http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/12/19/amd_phenom_athlon_64_x2/
Yes there is a small improvement over K8 cpu's but not only is it small its clock for clock. The highest available clocked Phenom is 2.3ghz. The X2 comparison would be a 4400X2 running at 2.3ghz. If you upgrade from that you will get a 15-20% increase in performance. However if you have any model clocked higher or overclocked higher you are essentially downgrading to a Phenom. Anybody with a decent Core or Quad would also be downgrading.
On another note AMD has now officially released a Phenom 9600 Black Edition. It will cost the same amount as a regular 9600 just with an unlocked multiplier. Judgeing from the above review and other sites the unlocked versions should at least hit 2.6ghz. So they are essentially releaseing a Phenom 9900 but absolving themselves of all responsibility if it doesn't work.
Here's the link
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/12/19/amd_releases_unlocked_9600_black_edition/
Yes there is a small improvement over K8 cpu's but not only is it small its clock for clock. The highest available clocked Phenom is 2.3ghz. The X2 comparison would be a 4400X2 running at 2.3ghz. If you upgrade from that you will get a 15-20% increase in performance. However if you have any model clocked higher or overclocked higher you are essentially downgrading to a Phenom. Anybody with a decent Core or Quad would also be downgrading.
On another note AMD has now officially released a Phenom 9600 Black Edition. It will cost the same amount as a regular 9600 just with an unlocked multiplier. Judgeing from the above review and other sites the unlocked versions should at least hit 2.6ghz. So they are essentially releaseing a Phenom 9900 but absolving themselves of all responsibility if it doesn't work.
AMD included the warning, "AMD is not responsible for damages caused by overclocking (even when overclocking is enabled with AMD OverDrive(tm) software)".
Here's the link
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/12/19/amd_releases_unlocked_9600_black_edition/