Testing the K7

A quick spin around the block

A little while ago, we were invited by sources close to AMD to spend a couple of hours with a system equipped with a preproduction CPU and motherboard. We were given an opportunity to install and run benchmarks on specified hardware and settings, with the understanding that none of the hardware exists in final form.

The AMD K7 CPU, Slot A

The K7 in its natural habitat

Controlled environment

This is something that is very important to keep in mind. The benchmark results we provide are not indicative of the standard FiringSquad processes, as we had much less control over the circumstances of the testing. What this means is that we do what we can, but don't take any of the numbers or analyses as hard facts from the FS Hardware Labs.

When FiringSquad has the opportunity to test out the K7 in a less-insulated environment, we'll have a full report with testing methodology, more benchmark results, different tests, a complete description of the changes that have gone into this 7th-generation CPU.

Until then, use these numbers as a rough guideline of what you can possibly achieve, and more importantly as a realistic anchor to take past the initial and impending hype surrounding any kind of new technology and product.

Test System Specs

AMD K7 550MHz CPU

512KB 1/3 speed (183.3MHz) L2 Cache

AMD "Fester A3" 200MHz AGP 2X/4X Motherboard

Linksys 10/100 Fast Ethernet

128MB PC-100 SDRAM

IBM Deskstar 371010 10GXP Hard Drive

ATX Midtower case

Nvidia Reference TNT (STB) (detonator 1.20 drivers)

Nvidia TNT2 Ultra (150/183MHz)