What does Black Edition mean?

[kevinbr]

I'm looking at an AMD A6-6400k processor and I found one that says Black Edition in the name, the other does not and in less expensive. I don't see any differences in the specs. What is the difference?

 

[ed d]

I'm looking at an AMD A6-6400k processor and I found one that says Black Edition in the name, the other does not and in less expensive. I don't see any differences in the specs. What is the difference?

The black edition, has an unlocked multiplier I believe, which allows you to freely OC as high as you can

Well with an unlocked multiplier it's much easier. Instead of changing the FSB and HT, you just up the CPU's multiplier. With non black edition CPU's, the multiplier can only be decreased as the maximum value is locked. Although raising the multiplier is the easiest way to overclock your CPU, it overclocks only your CPU. When overclocking by raising the FSB, you can increase the performance of the entire system, not just the CPU.

If you know for sure that you won't overclock, then buy the non black edition as the black edition comes without a heatsink. It is assumed that by buying the black edition, you'll be overclocking and overclocking will require a better heatsink than the factory heatsink so it's not included. Therefore, if you're not going to overclock, buy the non black edition. Otherwise, you'll have to spend extra money to buy a heatsink for the black edition.


Edit:


That was for older processors

 

[quilciri]

There is no difference. They are the same CPU. It is just an omission in the listing. There is only one A6-6400k produced, and it is the "black edition".

AMD has actually adopted one of intel's naming conventions . Calling it a "black edition" is redundant, as the "k" at the end of the model already indicates an unlocked multiplier.

 

[jaguarskx]

Black Edition or "BE" was the old term AMD used for CPUs (and maybe APUs) that had unlocked multipliers. AMD decided to drop "BE" in favor of copying Intel and just used "K" for APUs with unlocked multipliers.

Therefore, "K" is the universal designation for any CPU that has an unlocked multiplier whether it is from AMD or Intel.