Okay, why are we here again? – Well, AMD has once again released a new CPU, but this is using the same name as previous yet still fairly new CPU. Confusing? - I know; it is to me as well. One month ago to the day, AMD released what it likes to call the Phenom II processor. While it is an update upon the original Phenom architecture, it still uses the same AM2+ board architecture. For that reason it may be prudent to call it a Phenom II, but what does this mean for a new CPU that supports a whole new processor socket? – Well, that’s where things now get dicey.

To start things off on our AM3 processor, AMD has revolutionised the latest addition to the Phenom II family. All of the 800 series and 700 series CPU’s have a dual mode memory controller. That is, it has a DDR2 and DDR3 memory controller onboard. This is the first CPU to incorporate two memory controllers on one CPU die.