AMD Cancels Phenom II X4 960T Quad-Core Processors Based on Thuban Die

[btarunr]

In what could come as a bad news to enthusiasts looking forward to the AMD Phenom II X4 960T "Zosma" quad-core processor, AMD has scrapped plans to release it, at least to the retail market. The chip could still be available to OEM vendors designing their desktop products around it. In a circular to the press, an AMD representative said "I've been asked the question about whether there will be a Phenom II X4 960T "Thuban" quad-core by enough individuals, that I think it is a good idea to proactively share the answer to everyone. While there are indeed engineering CPU samples floating around of a 4-core Thuban 960T, I do not expect that processor will be released for general availability. Perhaps it may make its way to OEMs by special request, but that remains to be seen."

Phenom II X4 960T was a certain release from AMD until now. Various motherboard vendors released beta BIOS that could support the chip, and some enthusiasts with access to engineering samples were even successful in unlocking its disabled cores. The prospect of unlocking disabled cores to yield a six-core processor at the price of a typical quad-core processor is what garnered interest among some sections of the enthusiasts. For AMD, the adverse effect Zosma could have on the sales of more expensive Phenom II X6 seems to have outweighed propagating its new Turbo Core technology at more mainstream prices.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[uber_cookie]

Another CPU will probably replace with un-lockable cores once the x6 made the money’s worth.
Financially related move by AMD?

 

[Mussels]

considering hte price difference between the high end x4's and the lowest x6, there was really no price gap for it to go to.

likely, they just had very few bad x6's and decided to lower the price on them, instead of making an x4 to fill the gap.

 

[[Ion]]

Damn

 

[AlienIsGOD]

considering hte price difference between the high end x4's and the lowest x6, there was really no price gap for it to go to.

likely, they just had very few bad x6's and decided to lower the price on them, instead of making an x4 to fill the gap.

Agreed. Im sure the binning process is much better now, so fewer defective cores are being found, resulting in higher yeilds of full X6's.

 

[Baum]

omg now they got the news on unlocking no more cheap quadcores

learn it keep your mouth shut with mods

 

[claylomax]

I posted a link for a review this morning, just before I found out they had been cancelled. http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=122116

 

[Skywalker12345]

Another CPU will probably replace with un-lockable cores once the x6 made the money’s worth.
Financially related move by AMD?

Exactly there plan i was thinking they want to make money off there flagship chip and then release some lower end chips they have left over from the "6 core" bin that didnt make the cut.

 

[suraswami]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[naoan]

Well I kinda understand their decision, with 1035T coming out it's kinda hard to position 960T, I'm still disappointed though.

 

[Gjohnst4]

Damn, guess Ill have to buy the real thing now.....exactly what AMD wants me to do, I hate being manipulated ha

 

[Skywalker12345]

ha ya i felt the same way but hey everyone needs money

 

[Kitkat]

95w 955 will be the next quad star. and if they cansel that then it means they finaly got 965 to 95w.

 

[cdawall]

Shitty guess people have to actually by a 6 cores now i figure that unlockable quads will just be out later on in the life cycle sounds like they have gotten very strong sales on the x6 chips which killed the sales of the 955/965be which means they have stacked a few to many quads up to make another strong seller profitable for the old stock. Let the 45nm c3 chips eol and you will have your zosma release.

 

[Pyarn]

Hmm,there goes away my dream of hexa core unlocking..
Looks like I'll just stick with my trustworthy PII 965..

 

[naoan]

Or not really

AMD Phenom II X4 960T not cancelled
Written by Slobodan Simic
Thursday, 13 May 2010 12:31

Should be available, eventually

According to our info, AMD's Thuban based Phenom II X4 960T is not canceled but rather just delayed. Unfortunately, our sources were not clear about the specific date but were pretty sure that it will come eventually.

As you may remember, Legitreviews.com reported yesterday that the "unlocking-friendly" Phenom II X4 960T will be limited to OEMs and probably paired up with a non-unlockable motherboard. Our sources suggested that it is a mere delay and that the noted CPU will indeed be available.

We are not sure if AMD will change something and make it less "unlockable" in that process, or when it will actually be available, but for now, we are hearing that it will be available in retail, sooner or later.

http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/18809/1/

Granted it's fudzilla but so far I haven't seen their insider article to be false, don't hold your breath though.

 

[Wile E]

considering hte price difference between the high end x4's and the lowest x6, there was really no price gap for it to go to.

likely, they just had very few bad x6's and decided to lower the price on them, instead of making an x4 to fill the gap.

That's what I took out of this. For as little as the 1055 costs, it was pointless to release a high end quad in the same general price bracket.

 

[vagxtr]

Extremeley bad news that they canceled quad core Zosma core but unfortunately not unexpected from amd.

Most of that engineerenig samples that are floating around could be unlocked to hexacore so it's economicly wise decision cause they would cut their own sales with high demand for 960T model


When and if 960T will finally be available probably 6core unlock success stories would be in 20-25% margins and with extra high voltages. Most of hexacore chips (based on D0) easily run at 3.2GHz just at 1.200V (at least Opterons )

:thumbdown: AMD :thumbdown:

 

[vagxtr]

likely, they just had very few bad x6's and decided to lower the price on them, instead of making an x4 to fill the gap.

Eeeerm dont count on such low count of damages .... It's 300+mm2 chip fgs even considerably smaller C3 had many rejects.

It's just strategically wise decision. Big thub down for AMD that they even lure us into thinking they'll schedule Zosma (crippled X6 core) release at the same day as original Thubans. And there's always extra time needed for binninq and requalification of damaged ?lower value? chips. It wouldnt be much of surprise if they release even X2/X3 on Thuban cores after Bulldozer is introduced Thank you but no thanks amd

 

[kenkickr]

Extremeley bad news that they canceled quad core Zosma core but unfortunately not unexpected from amd.

Most of that engineerenig samples that are floating around could be unlocked to hexacore so it's economicly wise decision cause they would cut their own sales with high demand for 960T model


When and if 960T will finally be available probably 6core unlock success stories would be in 20-25% margins and with extra high voltages. Most of hexacore chips (based on D0) easily run at 3.2GHz just at 1.200V (at least Opterons )

:thumbdown: AMD :thumbdown:

Eeeerm dont count on such low count of damages .... It's 300+mm2 chip fgs even considerably smaller C3 had many rejects.

It's just strategically wise decision. Big thub down for AMD that they even lure us into thinking they'll schedule Zosma (crippled X6 core) release at the same day as original Thubans. And there's always extra time needed for binninq and requalification of damaged ?lower value? chips. It wouldnt be much of surprise if they release even X2/X3 on Thuban cores after Bulldozer is introduced Thank you but no thanks amd

Are you trolling or just anti-amd because they didn't release a $150 dollar quad that could be turned into a $200 x6!?

I agree with the decision by AMD. Absolutely pointless to release a NEW quad when the x4 965 is already so close to the x6 1055T in price, general everyday performance, and if they are having good yield turnouts on the x6 die.

 

[erocker]

Keep the conversation civil please. No one needs to make their points in this news post more than once. By the way, there are other reports claiming that AMD will indeed be releasing these processors. Time will tell.

 

[WarEagleAU]

Well guess it is wait and see. I was eager to get an X4 and unlock it to an X6, instead of going 300 for the X6 BE. Will have to wait.

 

[Baam]

I hope they release 960T even if can only get 4 cores, might be worth it over a 965 just for the turbo, especially if your not an overclocker.