Or perhaps I should say, a bin. After all, that is what it is called when processors are graded, binning. Now, the yields are up enough that AMD can effectively bin enough of the Phenom II X4s to identify a new processor grade – the 965 Black Edition, at 3.4 GHz.

Many people will wonder why it becomes necessary to purchase a processor that is graded to a higher performance, when so many of the older models that are also Black Editions, with their unlocked multipliers, will attain this level of performance.

One reason seems clear – if you run these at the rated speed, any failures not due to non – qualified usage are covered by warranty for three years. In this age of less disposable income, that kind of insurance is cheap. Also, if you believe in luck, you might be able to get one of these up higher into the overclocking stratosphere.

from Tech Connect

It was nice while it lasted (about two months) but it appears the Phenom II X4 955 is going to have to let go of its title of flagship AM3 CPU as another, more powerful model is being prepared by AMD. The Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition is clocked at 3.4 GHz - 200 MHz higher than the X4 955, and features 6MB of shared L3 cache, an integrated DDR2/DDR3 memory controller, 4000 MHz HyperTransport and a TDP of 125W.

The new 45nm processor comes has an unlocked multiplier and should become available in the near future, probably with a price tag higher than that of the X4 955 (unless, of course, it’s meant to replace it at $245). Wait for it.

One wonders if this will be the last binning for the Phenom II processors, or if new, higher ones might be on the way.

§

Space is big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist’s, but that’s just peanuts to space.-    Douglas Adams

Good analogy, Doug.