AMD Phenom II X4 Quad 955 Core 3.2GHz Processor 4 x 512 KB Boxed - Black Edition

What a superb processor. I was a little wary about buying this product after running a computer with a Phenom 9500 Quad Core processor before and it was a little finnicky. But this one is like lightning compared to the old one, that being a 2.2Ghz and this a 3.2Ghz, especially when I clocked it up to 3.8Ghz. Overall this is a great processor, easy to install and comes with heatsink. excellent price too!

If you are experienced with computer hardware then this review may seem pointless as I shall be basing it around the less enthusiastic end user. If you are looking for a processor to fit an AMD motherboard, the Phenom X4 955 Black Edition is perhaps the best performance for value you can buy at the time of writing this review. AMD do provide 6 core Phenom processors but unless you use very high demanding video editing software I feel it will be waste. This processor is designed for a gaming enthusiast since games developers are just starting to make games that use quad core processors. But why not buy a quad core phenom with a higher clock speed (xxGHz)? Well, the 'Black Edition' AMD processors come with an 'unlocked multiplier'. This in simple terms means you can make the clock speed just as much as it's bigger brothers, while keeping the price down. And for the less informed, AMD have made it easier by providing AMD Overdrive for download on their website. This program has both simple and advanced controls to supplement everyone. A little research will show that the 955 BE will work on AM2+, AM3 and AM3+ motherboards (there are limitations which will be explained on your motherboard website). This means that even if you decide to upgrade your motherboard (I went from AGP to PCI-E) you can still keep the same processor, saving money. Typing the processor name into google will provide a plethora of top reviews and comments from all over the world about this diverse and solid processor. The stock cooling is efficient, I have found it possible to overclock to 3.6-3.8 GHz without changing the voltage (I don't like changing the voltage, but it can yield amazing results). I have friends that have the 955 BE at 4GHz+. Incase anyone was wandering, the 955 BE gives a 7.3 processor windows performance index rating out of a maximum 7.9 at stock clock speeds and voltage (although I feel this requires some sort of update for the next generation). I urge anyone looking for an AMD processor to buy this, as it represents real value for money without skimping on performance. EDIT: I have my Phenom II x4 955 BE running at 4GHz now. The voltage is set to 'auto' (which isn't ideal for overclocking as the motherboard can provide unnecessarily high voltage which leads to more heat). It seems stable after running various 'stress test' applications, but I feel the stock cooler does not provide adequate cooling for overclocking of this sort. The fan is noisy when it is anywhere near 70%+ spin. I have noticed that after several weeks the heatsink and fan seem very clean compared to others after the same timescale (The intake on the side of my case has no filter and the black colour is coated in dust. Very amateur of me, but it is on my list).

Bought this processor to go in a new build with an asus m4a88tdv evo usb 3 motherboard, installed no problem, im running windows vista and it gets maximum scores on the windows experience ratings, i have ran benchmark tests and the processor doesnt go above 55c on full load with the stock cooler, the heatsink does look cheap but works a treat if you are not overclocking, if you are going to overclock this chip i would buy an aftermarket cooler, i have had mine up to 3.7ghz. i can now play total war on high settings with no lag, for the price you cant beat this processor, the intel equivilent wil cost you three times as much, runs games like fm2011 total war, grid, fifa 11, you name it this processor will run it, keep in mind this in an unclocked cpu and mainly used for gaming and overclocking, i would reccomend this processor to anyone, liam asus m4a88t-dv evo/usb3 amd 955 black edition 3.2ghz 4gb corsair ddr3 1600mhz (oc) 500gb seagate sata drive 650w CiT psu Sapphire HD5670 1gb DDR5

I'm not sure if it's just mine, but it sounds like a jet engine! if you're after a fast pcu, this is great! I just wish mine was a lot quieter :P

This is my first ever processor that I have bought, and I must say, I started with a good one. The 3.2GHz is very good anyway, so I imagine it would be excellent when overclocked. This processor allows my computer to render videos at least a dozen times faster than the laptop I am currently writing on (out of convenience, no issues I should add). The supplied heatsink and fan is good enough, I haven't measured the temperatures, but the processor still works, and it's not too loud either (I can't hear it over my graphics card). I guess there isn't much else to say, apart from make sure it will fit your motherboard! :P Strongly recommended, and it's a steal at this price.

Well what can I say, I bought this with a motherboard for a little more than a package deal from PC World. What did I get? I got a considerably superior product, with the versatility to fit into both my current motherboard AM2+ socket and an AM3 socket should I upgrade my motherboard and RAM in the future. The box includes a CPU, fitting instructions and a heatsink/fan with thermal grease already applied. Fitting it was simple and easy and all went smoothly, though as with most fans on this socket it was a tight fit. Performance wise, it is what it says it is really and all the reviews speak highly, at the time of writing an upper-mid range processor. Then again I was going from a Athlon X2 3600+ dual core processor running at 2.01 GHz to this so I'd been prepared to be wowed. Being a Black Edition it's easily overclocked though with my current PSU and the stock heatsink I didn't take it past 3.5GHz. Given the price, the performance and the versatility with socket this is an excellent buy for anyone considering upgrading their CPU.

Product neatly packaged and included the AMD chip plus a heatsink/fan. Assembled quickly and the heatsink included pre applied thermal paste. Along side 4GB of RAM this is a great cpu for the money. Fully recommended.

Funzionante con buone prestazioni il venditore è stato utilissimo prima di fare acquisto a consigliare se non dovesse funzionare mi avrebbe fatto il reso. L'ho inserito su un pc di 15 anni fa ed aveva una cpu originale da AMD Athlon II X2 260 ma era lenta.... Invece questa anche se a la stessa frequenza a più core e gira meglio.

Parfait fait son boulot :-))

Gran procesador. He renovado mi prehistórico phenom x3 8450 2.1 GHz por este, y menuda diferencia......espectacular, mi pc ahora vuela. OC a 3,7 GHz fácil, subiendo únicamente el multiplicador (tranto de CPU como de NB, muy importante esto), sin tocar voltajes ni nada más. Además, curiosamente consume menos y se mantiene más fresco que el antiguo phenom x3, siendo aquel supuestamente de 95 W, y este de 125w. Por a penas 100 € que cuesta, no creo que exista ningún otro procesador con mejor relación calidad precio.

exactly as described

WUNDERBARE CPU! Herzlichen Dank. Der Prozessor ist verbaut und läuft ohne Probleme bis jetzt. Geliefert wurde die CPU ohne Verpackung, dafür super verpackt: einmal in einer kleinen Schachtel aus Plastik, samt Schaumstoff, darüber hinaus in einem kleinen Luftpolster, und dann nochmal in einem kleinen Päckchen. Die CPU war bei der Auslieferung SEHR sauber, und die Oberfläche war glatt und frei von Kratzern und dergleichen. Ich habe den Prozessor dann gleich verbaut und er wurde auch sofort erkannt vom Bios, und auch das Betriebssystem hat die neue Hardware ohne Probleme angenommen, die Treiber aktualisiert, dann Neustart, und fertig. Ich hatte mich für diese CPU entschieden, weil mein PC net der neuste ist, und weil 2 verschiedene Sockel akzeptiert werden, und weil ich nicht wusste ob mein PC die neusten Modelle akzeptiert, dieser hier gute Bewertungen hatte, wollte ich es nicht drauf ankommen lassen, habe mich für die Kompatibilität entschieden. Auch in Sachen Stromverbrauch war ich recht unsicher, wegen dem Netzteil, aber es reicht aus, selbst unter Vollast. Ich habe auch keinen PC mit ATX Standart, da kann ich net einfach alles drin verbauen, muss immer schauen was passt. Die Leistung ist zwar für viele Leute schon sehr veraltet, aber ich brauche nicht soviel, der reicht mir! Das ist auch das gute bei AM3+, da kann man diesen hier bsw. auch noch auf neuere Plattformen verbauen, muss man nicht immer gleich einen neuen Prozessor kaufen. Ich habe den kurz gestresst, um zu sehen wie heiß der wird, ob meine Kühlung ausreichend ist, und es sind ca. 60 Grad und steigend, also wer die Absicht hat diese CPU zu übertakten, der sollte sich mit einer Wasserkühlung anfreunden, weil der wird echt warm. Zum übertakten kann ich im Augenblick nichts sagen, da meine Plattform das net unterstützt, die CPU jedoch schon, weil es eine Black Edition ist. TOLL AUF JEDEN FALL, DAS ÜBERHAUPT NOCH ZU KRIEGEN! Damit die Möglichkeit nen älteren Rechner aufrüsten zu können, ohne gleich alles neu kaufen zu müssen. Schöne Sache. Die Werte sind genau wie in der Beschreibung, siehe Screenshot. Bis jetzt läuft er ohne Probleme, und ich hoffe natürlich das es so bleibt ,) Herzlichen Dank