Given the pace Intel and AMD set for the jump from mainstream dual- to quad-core processors, the arrival of affordable 6-core CPUs appears to be almost late. It may be a sign that there is not much demand for more than four cores at this time, but if you have use for it, this may be the time to consider an upgrade to six cores for about $150.
AMD Phenom II X6
Intel has been offering its 6-core i7-980X processor for a little over a month and if you are among those considering a purchase of this chip, you will have to deal with a product shortage and a premium that may lift the price above the already nose-bleed 1000 unit tray price of $999. AMD follows Intel into the 6-core space with the Phenom II X6 1055T (2.8 GHz) and 1090T (3.2 GHz) processor, at a considerably lower price.
First benchmarks show that AMD’s 6-core chips are not a match for Intel’s flagship processor in most productivity applications, but can provide a substantial increase over AMD’s quad-core processor, if the applications are multi-threaded. In games, clock speed often matters and in scenarios in which the Phenom, processor can exploit the horsepower of AMD’s graphics cards through clock speed, the performance gain may be substantial and in some cases competitive with Intel’s platform.
Whether a 6-core CPU is a prudent choice or not, comes down to your applications. I found the 1055T ($200 tray price) offered for $150 (with a mail in rebate included), while the 1090T is sold for as low as $250. In comparison, AMD’s fastest quad-core processors are offered for $185 (3.4 GHz) and $165 (3.2 GHz). Over at Intel, $150 will buy a 2.66 GHz quad-core (45 nm Q8400 for a street price of about $160) or a newer dual-core processor (32 nm i3-540 at 3.06 GHz for about $140). A $250 investment gets you into the mid-level i5 processor range and a 3.46 GHz 670 model (about $280 street price).
And, in this view, the 1055T and 1090T launch seem to be processors we have been used to – in a scenario where AMD is forced to compete with Intel on price, not performance. The Intel i7-980X represents the fastest desktop processor you can buy today, but if you need six cores on a budget, the AMD chip may be worth a look.
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