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AMD Phenom X4 9850 (2.5GHz)

Manufacturer: AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) Part number: HD985ZXAGHBOX

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$147.99 - $187.35 at 7 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
3.0 stars Good
Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 4 reviews

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: AMD's new Phenom X4 9850 is overpriced and outclassed compared with its Intel-based quad-core competition. If PC vendors can use this chip to make cheap systems (as they did with older Phenoms), we might have nicer things to say, but as a DIY part at this price, we can't recommend AMD's latest quad-core CPU.
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*Total price for the AMD Phenom X4 9850 (2.5GHz) are estimated and may vary slightly based on exact tax, shipping, manufacturer rebate or any sale/promotion on the merchant site.

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CNET editors' review

AMD Phenom X4 9850 (2.5GHz)

price range: $147.99 - $187.35

Reviewed by: Rich Brown
Reviewed on: 03/26/2008
Released on: 03/27/2008

The good: Unlocked multiplier allows overclocking; required motherboard offers minor gaming benefit; slightly faster MP3 encoding than Intel.

The bad: Poor overall bang for the buck at this price; faster competing chip from Intel is also overclockable.

The bottom line: AMD's new Phenom X4 9850 is overpriced and outclassed compared with its Intel-based quad-core competition. If PC vendors can use this chip to make cheap systems (as they did with older Phenoms), we might have nicer things to say, but as a DIY part at this price, we can't recommend AMD's latest quad-core CPU.

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From a do-it-yourself perspective, we're mostly unimpressed with AMD's new 2.5GHz Phenom X4 9850 quad-core desktop processor. This $235 CPU comes in only $10 less than Intel's comparable quad-core chip, but with noticeably slower performance on almost every one of our tests. Even the new Phenom's unlocked multiplier, which enables overclocking, can't save it, because you can do the same thing with Intel's faster chip. As we said with the initial round of Phenom chips, if the price drops (or if system vendors are able to offer them cheaply), it might look better, but with this performance and at this price, AMD still can't wrest the quad-cord lead from Intel.

The Phenom X4 9850 is part of the batch of higher-end Phenoms that were beset by a "TLB erratum" that delayed their launch and partly explains why we've so far seen only the 2.2GHz Phenom 9500 and the 2.3GHz Phenom 9600. According to AMD, it has fixed the issue in the higher-end chips, which affected data prioritization, and that the X4 9850 is ready to go. In the spirit of a fresh start, AMD has also rereleased the older Phenoms, dubbing them the Phenom X4 9550 and the X4 9650, although neither original model was affected by the TLB bug, and the performance of the new versions is exactly the same as the originals.

The X4 9850, though, features some more technical improvements over the lower-end models, and not just a faster core clock speed. Like the Phenom 9500 and 9600--and past AMD chip designs as well--the X4 9850 has a built-in memory controller regulating the speed at which data moves between the processor and the system memory. It also relies on the HyperTransport 3.0 standard, which links the processor to the various other components in your system, such as the PCI-Express data path for graphics processing. The memory controller and the HyperTransport clock in the earlier Phenom chips came in at 1.8GHz and 3.6GHz, respectively. The Phenom X4 9850 received boosts to 2.0GHz on the memory controller and on HyperTransport to 4.0GHz.

Despite all of that technical tweaking, the X4 9850 still fares poorly on our performance tests compared with Intel's old Core 2 Quad Q6600, which currently sells for almost the exact same price as the X4 9850.

Multimedia multitasking test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600

559

AMD Phenom X4 9850

631

AMD Phenom 9600

656

AMD Phenom 9500

684

Apple iTunes encoding test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

AMD Phenom X4 9850

161

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600

167

AMD Phenom 9600

173

AMD Phenom 9500

181

Adobe Photoshop CS3 image-processing test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600

157

AMD Phenom X4 9850

178

AMD Phenom 9600

179

AMD Phenom 9500

184

CineBench test
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Rendering multiple CPUs

Rendering single CPU

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600

8724

2472

AMD Phenom X4 9850

8034

2106

AMD Phenom 9600

7359

1942

AMD Phenom 9500

7068

1870

CPU-limited Quake 4 (in frames per second)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

1,024 x 768, low-quality, no AA/AF

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600

128

AMD Phenom X4 9850

105

AMD Phenom 9600

98.6

AMD Phenom 9500

94.9

iTunes is the only test on which the X4 9850 was able the beat Intel's Q6600 chip. If music encoding is your passion, perhaps this new Phenom is the chip for you. For everyone else, the Intel chip is the better choice, be it for multitasking, photo editing, video encoding, and gaming.

Perhaps demonstrating awareness that its new chip generally can't beat Intel's older quad-core CPU, AMD suggested that if we look at the complete platform involved in owning a Phenom, we'd find that AMD has a price edge. Because the CPU dictates the motherboard you need to buy, we found AMD's suggestion fair, so we looked into that as well. Over on NewEgg.com, we found motherboards for each chip ranging from $35 to $60. Considering that the price of the CPUs is the same (if you count the $239 OEM version of the Intel chip, $249 if you don't), AMD's claim of a holistic price advantage doesn't hold up.

You could, we suppose, make an argument for the Hybrid Crossfire feature on AMD's 780G motherboards. With that chipset, you get a 3D boost if you also spring for an ATI Radeon HD 3450 graphics card, because it can then work in tandem with the 780G's integrated processor. If 3D gaming is what you're after, though, you'd be better off with either a less-expensive dual-core chip and a better 3D card, or by saving your money to match a faster 3D card to go with your quad-core rig.

Finally, while we always like it when you can overclock a CPU, we can't get too excited about the Phenom X4 9850's overclockability, either. The Core 2 Quad Q6600 has proved imminently overclockable as well, which would further extend its lead over the Phenom chip.

While we remain disappointed in the Phenom thus far, we hold to our caveat from the Phenom 9500 and 9600 that the X4 9850 could become more attractive if AMD can drop the price at retail, or if its pricing to system vendors lets them build competitive Phenom-based desktops. As we've seen in the Gateway FX7020 and the Acer Aspire M5100, Phenoms have already shown up in retail desktops that compare very well with their Intel-based counterparts on bang for the buck. Until that happens, Intel remains the clear choice for anyone interested in building or buying a quad-core desktop with a chip in the $230-to-$240 price range.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 4 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 4 out of 4

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10 stars

Truly 4 cores

by askermana271275 on December 29, 2008

Pros: Unlike Intels way over priced chips AMD actually has 4 separate cores. Its ability to overclock as well can easily bring it up to par and beyond and Intel chip. Plus they come with a superb heat sink (though if your overclocking get a new one.)

Cons: None what so ever.

Summary: Just buy it. You wont regret the investment. If you are planing to make a gaming machine with these you may consider waiting for the Socket AM3s to come out.

Summary: Just buy it. You wont regret the investment. If you are planing to make a gaming machine with these you may consider waiting for the Socket AM3s to come out.
7 stars

Don't know yet..

by khaito714 on June 18, 2008

Pros: Still search for the answer

Cons: confuse now

Summary: HEY...DUDE........
NOW I KNOW WHY YOU BE TALKIN BAD STUFF ABOUT AMD PROCESSOR..REMEMBER PEOPLE THIS GUY WORK FOR INTEL.... PRETTY MUCH YOU WERE FORCE INTO SAYING THESE LINE
...

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Summary: HEY...DUDE........
NOW I KNOW WHY YOU BE TALKIN BAD STUFF ABOUT AMD PROCESSOR..REMEMBER PEOPLE THIS GUY WORK FOR INTEL.... PRETTY MUCH YOU WERE FORCE INTO SAYING THESE LINE FOR YOUR COMPANY..AND CAN I ASK YOU ONE QUESTION..HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH ALL accurate PERFORMANCE NUMBER?..to be honest i don't work for anybody...I'm just a typical guy search for a better cpu then my old one...but i can't stand someone trying to sale their product ...while i'm trying to search for a cosumer opionion rather then a saler....thanks ...helping but not really...bye

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9 stars

True Quad Core, AMD for Life!

by necromancervns on June 14, 2008

Pros: Fast Fast Fast! Destroys all apps sent its way.

Cons: Needs good aftermarket cooler to really let it open up for overclocking .

Summary: I upgraded from a 5000+ BE to the 9850 BE and the result was insane. Encoding video now take a less that half the time as before. Gaming performance increased ...

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Summary: I upgraded from a 5000+ BE to the 9850 BE and the result was insane. Encoding video now take a less that half the time as before. Gaming performance increased by a good factor(The Stars architecture is faster than the old Hammer architecture at the same clock speeds) It still may not me as fast as the Intel quads (well mine is more than a match to the q6600 and q6700 as mine is overclocked to 2.75.).

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8 stars

Great chip for the cash.

by sndper on May 26, 2008

Pros: Very quick, you can assign processes to certian cores for optimum performance

Cons: AMD overdrive software is glitchy

Summary: Great overall chip. Easy to set up and overclock. Runs cool with stock cooler from AMD. Being able to assign which core is used for applications is a wonderful thing. ...

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Summary: Great overall chip. Easy to set up and overclock. Runs cool with stock cooler from AMD. Being able to assign which core is used for applications is a wonderful thing. You can do real multitasking and see virtually no slowdown!

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Specifications

Manufacturer: AMD (Advanced Micro Devices)
Part number: HD985ZXAGHBOX
Description: Realize new possibilities for connecting with friends, family, and digital entertainment with the phenomenal performance of the AMD Phenom X4 quad-core processors. Built from the ground up for true quad-core performance, AMD Phenom X4 processors speed through advanced multitasking, critical business productivity, advanced visual design and modeling, serious gaming, and visually stunning digital media and entertainment.

General
Product Type Processor
Processor
Type AMD Phenom X4 9850
Multi-Core processor technology Quad-Core
64-bit processor Yes
Processor Qty 1
Processor number 9850
Processor socket Socket AM2+
Clock speed 2.5 GHz
Processor Manufacturing Process 65 nm
Processor / Thermal Specification 61 ?C
Architecture Features HyperTransport technology, AMD Virtualization, AMD Cool'n'Quiet Technology, Enhanced Virus Protection
Thermal Design Power 125 W
Cache Memory
Installed Size L2 - 4 x 512 KB - L3 cache - 2 MB
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Slots Total (Free) None
Compatible Slots 1 x Processor - Socket AM2+

Miscellaneous
Included Accessories:Included Processor Accessories Cooler (fansink)
Package Type AMD Processor in a Box (PIB)
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & support type 3 years warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 3 years
Warranty
Service / Support Details Limited warranty 3 years

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AMD Phenom X4 9850 (2.5GHz)

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