Summer is winding down, and the kids are pining to get back to school.  Of course, the back to school season is prime time for many computer and component manufacturers, second only to the Christmas season in sales.  So, it makes perfect sense that AMD would have another CPU to release to the market.  While we have been through the benefits of the Deneb architecture several times already, it would appear that AMD is not finished with us yet.  We are happy to look at the new high end CPU from AMD: the Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition!

Of course, new CPUs bring new questions.  What has changed?  Does the new CPU have new enhancements that may improve overclocking?  Does the higher stock clock provide a worthwhile value?  We hope to investigate these very questions ourselves, so if you would like to know as well, then I suggest you read on and find out!

Specs
	AMD X4 965 Black Edition
MSRP	$245
Model Number	X4 965 BE
Processor Frequency	3.4GHz
L3 Cache Size	6MB L3
Nominal Voltage	0.875-1.5V
Common AM3 Specs
L1 Cache Sizes:	64K of L1 instruction and 64K of L1 data cache per core
L2 Cache Sizes:	512KB of L2 data cache per core
L3 Cache Size:	6MB (shared)
Memory Controller Type:	Integrated 128-bit wide memory controller *
Memory Controller Speed:	Up to 2.0GHz with Dual Dynamic Power Management (all current AM3 processors)
Types of Memory Supported:	Support for unregistered DIMMs up to PC2 8500 (DDR2-1066MHz) -AND- PC3 (DDR3-1333MHz)**
HyperTransport 3.0 Link:	One 16-bit/16-bit link @ up to 4.0GHz full duplex (2.0GHz x2)
Total Processor Bandwidth:	Up to 37.3 GB/s total bandwidth
Packaging:	Socket AM3 938-pin organic micro pin grid array (micro-PGA)
Fab location:	Global Foundaries Fab 1 Module 1
Process Technology:	45-nanometer DSL SOI (silicon-on-insulator) technology
Approximate Transistor count:	~ 758 million (45nm)
Approximate Die Size:	258 mm2 (45nm)
Max Ambient Case Temp / X4 CPUs:	65o Celsius
Nominal Voltage:	0.825-1.425V
Max TDP:	140 Watts
*Note:  MC configurable for dual 64-bit channels for simultaneous read/writes **Note:  for DDR3-1333, AM3 boards will support 1-DIMM-per-channel @ 1333MHz

In talking to AMD, some interesting facts came to light.  While the 965 BE is currently rated for 140W, it is apparent that AMD has plans for a 125W version of the same CPU.  Not only that, it appears that the changes in the silicon that brought about the now infamous TWKR stepping were instrumental in bringing out the 965 as well. 

Not only is AMD getting aggressive with the binning of their CPUs, they are also getting aggressive in pricing as well.  The 965 BE by itself clocks in at the same price as the 955 did when it debuted in the spring.  On top of that, AMD is pushing some pretty sweet bundles, including motherboard combos that could save potentially another $40.  If you are in the market, I would highly suggest you check out your favorite retail to see which bundles are being offered.

So what do you say we dive straight into the overclocking?