AMD Zambezi ''Bulldozer'' Desktop CPU Roadmap Revealed

[btarunr]

AMD's next-generation PC processor architecture that seeks to challenge the best Intel has, codenamed "Bulldozer", is set to make its desktop PC debut in 2Q next year, with a desktop processor die codenamed "Zambezi". AMD is seeking to target all market segments, including an enthusiast-grade 8-core segment, a performance 6-core segment, and a mainstream 4-core segment. The roadmap reveals that Zambezi will make its entry with the enthusiast-grade 8-core models first, starting with 125W and 95W models, trailed by 6-core and 4-core ones.

Another couple of architectural details revealed is that Zambezi's integrated memory controller (IMC) supports DDR3-1866 MHz as its standard memory type, just like Deneb supports DDR3-1333 MHz as its standard. DDR3-1866 MHz, or PC3-14900 as it's technically known, will churn out 29.8 GB/s in dual-channel mode, that's higher than triple-channel DDR3-1066 MHz (25.6 GB/s), which is Intel Core i7 LGA1366 processors' official memory standard. The 8-core and 6-core Zambezi models feature 8 MB of L3 cache, while the 4-core ones feature 4 MB. Another tidbit you probably already knew is that existing socket AM3 processors are forwards-compatible with AM3+ (Zambezi's socket), but Zambezi processors won't work on older AM3/AM2(+) socket motherboards.



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[1Kurgan1]

Impressed that the 8 cores will be the ones landing first, wonder what prices look like.

I think I'll be getting a mobo first then maybe a proc, we'll see though.

 

[Fourstaff]

Release AM3+ boards pls thx bai. And please get the Bulldozer out earlier than Q3, because intel's Sandy Bridge is going to make Bulldozer look like Nvidia's GTX480 when it was released.

 

[pantherx12]

+ one to release boards now.

Then I can get am3 cpu to tide me over : ]

 

[btarunr]

because intel's Sandy Bridge is going to make Bulldozer look like Nvidia's GTX480 when it was released.

There's no way of saying that right now.

 

[Imsochobo]

There's no way of saying that right now.

i've heard otherwise in the server market.
that amd is the one who will be doing a proper smack!

 

[(FIH) The Don]

Another tidbit you probably already knew is that existing socket AM3 processors are forwards-compatible with AM3 (Zambezi's socket), but Zambezi processors won't work on older AM3/AM2( ) socket motherboards.

the best thing about AMD

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

More cache PLZ DAMMIT!

Also meh.

I do not think these will be the saving grace AMD needs.

 

[pantherx12]

More cache PLZ DAMMIT!

Also meh.

I do not think these will be the saving grace AMD needs.

Cache has massive diminishing returns .

 

[1Kurgan1]

More cache PLZ DAMMIT!

Also meh.

I do not think these will be the saving grace AMD needs.

Why do they need a saving grace? No they of course aren't going to push as much out to the market as Intel, but they never have. The PII's, especially since the 6 cores landed at great prices, infact, since PII's in general came out, AMD's been doing fine.

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

Cache has massive diminishing returns .

I disagree, it adds life to the life span of the processor.

Why do they need a saving grace? No they of course aren't going to push as much out to the market as Intel, but they never have. The PII's, especially since the 6 cores landed at great prices, infact, since PII's in general came out, AMD's been doing fine.

Doing fine isn't the same as competing, the best part of ATI (now AMD) stepping up it's game was prices came down, that's why I want AMD to be a real competitor, and not the go to for budget, because I want more powerful chips at cheaper prices.

 

[Yellow&Nerdy?]

This might be a dumb question, but does the 8-core have 4 "Bulldozer cores" or 8? Because a "Bulldozer-core" has two conventional cores stitched together.

Next year will be interesting with Sandy, Bulldozer, Keplar and Southern Islands.

 

[Melvis]

That is some impressive dual-channel performance, they wasn't joking when they said they could get it to out perform triple channel, very nice. (or as good)

 

[blibba]

This might be a dumb question, but does the 8-core have 4 "Bulldozer cores" or 8? Because a "Bulldozer-core" has two conventional cores stitched together.

Next year will be interesting with Sandy, Bulldozer, Keplar and Southern Islands.

I'm also confused by how they're judging core count on the new system.

 

[1Kurgan1]

Doing fine isn't the same as competing, the best part of ATI (now AMD) stepping up it's game was prices came down, that's why I want AMD to be a real competitor, and not the go to for budget, because I want more powerful chips at cheaper prices.

Like I said before, AMD has never sold in the quantities that Intel has, they were much later to the game, don't have the budget, and maybe never will, hoping for that is like dreaming for the moon as yours, well maybe not as bad.

 

[pantherx12]

I'm also confused by how they're judging core count on the new system.

8 core is 4 bulldozer cores.

Unless they've changed how they're doing things in the past 6 months

 

[HalfAHertz]

This might be a dumb question, but does the 8-core have 4 "Bulldozer cores" or 8? Because a "Bulldozer-core" has two conventional cores stitched together.

Next year will be interesting with Sandy, Bulldozer, Keplar and Southern Islands.

It has 4 modules with 2 cores each for a total of 8

 

[meirb111]

i was thinking tdp will be lower but its not

tdp is the same as phenom II 125w-95w

 

[NdMk2o1o]

tdp is the same as phenom II 125w-95w

oh no, their new 8 core uses the same amount of power as their last 4 core 95-125w is standard nowadays for any x4+ processors.

Do we have confirmation that they have something similar to hyper threading and how it actually works?

 

[pantherx12]

oh no, their new 8 core uses the same amount of power as their last 4 core 95-125w is standard nowadays for any x4+ processors.

Do we have confirmation that they have something similar to hyper threading and how it actually works?

As far as I know no hyper-threading like technology.

How ever each bulldozer module ( 2 cores in os) can process two threads fully at the same time.

 

[NdMk2o1o]

As far as I know no hyper-threading like technology.

How ever each bulldozer module ( 2 cores in os) can process two threads fully at the same time.

Soooooo is one bulldozer "module" just a dual core chip, I seem to recall one of AMD's criticism of intels quads where that the weren't "true" quad core like Phenom....

 

[FishHead69]

Hail All Glory to Octocore

 

[Fourstaff]

There's no way of saying that right now.

True, but then again, we have seen previews of the Sandy Bridge and its going to be a tall order for Bulldozer to "bulldoze" Intel. Pricing may be the saviour this time round tough. History have shown that a new architecture is never going to work as well as intended (R600, P4 HT, Fermi, Phenom 1 etc) so I am not going to get my hopes high. Zacate previews looks good, I must admit.

Edit: can 1 Bulldozer module handle 1 thread, or 50% of the module will be idle?

 

[JF-AMD]

Modules contain two integer cores. Each integer core has its own integer pipeline, so they can simultaneously execute 2 threads (unlike hyperthreading which can handle 2 threads, but has only 1 set of integer pipelines, so it really only executes one thread at a time.)

We will not market modules, we will only market cores; modules are how the designers lay out the processor, but that will not be part of the marketing or naming.

 

[Fourstaff]

Modules contain two integer cores. Each integer core has its own integer pipeline, so they can simultaneously execute 2 threads (unlike hyperthreading which can handle 2 threads, but has only 1 set of integer pipelines, so it really only executes one thread at a time.)

We will not market modules, we will only market cores; modules are how the designers lay out the processor, but that will not be part of the marketing or naming.

So if I have 1 thread, then I can only use 1 integer pipeline?