Tuesday, October 4th 2011

AMD Piledriver to Boost Performance by 10%, Feature New Instruction Set

"Piledriver" is the codename of AMD's processor micro-architecture that succeeds "Bulldozer", which AMD is referring to in a company presentation slide as "2nd Generation Bulldozer". This, even before the first Bulldozer processors in the AMD FX Processor series begin shipping. Piledriver isn't an evolution over Bulldozer as such, and is more of a incremental update to the architecture.

Piledriver features an improved core design to bring about performance improvements of 10% over Bulldozer. It features two new instruction sets: FMA3 (Fast Memory Access 3) and Converged BMI (Branch if MInus). It will feature an improved IOMMU (memory mapping unit), referred to as IOMMU v2. Apart from these, Piledriver will fit into the existing ecosystem of AMD FX Processors, consisting of socket AM3+ and AMD 9-series chipsets. AMD is currently referring to the platform Piledriver-based processors will form around themselves as "FX Next". There is no reason for you to skip Bulldozer for this, our sources told us that Piledriver CPUs can be expected only by mid-thru-late 2012. AMD FX Bulldozer processors are on course for a mid-October launch.
Source: DonanimHaber
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64 Comments on AMD Piledriver to Boost Performance by 10%, Feature New Instruction Set

#51
Horrux
erockerSorry, but information regarding any AMD release date I just don't believe. I don't really care either. As an investor I want AMD to succeed, but they clearly are not. When they actually start releasing products not riddled by delays and whatnot, they then may start to succeed. Money talks, and so far I have lost more than half of my investment in AMD stock.
I say hold on, or buy more if looking out to the longer term. APUs are a sweet spot where AMD will make good profit. It's a space where Intel simply cannot compete, and likely never will.
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#52
Horrux
TheLaughingManThe will not be moving the Enthusiast chips to FM2. FM2 will be the successor of FM1 and strickly for the APUs. The next socket for enthusiast will be AM4. What they will do with that structure, I am simple not sure.

Also I think the 10% gain is the minimum gain expected from Piledriver with some tests show even more improvement.
Well if they can PLEASE stop changing sockets for a while that would be the best idea IMO. That $150 extra added to the CPU's price tag is getting hard to swallow every time, especially given the performance.
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#53
erocker
*
HorruxI say hold on, or buy more if looking out to the longer term. APUs are a sweet spot where AMD will make good profit. It's a space where Intel simply cannot compete, and likely never will.
Buying high and selling low isn't my strategy. ;)
Posted on Reply
#54
Damn_Smooth
HorruxWell if they can PLEASE stop changing sockets for a while that would be the best idea IMO. That $150 extra added to the CPU's price tag is getting hard to swallow every time, especially given the performance.
Could be worse. We could have 2 or 3 sockets for the same chip.
Posted on Reply
#55
Super XP
Bulldozer -> Piledriver

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New things in Piledriver that may be in some or all Piledriver CPUs:
Input/Output Memory Management Unit Version Two
Fused Multiply-Add Three
Converged Bit Manipulation Instructions
Trailing Bit Manipulation Instructions
Increased L1 DTLB size 32 entries to 64 entries
IPC & Power Management Improvements
Turbo Core Version 3

Piledriver CPUs:
Trinity
Viperfish(Sepang/Terramar/Vishera?)

What to expect:
10-15% increase in performance
or
5-7.5% increase in performance and 5-7.5% decrease in power usage
or
10-15% decrease in power usage
Posted on Reply
#56
ensabrenoir
So thats what the keystone cops are doing now...

Hmmmm......
If bd is so ahead of its time that it'll take years for the software to catch up and bd will obsolete by that time...

I hope by the time Amd releases piledriver(I believe they wont until its 100%) that the soft ware hasn't leapfrogged the hardware and bd performs better...
Posted on Reply
#57
elexier909
I am personally gonna hold out till Piledriver.

I think AMD just got bulldozer out the door.

If they already know how to fix bulldozer then having piledriver out the door in Q1 next year is highly probable, Making refinments to anything is quicker than building somthing from the ground up.

I just hope AMD's flagship never goes above £200, If piledriver delivers and crushes sandybridge or at least Equals it I think that would be a BIG win for AMD and put AMD back in the game that they are late to.

Bulldozer is not fail, its basically a I5 in alot of respects, piledriver "SHOULD" use less power, and generally be better overall, heck evan just a huge lead in single threaded would make piledriver a sucess.

Common AMD you got the platform out its on par with X6 overall, now shift that thing into high gear and give intel sommin to panic about.
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#58
Super XP
I was thinking, I believe AMD can easily squeeze out another 35% to 40% performance over Bulldozer's current performance.

A good friend of mine has confirmed to me that Bulldozer fixes are coming sometime in late November or sometime in December 2011 and before the FX 8170, FX 4170 and FX 6170 get released. So in reality the FX **70's should perform MUCH better. I just hope he's right on the mark.

He's been right about the Athlon, Athlon 64, AMD's Dual-Core, Intel's Conroe and so on. So I am hoping he's right about this :)
Posted on Reply
#59
erocker
*
I'm going to wait until 2050 when AMD delivers a real killer CPU.
Posted on Reply
#60
Horrux
erockerI'm going to wait until 2050 when AMD delivers a real killer CPU.
You'll be able to run BF3 maxed out @ 120fps steady, no problem.
Posted on Reply
#61
ensabrenoir
man i love amd

I know this guy that know this guy that knows guy that dates the hairdresser of a girl that dates this guy that knows a guy who won't admit to knowing this guy that knows there alternate universe patch that will unleash bd full power.
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#62
Flying_Cat
I think Piledriver will be an improvement and will actually bring BD into the competitive range. Based on their decision to kill the once planned 10 core Piledriver and leave it at 8 and focus on adding new instruction sets and whatnot, it really does look like a performance improvement release. Personally, I think Piledriver has a lot of potential if they can get the per core efficiency up.
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#63
largon
I will be very surprised if Piledriver will be a dramatic improvement.
And I hope Bulldozer will not turn out to be AMD's gravedigger...
Posted on Reply
#64
de.das.dude
Pro Indian Modder
first things first, AMD's memory controller designers ned to be kicked in the butt. then we will see some improvement.
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