Wednesday, June 1st 2011

AMD Paves the Way for the Next Gen. of Supercharged Desktop PCs with 9-Series Chipset

Press Release by
btarunr
 Discuss (46 Comments)
AMD today launched its 9-Series chipset line-up today, helping PC builders to develop next generation high performance desktop platforms. The company also unveiled its 2011 HD Tablet Platform, based on the AMD Z-Series Accelerated Processing Unit (APU), enabling vivid media display and content creation capabilities for the fast-growing market of Microsoft Windows-based tablets. These new AMD products are designed to enable more immersive digital experiences for the PC and tablet markets.

"As consumer appetites for more compelling, lifelike visual experiences increase, there is greater need for high performance, smooth, vibrant graphics as well as unparalleled computing power," said John Taylor, product marketing director, AMD. "From tablets to desktops, AMD is making powerful computing accessible to everyone."
Desktops Get Supercharged with AMD 9-Series Chipset
AMD's 9-Series chipset provides the foundation for unlocking the highest-octane AMD desktop experience. The chipset is a key component of AMD's next generation "Scorpius" desktop platform, which will also feature the 8-core "Zambezi" processor and AMD Radeon HD6000 series discrete graphics cards for immersive HD entertainment and gaming experiences, extreme multitasking, tweaking, and overclocking.

The 9-Series chipsets are the first to support the AMD AM3+ socket processors, while incorporating AM3 socket backwards compatibility. These boards enable blazing fast performance with support for AMD CrossFireX technology, which allows up to four AMD Radeon GPUs to co-process for incredible graphics uplift. In addition, these chipsets support clock rate management through AMD OverDrive software. Additionally, the 9-series chipset line-up features up to six SATA 3.0 6Gbps hard drive interface ports, Gigabit Ethernet, HyperTransport 3.0 technology, and PCI Express Generation 2.0 for an extreme computing experience at work and play.

The 9-Series line of chipsets will be available from a variety of device manufacturers, including ASRock, ASUS, Biostar, ECS, Foxconn Technology GIGABYTE Technology, Jetway and MSI.

Windows Tablets get AMD Graphics Boost
By 2015, Gartner expects the tablet market to exceed $200 million and, as the market matures, AMD will continue to expand its APU options, providing powerful discrete-level graphics on die for tablet computers and other mobile form factors. In addition to its deep integration with operating systems like Windows, the AMD 2011 HD Tablet Platform offers support for HTML 5, Adobe Flash 10.2 and external monitors, enabling crisp graphics for gaming, streaming video and other entertainment that enhances the end-user's experience. It also offers enterprise-level security, allowing IT policy makers to offer the convenience of tablets to an increasingly mobile workforce.

VISION Technology from AMD
VISION Technology aligns closely to the evolving PC purchasing process by minimizing the use of technical jargon and specifications to help consumers choose the best PC for their needs. To ensure customer clarity on offerings when choosing the right PC, AMD has moved to a new numbered tier system. Notebooks and desktops powered by the latest AMD Fusion APUs align with the following experiences:
  • VISION A8 Series PCs will enable Brilliant HD Performance, for consumers who want extreme multi-tasking, online gaming and video editing.
  • VISION A6 Series PCs will enable Brilliant HD Entertainment, great for advanced multi-tasking, photo editing and HD video playback.
  • VISION A4 Series PCs will enable Brilliant HD Every day, perfect for Web browsing, basic multi-tasking and staying in touch with family and friends.
  • VISION E2 Series PCs will enable Smart HD with smooth 1080p HD video playback with the AMD Video Accelerator.
  • AMD HD Internet Series will enable vivid, on-the-go computing experiences on mobile devices like ultrathins and netbooks.
AMD also introduced a new identity for VISION to align with the new tiers. This new identity specifies graphics and core features of notebooks and desktops based on the AMD Fusion Family of APUs for consumers seeking more technical specifications.

At COMPUTEX on June 2, Manju Hegde, corporate vice president of AMD's Fusion Experience Program will present "Unleashing the Full Power of the PC - Software Development for AMD Fusion APUs." Get details on the 9-Series chipsets here.

9-Series Chipset Partner Quotes
  • "We're happy to provide an optimal solution that delivers the ultimate in visual entertainment and maximum performance with overclocking in a highly scalable system." - LL Shiu, COO, AsRock
  • "ASUS is excited to partner with AMD and be the first to launch the next generation 9-Series based motherboards, the M5A99/97 Series, while also introducing industry firsts DIGI+VRM and UEFI BIOS controls. Customers can look forward to the exciting new technologies that 9-Series brings while still enjoying full backward compatibility with AMD AM3 processors." - Joe Hsieh, Corporate Vice President, ASUS
  • "Our 9-Series chipset motherboards are designed to extract maximum AM3+ CPU performance without any waste." - Vincent Lin, Senior Product Manager, Biostar
  • "We are excited to provide Foxconn A97A users with the new, sensational 9-Series AMD platform." - Dennis Lin, Channel Service Division General Manager, Foxconn Technology Group
  • "We are very pleased and excited to provide such an impressive AMD platform. We'd like everyone to enjoy the colors of tech life with the ECS Black Extreme 9-Series motherboard, the next extreme gaming generation." - David Chien, Vice President of Channel Business Unit, ECS
  • "We are excited to offer our customers a range of motherboards to help them prepare for the next generation of AMD desktop technology. With our 9-Series
    motherboards, customers are ready for the future, while enjoying full backward compatibility with AMD AM3 processors." - Richard Chen, Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing, GIGABYTE
  • "Jetway looks forward to offering customers unlocked native 8-core AMD desktop processor performance with motherboards based on the 9-Series chipset." - Allen Yang, President, Jetway
  • "MSI is excited about utilizing AMD's next generation AMD 9-Series chipsets and will, thanks to a broad chipset lineup, provide a total solution from entry-level to high-end products. MSI's AMD 9-Series mainboards offer exhilarating new levels of performance and brand new possibilities and will undoubtedly satisfy the needs of our customers." - Scott Yang, Vice President, MSI

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46 Comments on AMD Paves the Way for the Next Gen. of Supercharged Desktop PCs with 9-Series Chipset

#26
lilkiduno
Thanks for the information on the boards. Perhaps I will finally find something reasonable to replace me 785evo with. Do you know if these boards are up on newegg yet? As for the AMD bs Intel dispute I believe that this was a topic regarding the release of them motherboards and not the performance that bulldozer offered in compairison to sandy bridge. Although it makes nice bed time reading to read the views expressed in regards to that. Have a good night/day!
Posted on Reply
#27
Heavy_MG
Damn_SmoothI am going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this Sir.

The last time AMD released a completely new architecture was the glory days of the Athlon.

If they can do as well as they have by using the same basic architecture since then, I think that they will be able to pull off something really special with a completely new one.

Of course, that is just my opinion, and I could very well be wrong. Hopefully the wait to find out won't be too long.
I think so as well,though the delay has kind of impacted my expectations of just how good Bulldozer will be.
Even if it isn't has fast as a i7 2600K,it should be as good as the i5 2500K. As long as it competes with the 2nd. gen i5,I'll be happy with Bulldozer. Only being as good as 1st gen i5 or i7 would be disappointing. It would leave AMD 2 generations behind again once Sandy Bridge-E is out.
Posted on Reply
#28
Damn_Smooth
Heavy_MGI think so as well,though the delay has kind of impacted my expectations of just how good Bulldozer will be.
Even if it isn't has fast as a i7 2600K,it should be as good as the i5 2500K. As long as it competes with the 2nd. gen i5,I'll be happy with Bulldozer. Only being as good as 1st gen i5 or i7 would be disappointing. It would leave AMD 2 generations behind again once Sandy Bridge-E is out.
I'm not too worried about Sandy Bridge-E because I'm pretty sure that that is going to be way out of my price range. I think that the 8 core Bulldozers have a really good shot at surpassing the 2600k though. I am just speculating though, because I have the same amount of info about Bulldozers performance as almost everyone else.
Posted on Reply
#29
Lionheart
dirtyferretanyone else worried how AMD keeps pushing eight core CPUs as "gaming CPUs". they did the same crap with their fraud Phenom II six core units which routinely had the same FPS as their four core alternatives and both where spanked by Intel's new SB dual core CPUs. I would like to upgrade to a new BD CPU in the future but not if AMD's sales pitch is "more cores for your money..." instead of "we have a CPU that can compete with Intel's SB core for core (or at least be in the same ballpark" :shadedshu
How were AMD's phenoms II six core CPU's frauds???:wtf:
Posted on Reply
#30
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
Damn_SmoothI am going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this Sir.

The last time AMD released a completely new architecture was the glory days of the Athlon.

If they can do as well as they have by using the same basic architecture since then, I think that they will be able to pull off something really special with a completely new one.

Of course, that is just my opinion, and I could very well be wrong. Hopefully the wait to find out won't be too long.
The thing is Intel was not the same as it is now. Everything changed when the Core 2 came. This is a vastly different situation.
Posted on Reply
#31
Damn_Smooth
FrickThe thing is Intel was not the same as it is now. Everything changed when the Core 2 came. This is a vastly different situation.
How do you know? What is to say that Sandy Bridge is even a good utilization of 32nm technology? It's not like they've had any competition on that front.

I have said that everything that I have said is pure speculation, but so is anything saying that my speculation is wrong. None of us will know for sure until AMD decides to let us.
Posted on Reply
#32
Wyverex
This is quite offtopic, but... why are people praising Sandy Bridge as second coming?
Core i5 2500(K) and Core i7 2600(K) are good, even great, but at the same time... quite unimpressive
(Performance-wise) when compared to Core i7 920, they are not that much better.

What is impressive is lowered power usage (thanks to new, 32 nm process), overclock potential (again, thanks to 32 nm process) and price (probably also thanks to 32 nm process).

I just don't see Sandy Bridge as anything other than shrink with tweaks.


As for the main topic of this thread, I'm looking forward to 990-based motherboard reviews. I wanna see if there's any performance improvement due to chipset, maybe better power usage, etc :)
Most of all, I'm hoping for cheap 990X motherboards :D
Posted on Reply
#33
rem82
That is the truth for bulldozer.
Initially AMD wanted to release Llano in Q1 2011 and launch BD at Q2. They had some issues with the 32nm process (global-foundries) earlier on and they missed that window by one Quarter.

OEMs know and AMD knows that Llano APUs occupies a larger market share than High End CPUs like Bulldozer, so they chose to ramp up Llanos production.

What happened could be pressure from OEMs, ODMs for more Llano APUs in order to have a lot o products for Summer and the Back to School season in September, so AMD chose to use all the 32nm production capacity to manufacture more Llano APUs. As i have said before Global-Foundries 32nm SOI HKMG process is new and they only have one fab and releasing both Llano and BD at the same time could hurt Llanos production.

Those 60-90 days will give a more mature 32nm process for BD manufacturing and even if BD will be released in late August or early September it could take the performance crown until Intel’s SB-E 6-Core will be introduced in Q4.

Server BD will still be a Q3 release so no worries there.

Ps: If AMD already have Trinity APUs manufactured (BD core APUs) then it seams that BD core don’t have technical issues.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbIboX36Lhs&feature=BFa&list=ULYjPpPXK84wQ&index=17
Posted on Reply
#34
Hayder_Master
Pci-e 2.0, always step back from intel‏,‏‎ also better if they made new good cpu's better adding Sli support.
Posted on Reply
#35
Steevo
btarunrEach of those 8 cores has 200% IPC improvement over Phenom II.
Can we get a source on this 2X improvement on the Instruction Per Clock figure?


At 2x per core that means they truly do have a killer chip there, especially at 4+ Ghz on 8 cores. From my understanding currently they are behind Intel by about 60% on IPC, if this is the case they will outperform by a margin of 40% on average per thread.
Posted on Reply
#36
Damn_Smooth
Well, since we've evolved this topic to a discussion on BD performance, here's the first official CPU-Z screenshot.

Creator and Author of the highly successful CPU and Hardware Monitoring software CPU-z “Franck Delattre” has released the first official Bulldozer FX-Processor CPU-z Screenshot. The CPU-z screenshot details a FX-based processors (Engineering Sample) featuring 8 Cores and 8 Threads.

Read more: wccftech.com/2011/06/02/official-bulldozer-zambezifx-details-revealed-cpuz-aurthor/#ixzz1O8WiMuPi
Posted on Reply
#37
CDdude55
Crazy 4 TPU!!!
WyverexThis is quite offtopic, but... why are people praising Sandy Bridge as second coming?
Core i5 2500(K) and Core i7 2600(K) are good, even great, but at the same time... quite unimpressive
(Performance-wise) when compared to Core i7 920, they are not that much better.

What is impressive is lowered power usage (thanks to new, 32 nm process), overclock potential (again, thanks to 32 nm process) and price (probably also thanks to 32 nm process).

I just don't see Sandy Bridge as anything other than shrink with tweaks.


As for the main topic of this thread, I'm looking forward to 990-based motherboard reviews. I wanna see if there's any performance improvement due to chipset, maybe better power usage, etc :)
Most of all, I'm hoping for cheap 990X motherboards :D
Sandy Bridge is basically X58 performance at the midrange market segment, which is awesome. But other then that yes, no significant performance increase ensued with it's release, but you're getting X58 performance for cheaper with lower power consumption, higher overclock ability and at a low cost, so it's definitely a huge win for consumers really.
Posted on Reply
#38
cadaveca
My name is Dave
CDdude55Sandy Bridge is basically X58 performance at the midrange market segment, which is awesome. But other then that yes, no significant performance increase ensued with it's release, but you're getting X58 performance for cheaper with lower power consumption, higher overclock ability and at a low cost, so it's definitely a huge win for consumers really.
Which really doesn't even matter here.


Rather than AMD having the fastest CPU possible, I'd much rather see them hit the $200 and lower price range right in the face, and for them to win with performance within that segment.

Based on my own testing, Phenom II cores are still pretty good, but the memory bandwidth is lacking. If they can bring that up to P67 numbers, Bulldozer will be killer, no doubt. I have alot fo confidence that AMD might be able to pull this off, as seemingly Bulldozer is still a bit more focused towards the server market, where throughput is most important.

When considering throughput, the obvious way to increase that is with better memory bandwidth, so I do think AMD is focused on that, especially considering the "rumoured" 1866 MHz DDR3 support for Bulldozer.


Reviews coming from me on 9-series products very soon. ;)
Posted on Reply
#39
Damn_Smooth
What I find really interesting is that with a turbo core boost of 1Ghz on a single core, we should easily be able to overclock all cores by at least 1 Ghz and probably more.

That would put the 8 core chip with a frequency of 3.8 Ghz up to 4.8Ghz and above, which would put it in the same general area as Sandy Bridge.
Posted on Reply
#40
CDdude55
Crazy 4 TPU!!!
cadavecaWhich really doesn't even matter here.
Correct, i was addressing an irrelevant and offtopic post with another irrelevant and offtopic post.
cadavecaRather than AMD having the fastest CPU possible, I'd much rather see them hit the $200 and lower price range right in the face, and for them to win with performance within that segment.

Based on my own testing, Phenom II cores are still pretty good, but the memory bandwidth is lacking. If they can bring that up to P67 numbers, Bulldozer will be killer, no doubt. I have alot fo confidence that AMD might be able to pull this off, as seemingly Bulldozer is still a bit more focused towards the server market, where throughput is most important.

When considering throughput, the obvious way to increase that is with better memory bandwidth, so I do think AMD is focused on that, especially considering the "rumoured" 1866 MHz DDR3 support for Bulldozer.


Reviews coming from me on 9-series products very soon. ;)
They've been hitting the price for performance segment for quite sometime without much of a significant move towards larger performance increases. This is supposed to be a major redesign of the ancient K10 microarchitecture so if done right i do expect Bulldozer to push out some good numbers. I never stated Bulldozer couldn't perform up to par, especially considering what is known or rumor to know about these chips. But they have some strong competition in the performance arena and if they can get close to accomplishing the goal of providing both price while maintaining a good performance stance against P67/Z68, then it's a win/win, but it's to early to tell.
cadavecaReviews coming from me on 9-series products very soon.
Never seen you review anything, so i guess thats good.
Posted on Reply
#42
CDdude55
Crazy 4 TPU!!!
cadavecaBeen posting motherboard reviews here on TPU since January.

:shadedshu
Really?!!? LOL, didn't know that.

You're good then from the looks of those reviews.:)
Posted on Reply
#44
cadaveca
My name is Dave
Damn_SmoothAny idea which one you're going to be reviewing first?
Of course, just waiting on some info from OEM, then first will go live, basically done already, starting next one today.

Just give it a couple of days, I guess, and check the front page. ASUS up first ;)
Posted on Reply
#45
Damn_Smooth
cadavecaOf course, just waiting on some info from OEM, then first will go live, basically done already, starting next one today.

Just give it a couple of days, I guess, and check the front page. ASUS up first ;)
Awesome, those are the ones I'm most looking forward to. :rockout:
Posted on Reply
#46
FreedomEclipse
~Technological Technocrat~
mechtechWell it's David vs Goliath. Intel's R&D budget and manpower is probably greater than AMD's entire company. Having an 85% market share helps.
Its that big market share which makes Intel say "screw the rules" and approach innocent by-standing OEMs and force them to drop their line of AMD based systems in favour of Intel based systems or daddy wont be giving them any special treatment in the form of big discounts and free pie.

theyve been hit more then twice by Anti-trust lawsuits and its that 85% share of the market which drives them insane and want more
Posted on Reply
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