The Athlon 64 X2 and the Athlon X2 are both microprocessors that the California-based company, AMD, Inc., designed for use in desktop computers. As microprocessors, both the Athlon 64 X2 and the Athlon X2 are responsible for the central processing unit, or CPU, functions of computers, which include controlling and executing computer instruction sets. The "X2" parts of their names means that they utilize two cores, or processing centers. Despite these similarities, the Athlon 64 X2 and the Athlon X2 are different in several ways.
Micro-architecture
The Athlon X2 has a wider internal data path than the Athlon 64 X2, making the former capable of processing more data in the same amount of time in comparison to the latter. Data path width refers to how many lanes of data, or bits, a microprocessor can accommodate simultaneously. The Athlon 64 X2 microprocessor utilizes AMD's K8 micro-architecture, providing it with a 64-bit internal data path, while the Athlon X2 microprocessor utilizes AMD's K10 micro-architecture, providing it with a 128-bit internal data path. K10 immediately succeeded K8, as AMD never released a K9 micro-architecture.
Clock Speed
The AMD Athlon 64 X2 can achieve a clock speed of up to 2.3 GHz. In comparison, the AMD Athlon X2 can achieve a clock speed of up to 2.8 GHz. Clock speed refers to how frequently a microprocessor generates electronic pulses for initiating and carrying out computer instruction sets. Higher clock speeds correlate to faster-functioning computer systems.
CPU Socket
Depending on the specific model, the AMD Athlon 64 X2 can utilize either a Socket 939, which has 939 connector pins, or a Socket AM2, which has 940 connector pins. In comparison, the AMD Athlon X2 only utilizes a Socket AM2+, which has 940 connector pins. A CPU socket is the mechanical component that connects a microprocessor to a host computer's motherboard, which is the printed circuit board that contains all of a computer's principal components. The main differences between the Socket AM2 and the Socket AM2+ are that the latter allows for faster operating speeds and uses two separate power planes: one for supplying power to microprocessor cores and one to supply power to memory modules.
L2 Cache
The Athlon 64 X2 can provide up to 2 MB of L2 cache space, while the AMD Athlon X2 can only provide up to 1 MB of L2 cache space. An L2 cache is an integrated, on-chip storage space that allows a microprocessor to bypass a computer's system memory and access copies of frequently-used data. This technology allows a microprocessor to speed up processing times, increasing the rapidity with which the computer that contains it can operate.
Thermal Design Power
Depending on the specific model, the AMD Athlon 64 X2 can have a thermal design power of either 20 W, 22 W, 35 W, 45 W, 65 W, 89 W or 110 W. Depending on the specific model, an AMD Athlon X2 can have a thermal design power of either 65 W or 95 W. Thermal design power refers the average maximum power that a microprocessor can dissipate while running commercial software.
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