Monday, June 22nd 2015

AMD Doesn't Trust its Own Processors - Project Quantum Driven by Intel Core i7-4790K

One of the three unexpected products based on the "Fiji" GPU, which AMD announced at its E3 event, Project Quantum, or the quest to design a 4K-worthy SFF gaming PC, which runs two "Fiji" GPUs in CrossFire, had the press assume that the rest of the system could be AMD-based, such as AMD-branded (albeit Patriot Memory manufactured) memory, AMD-branded (albeit OCZ manufactured) SSD; and importantly an AMD-made CPU or APU. Given its liquid-cooling, the prospect of a 95W "Godavari," or even upcoming "Carrizo" APU didn't seem far-fetched. Even a 95W FX CPU could have been deployed, since AM3+ on mini-ITX is not impossible.

When taken apart, Project Quantum was shown to be running an Intel Core i7-4790K "Devil's Canyon" CPU, on an ASRock-made mini-ITX motherboard, with its non-essential parts soldered out. The i7-4790K is neighbored by a pair of half-height Crucial Ballistix memory modules, which is excusable, since there are no half-height AMD Radeon memory modules, yet. The SSD is AMD-branded. The unit features a unified liquid cooling solution that's custom-made for AMD, by Asetek. A large (200 mm?) radiator, with a single fan, cools the CPU, the PCH, as well as the two "Fiji" GPUs.
Source: Kitguru
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188 Comments on AMD Doesn't Trust its Own Processors - Project Quantum Driven by Intel Core i7-4790K

#126
r.h.p
cowiethe amd family can not get the bs fed to some of you guys fast enough....it's ok to put a chevy motor in the new mustang.

you ran it on your competitors hardware??????????????? that's never ok no matter what you guys say
Seriously a cpu is in $AUS dollars is a $400.00 purchase , and making a reference to a classic FORD vs GM vs Dodge war, is a $65,000.00 purchase and entirely in a different garage in my opinion, come on man ......lol
and yeah we have our FORD vs GMH war too .
Posted on Reply
#127
Tatty_Two
Gone Fishing
mastrdrverDid AMD design this or did AMD have someone else design this for them?

Sounds like Kitguru could possibly have some salty squirrel tears going on. The fact that they mention the Mac Pro at the bottom of the article is also suggestive of such a premise. Maybe just a coincidence? In either case to state, as this article does, that AMD does not trust it's own processors is blatantly obvious that this (TPU) article is either click-bait or disinformation (for what ever reason). Especially since not even Kitguru jumped to such a subjective conclusion in their article.

As an aside, the amount of anti AMD rhetoric coming out of TPU staff lately is a little disturbing. There were no editorials about the GTX 970 memory deal that were stating that nVidia was trying to take advantage of the customer. There have been no editorials about Intel being incompetent with falling behind their tick-tock schedule. Yet, when there might be a hint of the smallest of inconsequential things (like 6 months since last official driver, really?), there seems to be something that comes out of the "news" department lately from TPU about AMD being incompetent which usually turns out to be either a misleading title, click-bait, or a blatant lie without effort put in to check the facts.

The amount of integrity that seems to have been thrown out the window lately here is more than a bit disturbing.
I don't know about editorials specifically but there were/are several news articles posted here about the situation with regard to the 3.5 v 4.0GB Vram, none that I can see came out in support of NVidia's position?
Posted on Reply
#128
the54thvoid
Super Intoxicated Moderator
Newsfelch!

TPU is not Reuters.

The only thing going downhill is the forum members sense of irony, humour and critical analysis of their own preferred brands.
In fact, its worrying that an editor can't post an emotive title without cry babies screaming blue murder.

It's a tech site, not Panorama.
Posted on Reply
#129
yogurt_21
you know between the new R9 rebadge, this cpu controversy, and the HBM based Fury cards I think I've seen more news and mention of AMD in the past 5 weeks than I've seen in the past 10 years. I'm not even talking about tech sites whose business revolve around hardware. AMD has been showing up on yahoo, msn, forbes, and etc. Ok maybe its not the bbc and cnn but hey it's way better than it has been.

Is it just me or are all these controversies a huge boon for AMD? The stock is on the rise whereas earlier this quarter it looked like they could be on their way to be de-listed. I've never seen so much buzz about a new amd product when it comes to Fury and it seems like zen might just get the same attention should this cpu controversy continue.

This has to be the most brilliant marketing scheme in AMD's history.
Posted on Reply
#130
ZoneDymo
KatanaiYeah I can see you have an Intel CPU and AMD GPU's just like the system we talk about here. That just means you don't trust AMD Processors either. :D So relax, there's nothing wrong with that...
You cannot possibly be this stupid, by your logic everything you do not use in one pc at that time is something you dont "trust"?
So if you are using Corsair memory now, that means you dont trust Crucial, ADATA, Kingston, Mushkin etc?
Can I drag that logic even further, the car brand you or your family is driving now is the only one you will ever have because its clearly the only one you trust because thats the brand you are using right now?

I mean seriously.....
techy1nothing sensational about this title - it states facts... if AMD would trust that their own CPU would not botleneck - then they would put it in their little prtoject... at least AMD has more common sense than their fans (who hapen to be very upset about title, but not so much about the fact that AMD knows that AMD CPU is bottleneck).
Trust is not a fact, its an emotion.
Trust makes no sense here, they know it would bottleneck, you cannot just hope for a cpu to do better then it does, its 0's and 1's not "oh if I just cheer it on it will go faster".
They KNOW that their current cpu lineup is not fast enough to get most out of what they are demoing, their new gpu's.
Again there is nothing wrong with saying "Project Quantum is powered by an Intel 4970k", but saying its because AMD does not "trust" their own hardware? that again makes A no sense and B yeah is very much sensationalist.
Posted on Reply
#131
john_
mastrdrver(like 6 months since last official driver, really?), there seems to be something that comes out of the "news" department lately from TPU about AMD being incompetent which usually turns out to be either a misleading title, click-bait, or a blatant lie without effort put in to check the facts.
It could be something more. Many sites took that article about the driver updates and made news out of it. You know, when a personal opinion gets on the first page of a big site like TPU, other sites that just grab TPU's articles for their own first pages, don't always manage to distinguish between real news, an editorial, or even a plain post, like the millions posts people are doing all over the internet every day.

So a personal opinion of one person in the first page of TPU, instantly becomes news.

The info about the Intel CPU is know for 5 days now if not more. But no one really cared enough to make a fuss out of it. So, what if the title is NOT a click bait for us, who post in here. What if this title is a bait for all the other sites? Many sites will also copy the above title doing someone's marketing work for free.

Just an opinion of course. A few conspiracy theories.
Posted on Reply
#132
ZoneDymo
the54thvoidNewsfelch!

TPU is not Reuters.

The only thing going downhill is the forum members sense of irony, humour and critical analysis of their own preferred brands.
In fact, its worrying that an editor can't post an emotive title without cry babies screaming blue murder.

It's a tech site, not Panorama.
Its a tech site, not a gossip magazine.
On a tech site you post Tech news, not Tech news + personal opinion.
Posted on Reply
#133
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
ZoneDymoIts a tech site, not a gossip magazine.
On a tech site you post Tech news, not Tech news + personal opinion.
I've made around 15,000 newsposts on this site. At this point, I can wipe my behind with your opinion, without consequences. Post on the subject, or don't post.
Posted on Reply
#134
ValenOne
KatanaiNo it should be not free of any remarks. If AMD is using Intel processors in their own platform it should be yelled out loud like it is here. This is like NVIDIA releasing their next shield tablet and using an AMD GPU in it. :D What do you think the titles would be in car magazines if the next Ford Focus would use an Audi engine?!?
Stop being a hypocrite. I haven't seen you using NVIDIA's 386 CPU with their GPU. Read www.nvidia.com/page/uli_m6117c.html
Posted on Reply
#135
ZoneDymo
btarunrI've made around 15,000 newsposts on this site. At this point, I can wipe my behind with your opinion, without consequences. Post on the subject, or don't post.
Oh I have no doubt of your shall we say, "great powers".
And it quite evident you can't take criticism well (as to the wording used) but that is something you share with a lot of people to the point we can call it normal.
Regardless, I responded to a comment made by a user here, same as I am responding to you now as you responded to me (even though this was not directly directed at you but regardless)
I'm pretty sure that is allowed, I mean why else facilitate the users with a "reply" and even "multi quote" feature?
Posted on Reply
#136
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
ZoneDymoI'm pretty sure that is allowed, I mean why else facilitate the users with a "reply" and even "multi quote" feature?
So they can post on the subject, and avoid getting banned.
Posted on Reply
#137
ZoneDymo
btarunrSo they can post on the subject, and avoid getting banned.
Wait there is another way of replying to the subject and that one does get you banned?
Not aware of that but that also hardly is the case here, I just clicked that little reply button that shows up on the right side under the comment you posted, there is a "thanks" a "multi quote" and a "reply", the later of which I am using right now to reply to you.
Again seems odd to not be allowed to respond to other users comment yet facilitate us with said buttons that allow just that with intent.
Posted on Reply
#138
Evildead666
btarunrI've made around 15,000 newsposts on this site. At this point, I can wipe my behind with your opinion, without consequences. Post on the subject, or don't post.
I just hope AMD understands your wiping of your behind with their Brand Name thru this "News Article".
You might want to update the original post with the possibility that AMD might provide the Final Quantum Systems with a choice of either AMD or Intel CPU's?
It's just as correct as your original newspost, and it leaves some wiggle room.
Posted on Reply
#139
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
Evildead666I just hope AMD understands your wiping of your behind with their Brand Name thru this "News Article".
You might want to update the original post with the possibility that AMD might provide the Final Quantum Systems with a choice of either AMD or Intel CPU's?
It's just as correct as your original newspost, and it leaves some wiggle room.
I'm gathering more such details, and will do another article tomorrow. I'm waiting on some communication on its graphics board design. Then we'll nip the bud on that together.
Posted on Reply
#140
lilhasselhoffer
btarunrI've made around 15,000 newsposts on this site. At this point, I can wipe my behind with your opinion, without consequences. Post on the subject, or don't post.
In a previous post I defended your right to post facts, under the badge of news. Facts are things that can be backed up with data.

I also suggested that there was some kernel of reason to your posts, as you posted that "Windows 8 is here to stay and everyone railing against is is wrong." Opinions can be wrong, as yours was with Windows 8. Despite this, it was just as valid as any other opinion.



At this point, I'd like to think I'm reasonably impartial. Unfortunately, that means you are suddenly full of crap.
1) The article title is not news, but click-bait. While the later half of the title is accurate, the former is conjecture and opinion. You've done nothing to prove that AMD lacks "trust," only that their prototype used an Intel CPU.
2) Your responses to this have basically been that your initial title was too severe, and then a defending your "fact" with the statement they used an Intel CPU.
3) Telling people that you can "wipe your behind with their opinion" means nothing. Volume of output is an interesting metric, but if you get to the point where your only rebuttal is to tell people to shut up and listen you've lost the argument.


Perhaps, for a moment, you can look at this critically. It's rather difficult to believe you've titled this article as such unless you either want click-bait, or have a deep desire to point out the perceived failings of AMD. Neither of these goals is entirely laudable, but the important fact is that neither of them are news. The reason you're getting more push-back than just fan boys is that Techpowerup generally shoots straight on issues; heck, W1zz is one of the most respectable peddlers of unbiased card reviews anywhere. When we can no longer trust the news here is unbiased then there have to be consequences. If you're incapable of either adequately proving your conjecture (honestly, there is no objective way to prove a lack of internal confidence as an outsider) or retracting it with some grace, then you've lost objectivity. If I can't trust your news to be factual, I don't care about anything else you write. We get enough spin from the news, we don't need any more from sites like TPU.
Posted on Reply
#141
Evildead666
btarunrI'm gathering more such details, and will do another article tomorrow. I'm waiting on some communication on its graphics board design. Then we'll nip the bud on that together.
Cool :)
Looking forward to it.
Posted on Reply
#142
REAYTH
So much butt hurt in this thread.
Posted on Reply
#143
Katanai
ZoneDymoYou cannot possibly be this stupid
And the personal attacks start... I told you, chill, relax, fanboy. I'm having fun here, why you have to be mad? I'm sorry that no one, not even you, trusts AMD CPU's. But it's not my fault. Tell AMD to build better CPU's, maybe when they will launch their next platform they can use one of their own...
rvalenciaStop being a hypocrite. I haven't seen you using NVIDIA's 386 CPU with their GPU. Read www.nvidia.com/page/uli_m6117c.html
No, I use Intel. Always have, always will. :laugh:






This is the greatest thread ever, tears so sweet, denial so strong it would make the midday sun disappear. :clap:
Posted on Reply
#144
Casecutter
btarunrIt could have used its own processors, even if it's a lowly Godavari+A88X ITX; if this was just meant to be a proof-of-concept. It would have shown that AMD trusts its own creations
UbersonicIsn't this just an early prototype? They could be using the Intel CPU to show it off because the AMD one isn't ready yet?
I've got to say I see no good reason for AMD needing to show this, waste the design resources, money and then no prestige (heck a backlash). All this comes across as a see what we could do/did! I just ask why spend time and money on this... now?

I might have said, fine AMD you’re going "all in" on a gaming machine based for platform longevity and cost effective production scaling, do it like a Xbox or P/S. Sure you’ve got one super wildly compact cooler layout and form-factor that’s innovative, sweet! Though, after that it amounts nothing more than a super fancy home ITX build from parts that are standard-shelf stuff. Costly and leaves it open to messing with it.

Had AMD said, we are working to design a mobo that had one large interposer, and on that that we'll package a special Godavari based CPU (the APU is only there to run low 3D non-gaming functions), then two Fiji's, and filled in around with 8-12Gb of HBM. Then all that memory shared between the CPU and GPU's that would've been something, even if it was just mock-up for proof of concept! Keep the chassis closed say it's a proof of concept for the chassis and cooling side and show the "innereds" with solid modeling of the mobo/interposer concept. You're not reveling performance for it at this point anyway, who gives a crap what's used to evaluate the cooling.

The strangest/stupidest was why revel an i7, sure perf/power/heat and Pci-E 16x, I get that; and you’ve got to give it to Intel, for 4K on Dx11 they offer best product, but we've been told... "the times they are a chang'in". Even though Intel was the right part, when AMD has been touting asynchronous shaders, and the value of optimizations for true multi-core CPU's, it make this even more stupid. The idea of using i7 together with what’s been AMD's foray in optimization of execution resources, low-level API, and hearing DX12 would work around such road blocks, this seems to be invalidated all that now.

Knowing this will almost assuredly run Win10/ Dx12, and while like the last 8mo AMD been telling us CPU overhead and poor multi-core command found in Dx11… AMD multi-core technology will provide benefits. So "even if not the best", working from a non-AMD base CPU to then hope to tout what AMD has supposedly been telling us... is the dumbest move.

The Executives and Board of AMD have been out to lunch for way to long. This is not like shooting yourself in the foot, it more akin to blowing one's knee off... it's stupid on so many levels. Sometime you just need learn to say NO!
Posted on Reply
#145
GorbazTheDragon
Replying to first few comments...

Although it has been done, using FX CPUs in ITX boards is a stupid idea. Not because of the TDP, but rather the fact that you have to cramp both a NB and SB on the board. On top of that, the socket is clearly not designed to fit in such a small PCB.

And regardless, even if they made some custom form factor board specifically for the device, the CPU could still be a bottleneck when running at a reasonable power level. I don't think AMD should trust their FX processors on something like that, or any of their CMT architectures for that matter. What is silly is how the title is phrased in a way that makes it seem surprisingly bad and the article is written in a way that goes about putting FX in there as a completely viable option. They went with intel for a reason.
Posted on Reply
#146
Lionheart
REAYTHSo much butt hurt in this thread.
Your avatar pic & comment go so well together, brilliant! :pimp:
Posted on Reply
#147
Evildead666
CasecutterI've got to say I see no good reason for AMD needing to show this, waste the design resources, money and then no prestige (heck a backlash). All this comes across as a see what we could do/did! I just ask why spend time and money on this... now?

I might have said, fine AMD you’re going "all in" on a gaming machine based for platform longevity and cost effective production scaling, do it like a Xbox or P/S. Sure you’ve got one super wildly compact cooler layout and form-factor that’s innovative, sweet! Though, after that it amounts nothing more than a super fancy home ITX build from parts that are standard-shelf stuff. Costly and leaves it open to messing with it.

Had AMD said, we are working to design a mobo that had one large interposer, and on that that we'll package a special Godavari based CPU (the APU is only there to run low 3D non-gaming functions), then two Fiji's, and filled in around with 8-12Gb of HBM. Then all that memory shared between the CPU and GPU's that would've been something, even if it was just mock-up for proof of concept! Keep the chassis closed say it's a proof of concept for the chassis and cooling side and show the "innereds" with solid modeling of the mobo/interposer concept. You're not reveling performance for it at this point anyway, who gives a crap what's used to evaluate the cooling.

The strangest/stupidest was why revel an i7, sure perf/power/heat and Pci-E 16x, I get that; and you’ve got to give it to Intel, for 4K on Dx11 they offer best product, but we've been told... "the times they are a chang'in". Even though Intel was the right part, when AMD has been touting asynchronous shaders, and the value of optimizations for true multi-core CPU's, it make this even more stupid. The idea of using i7 together with what’s been AMD's foray in optimization of execution resources, low-level API, and hearing DX12 would work around such road blocks, this seems to be invalidated all that now.

Knowing this will almost assuredly run Win10/ Dx12, and while like the last 8mo AMD been telling us CPU overhead and poor multi-core command found in Dx11… AMD multi-core technology will provide benefits. So "even if not the best", working from a non-AMD base CPU to then hope to tout what AMD has supposedly been telling us... is the dumbest move.

The Executives and Board of AMD have been out to lunch for way to long. This is not like shooting yourself in the foot, it more akin to blowing one's knee off... it's stupid on so many levels. Sometime you just need learn to say NO!
Interposer the size of a Mobo....
You do realize that the current interposer size on Fiji is the Largest it can possibly be atm, due to the lithography process ?
This is a Prototype. They are not going to be showing off Zen Silicon a full year or so in advance.
Just about everyone knows that AMD CPU's are not up to scratch atm, and that the i5/i7 K series are the only option for a High-end gaming rig.

Whatever AMD had chosen, for some it will always be the wrong choice....ffs
Posted on Reply
#148
ensabrenoir
......aaaaawwwww come on guys........this the best you can do?



Im sorry so many people are getting so upset ...but man i love new release time.....most fun I've had all day! THANKS GUYS!!!!!!
Posted on Reply
#149
Casecutter
Evildead666Interposer the size of a Mobo....
You do realize that the current interposer size on Fiji is the Largest it can possibly be atm, due to the lithography process ?
No it would be nowhere near as big a ITX mobo. While that what I expect of Tech find a way to "Get-r-Done" and start advancing interposer technology now, that's what HBM and smaller Nodes can do for us. I was just saying if you want to dream... Dream Big.
Posted on Reply
#150
Evildead666
CasecutterNo it would be nowhere near as big a ITX mobo. While that what I expect of Tech find a way to "Get-r-Done" and start advancing interposer technology now, that's what HBM and smaller Nodes can do for us. I was just saying if you want to dream... Dream Big.
It might get close with the Zen based Opterons. They should have HBM onboard, which is close to what you're talking about :)
They won't have the GPU power though.

Who knows ? In 2020, we might have an APU that would wipe the floor with Fiji :)
Posted on Reply
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