AMD Phenom X4

AMD Phenom X4
9950 Black Edition

The Phenom X4 9950 Black Edition is currently AMD's fastest processor, and on its own merit, it's a nice CPU. It's inexpensive yet sports some quality features, such as a 4GHz HT link and stock 2.6GHz clock speed. and although the 9950 BE is not an overclocker's dream by any means-good luck pushing it musc past 3GHz-it has an unlocked multiplier, which affords the OC-minded more options.
However, if you're the owner of a 9850 Black Edition and fear you should've waited for the 9950, fret now; you're not missing out on much. The two diffe only in that the former is a touch faster (2.6GHz compared to 2.5GHz) and has a 140w TDP vs. the 9850's 125W TDP. Granted, the 9850 is about to be locked down, so kiss the Black Edition and its unlocked multiplier goodbye. But if you already have a 9850 BE, the 9950 BE is not a significantly better CPU.
Bottom line: The 9950 is a decent processor, but it offers no substantive improvements over the 9850 BE. The 9950 is now the fastest Phenom on th emarket, outstripping the rest of them by a step or two, but it's really just the 9850 BE with a better haircut.
by Seth Colaner

Specs:
Socket AM2+; Clock speed: 2.6GHz; HyperTransport Link: 4GHz; 65nm process; Cache: 2MB total dedicated L2 cache, 2MB L3 cache; 140W max TDP.

source: Computer Power User October 2008.
www.amd.com