Bulldozer Aims For 50% Improvement By 2014: Is This Really Enough To Counter Intel?

[Fx]

wow, so many people acting like it is the end of the line for AMD. it is far from it. AMD has been through much harsher times. this is nothing compared to when they acquired ATI

times are different right now. there isnt a lot of software that even pushes hardware to the limits because software is currently behind in the race so it doesnt even pay off to pay premiums for the fastest available cpu

I am glad that AMD is looking forward and designed their hardware for the future. having said that- I agree that they should have focused on the server side first instead of rushing this to consumers

 

[laszlo]

wow, so many people acting like it is the end of the line for AMD. it is far from it. AMD has been through much harsher times. this is nothing compared to when they acquired ATI

times are different right now. there isnt a lot of software that even pushes hardware to the limits because software is currently behind in the race so it doesnt even pay off to pay premiums for the fastest available cpu

I am glad that AMD is looking forward and designed their hardware for the future. having said that- I agree that they should have focused on the server side first instead of rushing this to consumers

i agree but designing and selling a CPU now,without thinking that no current soft can use it at 100% (new added instructions which can make a difference if all current soft use it)only maybe a few years after release when it will be maybe obsolete denote a lack of current market needs which is in my opinion equal to self-suicide and a bad management of resources which are limited at amd...

don't forget my rig is amd so no fanboyism or trolling is in my post....

 

[zx679]

The way they're going, I reckon they'll end up closing their x86 business and focusing on things like graphics cards and branching out into other areas where they have no presence at the moment. An AMD Android smartphone, perhaps? However, I'd never count them out until it actually happens, so who knows?

Agreed. They're in a position now where they need to continue diversifying and being creative. They've already failed in the high-end CPU market and that won't change for years. If AMD was ONLY a desktop CPU company they would be toast. But they aren't. They can offer GPUs, APUs and CPUs. They can offer platforms that are attractive for the low-end, mainstream and even integrated market segments. As a business they will likely survive.

 

[Completely Bonkers]

AMD stock price has fallen 30% in last 30 days.

Refinancing their debt is going to be difficult and expensive. A double edged sword.

Do you think there is any hope of a stock price recovery? Or is it a SELL?

 

[Super XP]

It depends on AMD's retail sales and how well they sell AMD FX based systems and chips. Personally I think they are going to sell quite well.

 

[Completely Bonkers]

Er, I just saw this chart:

This chart does NOT say there will be 10-15% performance increase per year, but there is a possibility of a 10-15% increase in performance per watt. READ THE AXIS. AND READ THE FOOTNOTE! Not actually a plan but an extrapolation based on history! WTF!

So 4 years of this magical-mysterious 10-15% performance per watt increase each year gives us the 50% figure we are discussing here. But it is a bogus number made up for this slide and subject to change without notice. It is just PR guesstimates. There is NOTHING in the pipeline, or they would have made reference to it.

WATCH OUT! This is worse than I though!


Bullldozer -> Piledriver -> Steamroller -> Excavator indeed!

What they mean is

Bucket and Spade -> Bigger bucket -> Wheelbarrow -> Get granny to help pull out the turnip!

It's over for AMD. Never mind if they have any decent engineers left, they haven't got the right marketing and PR teams. It is FAIL right across the company rather than fail of a specific design. And that is going to be too difficult for AMD to fix. I'm selling the stock.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

The way they're going, I reckon they'll end up closing their x86 business and focusing on things like graphics cards and branching out into other areas where they have no presence at the moment. An AMD Android smartphone, perhaps? However, I'd never count them out until it actually happens, so who knows?

I find that hard to believe somewhat.

AMD will go back to doing what they do best and focusing on the low to mid range sector like they have been for the last few years.

Their APUs are in a league of their own currently. theres still no substitute for having a a dedicated graphics card though.

AMD can only grow in areas they are familiar with.

As far as competition is concerned. The dream of AMD being the top dog in the CPU world is getting further and further away each time they release a new CPU and they have no doubt lost a lot of loyal fans with BD.
They can still pull a rabbit out of the hat though. but by that time i wonder if anyone would still be watching them and give them a round of applause.

 

[dalekdukesboy]

AMD can deliver 50% faster performance, but they would have to at the very least boost todays Bulldozer by about 20% or more, then by that new number they can gain an additional 50% for a total of about 70+%.

But if they are going by todays Bulldozer, 50% won't be enough to compete with Intel. I think it's about time IBM steps in and helps out AMD with Bulldozer's future. There is no way AMD is scrapping 5+ years of hard work, so this design is here to stay. I have no problem with this, so long as they do something to boost it's performance per clock while keeping thermals at bay.

AMD's success is Intel's Future, Remember that.

ummm...nice avatar? lol

 

[Completely Bonkers]

ummm...nice avatar? lol

LOL


Tom Baker

 

[Super XP]

ummm...nice avatar? lol

Nothing like Tom Baker, the best all time Doctor Who.

 

[techtard]

The best Doctor was Mr Bean.

 

[assaulter_99]

The best Doctor was Mr Bean.

I thought he was an alien!

Back on topic though :

I honestly thought they were gonna bulldoze that sandy bridge easily...

Hilarious though that the last name on the roadmap is Excavator, I only hope it's not for digging their own grave!

And, am I the only one finding these names funny? just think of it seriously. First, they are gonna bulldoze themselves off the market, piledrive themselves in earth then use the steamroller to secure their burial ground. If you're optimistic though, they can at least use that excavator to undig their grave and resurrect!

 

[Jack Doph]

I thought he was an alien!

Back on topic though :

I honestly thought they were gonna bulldoze that sandy bridge easily...

Hilarious though that the last name on the roadmap is Excavator, I only hope it's not for digging their own grave!

And, am I the only one finding these names funny? just think of it seriously. First, they are gonna bulldoze themselves off the market, piledrive themselves in earth then use the steamroller to secure their burial ground. If you're optimistic though, they can at least use that excavator to undig their grave and resurrect!

I had similar thoughts as well

 

[Horrux]

wow, so many people acting like it is the end of the line for AMD. it is far from it. AMD has been through much harsher times. this is nothing compared to when they acquired ATI

times are different right now. there isnt a lot of software that even pushes hardware to the limits because software is currently behind in the race so it doesnt even pay off to pay premiums for the fastest available cpu

I am glad that AMD is looking forward and designed their hardware for the future. having said that- I agree that they should have focused on the server side first instead of rushing this to consumers

I agree. AMD is doing very good business with the GPUs and APUs, and the latter's sales are bound to leap in volume, as they are ideal for both laptops and entry level desktops. What's interesting about the APUs is that they can sell in very large volumes, and they appropriate a lot more money from that traditionally low-margin segment to AMD, as compared to a standard CPU + IGP type deal where the IGP is often made by a competitor. The future looks very bright for the APUs, too. AMD has always been in the budget segment and this is a product line where they can get decent margins for once, and Intel can't touch them there. Not ever, IMO.

So while the CPUs are a large chunk of their business, AMD does have other things to fall back on, which makes them still a viable company while they fix the problems with the BD architecture. Hopefully they can make not a 50% increase in performance by 2014, but something closer to 100%. Hey, they did something similar with the Athlon/XP/64, maybe with the right management they can do it again.

So I'm not counting them out either, although I agree that these chips are not what we needed. If anything, they could surely release Piledriver as a quad-channel chip, make everybody angry if that requires a socket change, but then they could possibly claim a leap forward in performance. One big problem with that "option" is that BD already required a socket change. And for what. BAD AMD, BAD.

 

[qubit]

Nothing like Tom Baker, the best all time Doctor Who.

+1 totally agree. It all went downhill after he left. Ok, no more off topic from me, this was too important to let pass, lol.

 

[Super XP]

Great point, how about releasing Piledriver as a quad-channel chip, make everybody angry if that requires a socket change say FM2 but still keep AM3+ alive for the rest of 2012. Intel is currently doing this right now with several sockets.

 

[runevirage]

Given its thermals, they would have to boost performance by 50% TODAY in order to be competitive.

 

[Super XP]

Given its thermals, they would have to boost performance by 50% TODAY in order to be competitive.

The original Bulldozer should have been 50% performance from what we see today. If AMD can squeeze approx: 15% to 25% out of Bulldozer via a B3 stepping with some tweaking, then I can see Q1 2012 Piledriver hit with another 15% over current CPU's for a total of approx: 35% max boost. It's a stretch, but something that is achivable if AMD works hard on it along with collaboration with software developers and Microsoft.

AMD needs to learn from Intel, before Intel even thinks about releasing a CPU, they ensure they are in direct contact with Software and Hardware manufacutrers to ensure all there T's are crossed and I's are dotted.

 

[3volvedcombat]

? so you think a company that just got all 3 major console companies to use their chips in the nex gen consoles isn't going to be around?

ati was too much for amd to take on and it nearly killed them. But right now amd pretty much reaps the benefit of that decision and it's about to get far more lucritive. By 2014 they'll have plenty in the bank. (nowhere near intel, but far closer to nvidia's bankroll)

sure the processor deivision failed to impress, what's new? Amd's still around now and they'll continue to be around and thriving by 2014.

No, AMD will probably twist more to the video card market.

If anything, it will be, AMD GPU's and that's in 2014. Because there plan for the processor division honestly sucks so much balls, the naming scheme, the performance improvement's.

The time and energy being wasted on small improvement's, adjustments in manufacturing (TSMC), The loads of money that are going to be spent on the marketing, and last but not least, the new scheme's and boxes for the processor's.

The point is, it takes a lot of resource's to have yearly consecutive releases, and they already have problems getting shit on the shelve's. There plan is literally a grave digger in disguise.

BUT, the grave that will be dug, is for the legend of the AMD CPU's.

They will live on with there graphics card market if it ever got that bad. Which frankly it will.

 

[Fx]

No, AMD will probably twist more to the video card market.

If anything, it will be, AMD GPU's and that's in 2014. Because there plan for the processor division honestly sucks so much balls, the naming scheme, the performance improvement's.

The time and energy being wasted on small improvement's, adjustments in manufacturing (TSMC), The loads of money that are going to be spent on the marketing, and last but not least, the new scheme's and boxes for the processor's.

The point is, it takes a lot of resource's to have yearly consecutive releases, and they already have problems getting shit on the shelve's. There plan is literally a grave digger in disguise.

BUT, the grave that will be dug, is for the legend of the AMD CPU's.

They will live on with there graphics card market if it ever got that bad. Which frankly it will.

this sounds like nothing but wishful thinking

 

[HTC]

According to this, 40% gains are almost ready.

I'll believe it when i see it confirmed by reviewers, though.

 

[TRWOV]

I think that reviewers will have to revisit the FX CPUs if the patch is as miraculous as rumors say.

 

[HTC]

I think that reviewers will have to revisit the FX CPUs if the patch is as miraculous as rumors say.

If true, imagine:

"Shocking news rocks CPU world: Bulldozer just bulldozed Intel's Sandy Bridge!!!!"

*Insert that avatar's pic with a bulldozer dozing off Intel's Sandy Bridge's CPU logos for a more dramatic effect*.

 

[techtard]

I'm thinking it will be more like this:
*Patch does nothing, Nerds rioting all over the internet!*
*Insert picture of Nelson from the Simpsons wearing an Intel tshirt and pointing and laughing at a crying Ralph Wiggum decked out in AMD*

 

[qubit]

If true, imagine:

"Shocking news rocks CPU world: Bulldozer just bulldozed Intel's Sandy Bridge!!!!"

*Insert that avatar's pic with a bulldozer dozing off Intel's Sandy Bridge's CPU logos for a more dramatic effect*.

It would be incredible if that patch turned out to be real and very good news for AMD and the customer - and bad news for Intel. However, if the performance problem was simply a software fix, you can bet your boots that AMD would have priced the chip much higher and made a helluva noise about it. Or at least a blog post.

Because of this, I think the "patch" is a fake and it's just some blogger trying to get attention on the internet.