AMD Athlon 64 for Socket AM2 (part 2)
Author:
Date: 12.09.2006
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Quite recently, we got the idea of pros and cons of migration of AMD Sempron processors to the Socket AM2. That time, we noticed some insignificant performance boost - wherever found - and the change of the ratings system. Today, we are going on with the excursion around Socket AM2 and looking at what it has given to the regular (single-core) AMD Athlon 64 processors.
AMD Athlon 64 AM2
Recall that migration to Socket AM2 was needed to make it possible for AMD processors to handle the faster DDR2 memory thus increasing the performance of the system on their base. Unlike the value-sector Sempron line, Athlon 64 processors have not only acquired support for DDR2-400/533/667 but DDR2-800 as well. In all the other respects, no other essential changes have occurred neither in terms of the architecture no in the rating systems.
Recall the main specifications of the new and outdated processors in the form of tables:
Athlon 64 Socket AM2
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CPU clock speed, GHz
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HT speed, MHz
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L2, K
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Process technology
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Dual-channel memory controller
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64bit
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NX-bit
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Cool'n'Quiet
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Athlon 64 3800+
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2,4
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1000
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512
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90 nm, SOI
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3500+
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2,2
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1000
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512
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90 nm, SOI
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3200+
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2,0
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1000
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512
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90 nm, SOI
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3000+
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1,8
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1000
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512
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90 nm, SOI
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 Socket 939
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CPU clock speed, GHz
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HT speed, MHz
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L2, K
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Process technology
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Dual-channel memory controller
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64bit
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NX-bit
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Cool'n'Quiet
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Athlon 64 4000+
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2,4
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1000
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1024
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90 nm, SOI
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3800+
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2,4
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1000
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512
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90 nm, SOI
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3700+
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2,2
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1000
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1024
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90 nm, SOI
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3500+
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2,2
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1000
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512
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90 nm, SOI
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3400+
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2,2
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800
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512
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130 nm, SOI
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3200+
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2,0
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1000
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512
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90 nm, SOI
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3000+
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1,8
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1000
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512
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90 nm, SOI
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 Socket 754
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CPU clock speed, GHz
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HT speed, MHz
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L2, K
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Process technology
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Dual-channel memory controller
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64bit
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NX-bit
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Cool'n'Quiet
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Athlon 64 3700+
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2,4
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800
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1024
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90 nm/130 nm, SOI
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None
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3400+
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2,4
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800
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512
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90 nm/130 nm, SOI
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None
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3400+
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2,2
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800
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1024
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130 nm, SOI
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None
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3300+
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2,4
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800
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256
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130 nm, SOI
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None
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3200+
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2,2
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800
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512
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90 nm/130 nm, SOI
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None
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3200+
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2,0
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800
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1024
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90 nm/130 nm, SOI
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None
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 3000+
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2,0
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800
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512
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90 nm/130 nm, SOI
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None
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Athlon 64 2800+
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1,8
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800
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512
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90 nm/130 nm, SOI
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None
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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As can be seen from the tables, acceleration of the memory subsystem has not affected the rating system. But the product line has been reduced. This is in part caused by the departure from manufacture of more expensive chips having 1 MB L2 cache which used to be quite effective competitors to Athlon 64 X2, especially at games. Besides, there is the trend that early next year the whole line of Athlon 64 processors may be expelled by dual-core X2 whose prices for the lower-end models (Athlon 64 X2 3600+) may reach 100 $ by the end of this year. At the same time, Sempron processors will also turn dual-core and expel Athlon 64 from the low-end. But let us not bury the pretty new processors yet.
If we compare the dimensions of boxes, then the package for AM2 has turned more compact - which is a positive sign because it will be more amenable to carry many processors.
Inside the package, we found the following: the CPU, the renewed cooler, a user's manual, and a logo sticker - nothing of a surprise.
AMD Athlon 64 Socket 939 and Socket AM2 - top view
As was already note, the renewed processors offer very little changes. From the top, they can be seen from the marking which now looks as ADA3200IAA4CN. The marking can be read as follows: ADA – Sempron for workstations, 3200 – the CPU rating, I – type of the packaging 940-pin OµPGA (Socket AM2), A – varying supply voltage of the core (~ 1.25-1.35 V), A – the variable maximum admissible temperature (~65-69°C); 4 – the L2 cache size 512 K, CN – the Orleans core.
AMD Athlon 64 Socket 939 and Socket AM2 - bottom view
From the bottom, the Socket AM2 processors is already easier to distinguish by the extra pin (on the photo it can be found on the right-hand processor in the bottom-left corner).
Here is a complete info summary of the processor being tested and the used memory GEIL DDR2-800, according to the CPU-Z utility.
For comparison, we also bring in the info on AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Socket 939 with DDR-400 Hynix.
Overclocking
We were able to overclock the tested specimen of Athlon 64 3200+ having a standard "boxed" cooler to 2700 MHz from scratch, but further buildup of clock speeds resulted in the drop of operating stability of the system.
At the same time, we were able to start up the GEIL DDR2-800 modules in the DDR2-900 mode, albeit through raising the Command Rate to 2T.
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