AMD Fudges Power Consumption Figures by Making Up Power Consumption Rating System

[zekrahminator]

When AMD released the K10 micro-architecture, which included Phenom and Barcelona, they unfortunately neglected to mention that they had also released an entirely new way to benchmark power consumption and thermal output. AMD's Average CPU Power system, or "ACU" for short, is a new way to measure the amount of power a CPU really requires, and consequently, the heat it puts out. AMD, when asked, claimed that their way of measuring things was comparable to the TDP system. However, independent results reveal otherwise.

AMD's great quad-core Phenom-based Opteron got a reasonable 75W power consumption rating using AMD's system. However, when put under the traditional TDP test, the Opteron quickly heated up to requiring 95W. Stunned, the testers tried again, and the same CPU got a remarkable 115W TDP load. The full version of the chart is available at the source link. For comparison, Intel's biggest and baddest quad-core CPU uses 120W TDP full load.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

and i thought one of the saving graces of phenom was its "power efficiency"

 

[SK-1]

AMD is a submarine going down with the hatch open.

 

[AphexDreamer]

WHY oh Why must this be

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

Not cool AMD, not cool.

 

[laszlo]

Not cool AMD, not cool.

you're right they get hot!

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

Not cool AMD, not cool.

pun intended?

 

[a111087]

i think the idea of the new system was to underline the energy efficiency under normal circumstances... so they probably should start using both systems of measure

 

[Hawk1]

WHY oh Why must his be

LOL - Why, why was I programmed to feel pain.

Yeah, this sucks for AMD. I'm pulling for them, and even considered going to thier spider platform, but they keep shooting themselves in the foot (and kneecaps and hands etc).

 

[TheGuruStud]

They're getting even with intel, I guess (on TDP). Intel has done the EXACT same thing for ages (and actually calls it TDP), but AMD gets really bad press b/c they're the little guys. Nice spinning of news, someone must've have hired politicians.

 

[panchoman]

amd is beginning to bury itself now

 

[WarEagleAU]

Tell them Gurustud. You are right. I dont care how much power they use to be honest. It seems to me as if someone wants to put AMD under the magnifying glass and fry their ass like an ant in the sun. I say enough mudslinging and quit throwing them under the table. Yes, they are in a bad position, but every microcosm they do doesnt mean they are going to go under. SHEESH!

 

[TheGuruStud]

Thanks WarEagleAU.

I'm not condoning what AMD did by any means. I think they should have stuck to the high road on this one. But to call out AMD and insult them, etc, is asinine, considering that your beloved intel has been doing everything under the sun illegally and/or being purposefully misleading (aka flat out lying). Way to beat up on the little guy that is incredibly ethical and has given is so much in the market. I truly believe the market would be doomed (mostly in x86 tech.) without AMD. Think of Walmart when you think of intel, and think of the hard working, caring, little store when you think of AMD. That's what they are, and we all know what Walmart is doing for this country (helping to destroy it if you haven't caught on yet).

 

[newtekie1]

TheGuruStud, wow, how hypocritical. You jump on some for insulting AMD, but then turn around and do the exact same thing about Intel in the same damn sentence.:shadedshu

 

[tvdang7]

what about the split power plane thing?

 

[TheGuruStud]

Wow, how hypocritical. You jump on some for insulting AMD, but then turn around and do the exact same thing about Intel in the same damn sentence.

I think you need comprehension and reasoning skills AMD really has done no wrong (don't make me post pages of what intel has and continues to do, especially over seas). This number stunt is the worst thing they've ever done, and it was meant to level the playing field with intel's numbers.

So, if you still haven't understood - AMD deserves no ridiculous remarks, intel deserves all of the bashing that they get (just like M$, etc). See, the difference? One is evil and one is not. One tries to screw everyone over (by illegal means) and the other is trying to survive (being ethical and caring to the market).

I don't see how giving negative remarks that are due is hypocritical. Now, if I totally bash intel for changing their model numbers to make the product sound better (or something of the equivalence that we're talking about here), then that would hypocritical.

 

[zekrahminator]

Guys, don't start a fight over each other's English/processors...it's not worth it.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

pun intended?

Of course.

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

I think you need comprehension and reasoning skills AMD really has done no wrong (don't make me post pages of what intel has and continues to do, especially over seas). This number stunt is the worst thing they've ever done, and it was meant to level the playing field with intel's numbers.

So, if you still haven't understood - AMD deserves no ridiculous remarks, intel deserves all of the bashing that they get (just like M$, etc). See, the difference? One is evil and one is not. One tries to screw everyone over (by illegal means) and the other is trying to survive (being ethical and caring to the market).

I don't see how giving negative remarks that are due is hypocritical. Now, if I totally bash intel for changing their model numbers to make the product sound better (or something of the equivalence that we're talking about here), then that would hypocritical.

holy bias batman.

so if i fail at a test i should make my own and try to pass it off as the same thing?

 

[newtekie1]

Guys, don't start a fight over each other's English/processors...it's not worth it.

Smart man with smart words.

 

[effmaster]

Smart man with smart words.

lol he even thanked you for that.

i say that both sides (AMD and Intel) need to quit fighting. This is ridiculous. I mean comeon people we have better things to argue about instead of who's getting more negative press, I think Zek remembers my hotheadedness about his Blu Ray article, I certainly havent forgotten. But I do admit I was hotheaded about the whole issue and for that i do apologize to zek, for what I said to him.

All forgiven Zek?

 

[zekrahminator]

 

[effmaster]

lol this is more appropriate zek:

only kidding only kidding

 

[Silverel]

Meh, DT had a second article on the whole thing.

ACP has more to do with the cost of the power used. Finding an average wattage draw, through real-time usage.

TDP is more about the maximum wattage a cpu can draw through heavy stress situations, and is used to determine cooling, and your power requirements.

Really two different things, and don't have a whole lot to do with each other. If AMD's TDP jumps up 15W, that maximum is just a blip on the average reading for the ACP. More than likely wouldn't affect it at all.

Think about how much time your cpu spends idle. Sure, you can pop it up to full load (i.e. TDP), but it's not going to be there all the time, making TDP useless for determining power cost effectiveness. AMD obviously figured out a way to keep their average usage lower comparatively to Intel, and marketed it as a positive. This is entirely normal. Nothing wrong with bragging about your strengths. It's not like they were hiding their TDP either, as it's still an important factor, but being that it's worse, probably a good move not to highlight it.

Best way I understand it at least.

 

[jocksteeluk]

Its all gone to pot since the purchase of ATI.