• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Hardware Secrets

Hardware Secrets

Uncomplicating the complicated

  • Case
  • Cooling
  • Memory
  • Mobile
    • Laptops
    • Smartphones
    • Tablets
  • Motherboard
  • Networking
  • Other
    • Audio
    • Cameras
    • Consumer Electronics
    • Desktops
    • Museum
    • Software
    • Tradeshows & Events
  • Peripherals
    • Headset
    • Keyboard
    • Mouse
    • Printers
  • Power
  • Storage
  • Video

Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Socket AM2 Review

Our review of Athlon 64 5000+, one of the first AMD CPUs supporting DDR2 memories and based on the new AM2 socket. Check it out!

Home » Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Socket AM2 Review

Introduction

Contents

  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Specs
  • 3. How We Tested
  • 4. Overall Performance: SYSmark2004
  • 5. Processing Performance: PCMark05 Professional
  • 6. Rendering Performance: Cinebench 9.5
  • 7. 3D Performance: 3DMark06 Professional
  • 8. 3D Performance: Quake 4
  • 9. Overclocking
  • 10. Conclusions

AMD has finally incorporated a DDR2 memory controller to AMD64 CPUs. The new DDR2-capable AMD64 CPUs use a new socket, AM2. In this review we benchmarked Athlon 64 X2 5000+, which is a dual-core Athlon 64 running at 2.6 GHz and supporting DDR2 memories. We are going to compare it to Athlon 64 X2 4600+ (which runs at 2.4 GHz) and Athlon FX-60 (a dual-core Athlon 64 FX running at 2.6 GHz). Check it out.

Athlon 64 X2 5000+ ReviewFigure 1: Athlon 64 X2 5000+.

AMD Socket AM2Figure 2: Athlon 64 X2 5000+ pinout (socket AM2).

AMD Socket AM2Figure 3: Socket AM2.

Since it is based on a new pinout, you will need to replace your motherboard by a socket AM2 one if you want to use DDR2 memories with Athlon 64.

The memory controller integrated on AM2 CPUs can support DDR2-533, DDR2-667 and DDR2-800 memories. The problem, however, is how the memory bus clock is achieved. Instead of being generated through the CPU base clock (HTT clock, which is of 200 MHz), it divides the CPU internal clock. The value of this divider is half the value of the CPU multiplier.

For example, an AMD64 CPU with a clock multiplier of 12x will have a memory bus divider of 6. So this CPU will work at 2.4 GHz (200 MHz x 12) and its memories will work at 400 MHz (DDR2-800, 2,400 MHz / 6). Keep in mind that DDR and DDR2 memories are rated with double their real clock rate.

The problem is when the CPU clock multiplier is an odd number. For an AM2 CPU with a clock multiplier of 13x, theoretically its memory bus divider would be of 6.5. Since the AMD64 memory bus doesn’t work with “broken” dividers, it is rounded up to the next higher number, seven in this case. So while this CPU will work at 2.6 GHz (200 MHz x 13), its memory bus will work at 371 MHz (742 MHz DDR) and not at 400 MHz (800 MHz DDR), making the CPU to not achieve the maximum bandwidth the DDR2 memory can provide.

This is the case of Athlon 64 X2 5000+. As it works internally at 2.6 GHz multiplying its HTT clock by 13x, it can access memory only up to 742 MHz and not 800 MHz.
 
Here are some examples:

CPU Internal Clock CPU Multiplier Memory Divider Memory Bus
2.8 GHz 14x 7 800 MHz
2.6 GHz 13x 7 742 MHz
2.4 GHz 12x 6 800 MHz
2.2 GHz 11x 6 733 MHz
2 GHz 10x 5 800 MHz
1.8 GHz 9x 5 720 MHz
1.6 GHz 8x 4 800 MHz
Continue: Specs

CPU Reviews

Primary Sidebar

As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, this site may earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions on purchases from other retail websites.

audio connectors on a motherboard (right) and ethernet + usb connectors (left)

How On-Board Audio Works

Learn how the sound card that comes embedded on your motherboard works.

How To Connect Your PC to Your Home Stereo or Home Theater

Learn how to hook your PC to your stereo or receiver in order to enhance you audio experience while playing games, watching videos, listening to music or even editing audio.

motherboard

Which is the best motherboard for Coffee Lake CPUs?

We compared seven different motherboards for Intel eighth-gen (Coffee Lake) CPUs, to help you to choose which one is the best for you. Check it out!

RAM Install

Does more RAM make difference in gaming performance?

Does installing more RAM in your computer improves gaming performance? We tested some recent games with 4 GiB, 8 GiB, and 16 GiB to find out. Check it out!

How to Refill Epson Cartridges

Learn how to reset the Epson cartridge chip, allowing you to refill the cartridge.

Footer

For Performance

  • PCI Express 3.0 vs. 2.0: Is There a Gaming Performance Gain?
  • Does dual-channel memory make difference on integrated video performance?
  • Overclocking Pros and Cons
  • All Core i7 Models
  • Understanding RAM Timings

Everything you need to know

  • Everything You Need to Know About the Dual-, Triple-, and Quad-Channel Memory Architectures
  • Everything You Need to Know About the SPDIF Connection
  • Everything You Need to Know About the Intel Virtualization Technology
  • Everything You Need to Know About the CPU C-States Power Saving Modes

Follow Us

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · All rights reserved - Hardwaresecrets.com
About Us · Privacy Policy · Contact