination with it due to the incompatibility of the RAM with the controller integrated into the central processing unit. The AM2+ platform was a hybrid platform and made it possible to install DDR2 and DDR3. If the motherboard used the latest type of RAM, then the hero of our today's review could successfully function with it. But this microprocessor could be installed in boards with an AM3+ connector. It will work as part of such a system only for the simple reason that it uses DDR3 strips. Therefore, this chip can be installed in one of three AMD processor sockets: AM2+, AM3, AM3+.

AMD Athlon II X4 635: technological process, thermal aspects, frequencies

The AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor was produced according to technological standards corresponding to 45 nm. The processor had an area of ​​only 169 mm 2. This chip has clock frequency 2.9 GHz. Maximum temperature value for of this device was recorded at 71 degrees. On practice this parameter usually ranges from 50 to 62 degrees. The power of this semiconductor solution was only 95 W.

AMD Athlon II X4 635: cache, RAM subsystem

As mentioned earlier, the AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor had two levels of fast memory. The volume of the first level totaled 512 KB, which were physically divided into 4 equal parts of 128 KB each. Each of the 128 KB was tied to a specific kernel. They could only store information that was processed by this computing module. 128 KB in turn were divided into two equal parts of 64 KB each. The first 64 KB contained only chip instructions, and the second - data. At the second level, the total cache size was already 2 MB. They were also divided into 4 equal parts of 512 KB each, each of which was assigned to a separate core. In this case, there was no strict separation between the storage of data and instructions. The address space was shared. The RAM controller integrated into the semiconductor chip of the processor device was dual-channel. The optimal type of RAM for it was DDR3-1333.

AMD Athlon II X4 635: CPU architecture

A review of the AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor indicates that its compute modules were based on the Propus architecture. In this case, the number of cores was 4, and the number of cache levels was limited to two. This is the maximum capabilities of a silicon crystal. It was impossible to somehow improve its characteristics by unlocking additional elements.

Overclocking AMD Athlon II X4 635

The AMD Athlon II X4 635 multiplier was fixed at 14.5. Its overclocking was possible only by the system bus frequency. Its standard value in this case was 200 MHz. In this case, it was also possible to obtain an additional performance boost by increasing the voltage on the processor core. The procedure for overclocking such processors is usually as follows:

— in the BIOS or in special software we lower the frequencies of all components;

— after this we gradually increase the frequency of the system board bus;

— after each increment, we check the frequencies of the components of the personal computer: they should not exceed the values ​​​​that were before overclocking;

— if somewhere the frequencies go beyond the permissible limits, then it is necessary to lower the frequency of the system board bus;

- reboot Personal Computer and check the stability of operation;

- as soon as the maximum frequency value is reached, and the PC stops working stably, you can begin to increase the voltage. At the same time, it is necessary to try to increase the frequency of the microprocessor;

- after the combination of increasing voltage and frequency ceases to produce results, and the system cannot start stably, it is necessary to restore the previous values ​​of frequency and voltage. The processor overclocking limit has been reached.

Practice shows that from the standard values ​​of 1.1 V and 2900 MHz, this processor can be overclocked to 1.425 V and 3828 MHz. This allows you to get a percentage increase of 32% to the performance level.

AMD Athlon II X4 635: chip cost, capabilities, user reviews

The AMD Athlon II X4 635 microprocessor at the start of sales was priced at $110. Today such a chip can be purchased on the Internet at a price of 2000-2500 rubles. In their reviews, users characterize the AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor only on the positive side. The AMD Athlon II X4 635 continues to be a relevant product even today and allows you to run most computer games. Thanks to the presence of real four computing modules, this chip can pass restrictions that are implemented in some of them at the program code level. Excellent overclocking potential allows this processor to outperform even modern processor solutions.

Conclusion

In 2011, in the segment of mid-range devices, the hero of this review was one of the best and most affordable chips. Although the AMD Athlon II X4 635 was released quite a long time ago by the standards of the computer world, it continues to remain relevant and demonstrate a completely acceptable level of performance.