Tuesday, February 19th 2013

AMD "Jaguar" Micro-architecture Takes the Fight to Atom with AVX, SSE4, Quad-Core

by
btarunr
 Discuss (71 Comments)
AMD hedged its low-power CPU bets on the "Bobcat" micro-architecture for the past two years now. Intel's Atom line of low-power chips caught up in power-efficiency, CPU performance, to an extant iGPU performance, and recent models even feature out-of-order execution. AMD unveiled its next-generation "Jaguar" low-power CPU micro-architecture for APUs in the 5W - 25W TDP range, targeting everything from tablets to entry-level notebooks, and nettops.

At its presentation at the 60th ISSC 2013 conference, AMD detailed "Jaguar," revealing a few killer features that could restore the company's competitiveness in the low-power CPU segment. To begin with, APUs with CPU cores based on this micro-architecture will be built on TSMC's 28-nanometer HKMG process. Jaguar allows for up to four x86-64 cores. The four cores, unlike Bulldozer modules, are completely independent, and only share a 2 MB L2 cache.
"Jaguar" x86-64 cores feature a 40-bit wide physical address (Bobcat features 36-bit), 16-byte/cycle load/store bandwidth, which is double that of Bobcat, a 128-bit wide FPU data-path, which again is double that of Bobcat, and about 50 percent bigger scheduler queues. The instruction set is where AMD is looking to rattle Atom. Not only does Jaguar feature out-of-order execution, but also ISA instruction sets found on mainstream CPUs, such as AVX (advanced vector extensions), SIMD instruction sets such as SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, and SSE4A, all of which are quite widely adopted by modern media applications. Also added is AES-NI, which accelerates AES data encryption. In the efficiency department, AMD claims to have improved its power-gating technology that completely cuts power to inactive cores, to conserve battery life.

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71 Comments on AMD "Jaguar" Micro-architecture Takes the Fight to Atom with AVX, SSE4, Quad-Core

#1
xvi
btarunrThe four cores, unlike Bulldozer modules, are completely independent, and only share a 2 MB L2 cache.
I am SO glad to hear this.
Posted on Reply
#2
TRWOV
Hello new file server :)
Posted on Reply
#3
TheoneandonlyMrK
Sounds better then I expected on the feature support side, now I really am expecting x8 core version in an upcoming set top gameing fandangle
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#4
Ikaruga
Strange they do this before Sony's PS4 announcement tomorrow. Both new consoles from MS and Sony gonna have these new cores in their CPUs, I thought Sony would ask them for all the "flare" they can get. It's also strange only four cores allowed on the PC side while there will be more in the consoles (assuming that all the leaks are correct ofc).
Posted on Reply
#5
Filiprino
I suffered the shitty mono core Intel Atom N450 with the microstutters. The first iteraton of Bobcat was already faster than the Intel Atoms, and you had a pair of cores, now with a quadcore and improved performance per core these things should go quick enough, and even better with all of the "higher end" features like AVX, SSE4, AES and alike.

Sony and Microsoft made a good choice for their consoles (going with an octacore instead of a quadcore), and AMD made a good move.
Jaguar allows for up to four x86-64 cores. The four cores, unlike Bulldozer modules, are completely independent, and only share a 2 MB L2 cache.
"Jaguar" x86-64 cores feature a 40-bit wide physical address (Bobcat features 36-bit), 16-byte/cycle load/store bandwidth, which is double that of Bobcat, a 128-bit wide FPU data-path, which again is double that of Bobcat, and about 50 percent bigger scheduler queues. The instruction set is where AMD is looking to rattle Atom. Not only does Jaguar feature out-of-order execution, but also ISA instruction sets found on mainstream CPUs, such as AVX (advanced vector extensions), SIMD instruction sets such as SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, and SSE4A, all of which are quite widely adopted by modern media applications. Also added is AES-NI, which accelerates AES data encryption. In the efficiency department, AMD claims to have improved its power-gating technology that completely cuts power to inactive cores, to conserve battery life.
Sweet.
Posted on Reply
#6
Over_Lord
News Editor
Do these get HD 8000 IGP?
Posted on Reply
#7
TheoneandonlyMrK
thunderisingDo these get HD 8000 IGP?
Good question not sure bit id expect them to and have an inclination to believe I read they had gcn in
Posted on Reply
#8
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
btarunrTo begin with, APUs with CPU cores based on this micro-architecture will be built on TSMC's 28-nanometer HKMG process. Jaguar allows for up to four x86-64 cores. The four cores, unlike Bulldozer modules, are completely independent, and only share a 2 MB L2 cache.
More cores in more places! Sounds good to me. This is how APUs started; I spy 28-nm CPUs APUs. :rockout:
Posted on Reply
#9
McSteel
Wonder if it will go over 1.6 GHz, seeing how it's more efficient than the last generation, and uses 28nm process...
Posted on Reply
#10
PopcornMachine
thunderisingDo these get HD 8000 IGP?
theoneandonlymrkGood question not sure bit id expect them to and have an inclination to believe I read they had gcn in
I'm sure AMD will clear that up by saying that later this year it will have an unspecified upgrade that may or may not be called 7000 or 8000 and will maybe be bigger or smaller than previous chips, in the southern islands or solar system family, which may or may not be the same things.
Posted on Reply
#11
Cataclysm_ZA
Holy moly. I'd like to play with that! Looking forward to the future reviews where this crushes Atom. I'm not sure if it'll help stop the onslaught of Intel's low-power Core architecture as they drop it under 10W, but Jaguar is certainly going to be useful in a lot of applications.
Posted on Reply
#12
NeoXF
thunderisingDo these get HD 8000 IGP?

Notice the "GCN" bit... obviously gonna end up named up as HD 8000 something... even tho it isn't known yet if it's GCN 1 or 2.


Also, you might be interested in this:

AMD Temash Prototype plays DiRT Showdown at 1080p ...


To be honest, I'm surprised these slides/videos aren't more known of...
Posted on Reply
#13
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
Atom: dual-core with hyper-threading.
Jaguar: Real quad-core with real cores.

We're not even talking modules. This is the real deal. So real they decided to keep using it. :p
NeoXFAlso, you might be interested in this:

AMD Temash Prototype plays DiRT Showdown at 1080p ...
I dig that displayport hub at the end of that video. :rockout:
Posted on Reply
#14
happita
AquinusJaguar: Real quad-core with real cores.

We're not even talking modules. This is the real deal. So real they decided to keep using it. :p
It's about time. I was real close to getting a Bulldozer CPU when it dropped, but it flopped...so I didn't. I hope AMD gets it's head out of their ass soon. Whether it's in the desktop/laptop/tablet or whatever other area they seem to be in, a few steps in the right direction and it could slowly turn around for them.
Posted on Reply
#15
TRWOV
*off topic* Anyone noticed that cpu-world finally updated their front page timeline? Ivy and FX shows up at last. Went to check on C-70's IGP.
Posted on Reply
#16
Jorge
Nice Job AMD

Nice to see AMD moving forward with another excellent product that should sell well. This is definitely a win for consumers as Jaguar has a lot of potential and widespread application. You can bet that the next round of desktop CPUs and APUs will have similar but imrpoved features.
Posted on Reply
#17
Nordic
I want to see a jaguar vs atom vs via showdown.
Posted on Reply
#18
Ikaruga
james888I want to see a jaguar vs atom vs via showdown.
I would rather see jaguar vs avoton:)
Posted on Reply
#19
Nordic
IkarugaI would rather see jaguar vs avoton:)
avoton is atom. Best jaguar vs best atom vs best via.
Posted on Reply
#20
DannibusX
I wouldn't have named my product anything close to the Atari Jaguar.
Posted on Reply
#21
Ikaruga
james888avoton is atom. Best jaguar vs best atom vs best via.
I know it's part of the atom family, but that's the one Intel wants to "use" against Jaguar, and with 8 cores and 4MB cache, they will probably win again.
Posted on Reply
#22
Nordic
IkarugaI know it's part of the atom family, but that's the one Intel wants to "use" against Jaguar, and with 8 cores and 4MB cache, they will probably win again.
With 8 cores probably. 4 core vs 4 core vs 4 core then. I remember an older benchmark having via better than atom. I just wonder how it would be now.
Posted on Reply
#23
Apocalypsee
I been eying on AMD Jaguar architecture since last year. Once any Windows 8 tablets comes out with any of these I will bought it in a heartbeat.
Posted on Reply
#24
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
McSteelWonder if it will go over 1.6 GHz, seeing how it's more efficient than the last generation, and uses 28nm process...
According to AMD, it will be clocked up to 1.80 GHz.
Posted on Reply
#25
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
[George Takei] Oh Myyyyyy [/Takei]


this should shake up the low end market a decent amount. intel atom is just too damn slow. aint nobody got time for it.
Posted on Reply
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