AMD's Next Gen. Korona High-End Desktop Platform to Fuse Processor with Northbridge

[btarunr]

AMD's next generation high-end desktop platform codenamed "Korona", will fuse the processor silicon with the northbridge. Currently, the "Scorpius" platform which is partially launched, follows the slightly older platform layout of a processor with IMC, and a 2-chip chipset. The PCI-Express root complex is still in the chipset. Scorpius includes upcoming FX Series "Zambezi" processors, and AMD 9-series desktop chipset, with AM3+ socket. AMD has a parallel platform that caters to value-thru-mainstream segments, the "Lynx" platform, which has already transitioned to the 2-chip model in which the APU chip packs processor cores, an IMC, a PCI-Express root complex, and a GPU.



Korona platform, due for 2012, will consist of a new CPU architecture called "Piledriver", that succeeds the yet to be released "Bulldozer". Nothing else is known about Piledriver, except that the first high-end CPUs based on it will be codenamed "Komodo", and will pack 10 cores. Since this is a major platform layout rearrangement, Korona will introduce a new socket called FM2, it is quite logical to assume that the new socket will be incompatible with AM3+.

Korona combines Komodo CPUs with Hudson D4 Fusion Controller Hub (FCH), which is just a glorified southbridge, much like the A75 chipset and Intel's Platform Controller Hub (PCH). The Hudson D4 packs no less than 8 SATA 6 Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 support; an integrated USB 3.0 controller with 4 ports, and 10 USB 2.0 ports.

Given the particulars of this platform, we speculate that Komodo will be designed to be competitive with Intel's Ivy Bridge LGA1155 processors, or maybe even Sandy Bridge-E, if only we know the number of DDR3 memory channels Komodo will have. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't wait for Zambezi, "2012" is a vague date. For all you know, Korona could even be released by the very end of 2012.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[cheesy999]

The Hudson D4 packs no less than 8 SATA 6 Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 support; an integrated USB 3.0 controller with 4 ports, and 10 USB 2.0 ports.

, that's a lot of ports

 

[twicksisted]

Korona platform, due for 2012, will consist of a new CPU architecture called "Piledriver"

 

[seronx]

http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/an/anusol-ointment-25g.jpg

The move:

The Actual machine:

 

[xaira]

so am3+ will only last 1 year? that sucks, and im guessing by the name FM2 that amd will be transitioning to fusion only from top to bottom of the lineup, quite interesting, hope piledriver isnt just a bulldozer die shrink

 

[seronx]

so am3+ will only last 1 year? that sucks, and im guessing by the name FM2 that amd will be transitioning to fusion only from top to bottom of the lineup, quite interesting, hope piledriver isnt just a bulldozer die shrink

Piledriver is an improvement on Bulldozer

Most likely getting rid of the Vertical Multithreading on the Front End for something of a Horizontal Multithreading nature

• Increasing the IPC
  
• Increasing the Pipeline length
  
• Other various small details like reducing latencies and such

and yes I know Piledriver already....it is in the K15h Software Optimization guide

 

[cheesy999]

if only we knew the number of DDR3 memory channels Komodo will have

fixed

 

[seronx]

fixed

It might be a quad-channel or might be a dual-channel
It will have 4 DIMMs for sure

and what I am talking about in the post above your post

Coarse-grain Multithreading(VMT)
(This guy who makes these drawings help me find out how Bulldozer has a high ipc)

 

[NC37]

Well, nice job AMD...now I know for sure I'll try to coax another year out of my old AM2. Not gonna upgrade to AM3+ if its not going to have any upgrade path. Already did that once with 939, not going to do it again.

Guess this isn't the best sign for their Bulldozer series. Too early to rename it the Stopgap series?

 

[HossHuge]

Could it be that they are going to start rolling out new chips at a faster rate?

 

[Frick]

Well, nice job AMD...now I know for sure I'll try to coax another year out of my old AM2. Not gonna upgrade to AM3+ if its not going to have any upgrade path. Already did that once with 939, not going to do it again.

Guess this isn't the best sign for their Bulldozer series. Too early to rename it the Stopgap series?

939 lasted pretty long though.

 

[seronx]

Could it be that they are going to start rolling out new chips at a faster rate?

Yep

Zambezi(Bulldozer)((2011)) -> Komodo(Piledriver)((2012)) -> "Unknown"(Roadheader)((2013)) -> "Unknown"(Auger)((2014))
Llano(Hound/Stars)((2011)) -> Trinity(Piledriver)((2012)) -> "Unknown"(Roadheader)((2013)) -> "Unknown"(Auger)((2014))

I used Roadheader and Auger for easy referencing(Those aren't the real names, lol)

32nm SOI HKMG -> 32nm SOI HKMG -> 22nm Tri-gate FD-SOI -> 22nm Tri-gate FD-SOI

My source for Tri-gate FD-SOI:
http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3080111/AMD+Joins+TripleGate+Race.htm

They plan to gain to 80% of the CPU/APU Market Share (Server,Desktop,Labtop,Tablet) by 2014
(With this blitzkrieg of products)

 

[mdbrotha03]

So where would AMD get their X86 license from.

 

[erek]

So where would AMD get their X86 license from.

Intel

 

[NC37]

939 lasted pretty long though.

Yeah, I guess your right. I came in towards the end of it I think. Used my old Barton as long as possible. Thought 939 would go a bit longer. Really seemed like 939 was going to be the go to socket for awhile like AM2 turned out to be and then a short time after I got that setup, AM2 was announced and I kicked myself. Thankfully that board died and I got into AM2. Liked AM2-AM3. No spending extra over and over for RAM or new boards, just kept on dropping in new and things would work.

 

[Frick]

Intel

seronx said "buy buy Intel" before he edited it out and I assume that was what mdbrotha was refering to.

Intel will not go anywhere, but if what seronx said is true we have some interesting times ahead of us.

 

[seronx]

seronx said "buy buy Intel" before he edited it out and I assume that was what mdbrotha was refering to.

Intel will not go anywhere, but if what seronx said is true we have some interesting times ahead of us.

We are at the point where x86 IPC can't increase anymore, so single thread performance is not really thought upon but is improved on regardless

"Bulldozer" is the first step at getting the core count headstart

"Piledriver" is the backstep and makes sure AMD has a headstart

Unofficial names: (Seronx made these up (All product names move dirt in someway)

"Roadheader" is the first step at getting the fab process headstart

"Auger" is the backstep and makes sure AMD has a headstart

I call it the Tick -> CLUCK?! cycle
(Don't you guys call what AMD does, that as well, look at Phenom -> Phenom II and K7 -> K8)

8 cores(16 cores MCM) -> 10 cores(20 cores MCM) -> 16 cores(32 cores MCM) -> 20 cores(40 cores MCM)(floating point is so going to be huge by this AVX2 1024bits oh jeez)
Totally see it happening........
and it is all happening in a 4 year cycle....yeesh what happened to the keep your product for three years before the next upgrade....

And remember
Zambezi competes with LGA 2011
Komodo competes with LGA 2011

 

[repman244]

Zambezi competes with LGA 2011

If the $320 for top of the line Zambezi is true, it's competing against LGA 1155 IMO.

And also, some other interesting news: http://wccftech.com/amd-bulldozer-launch-september-official-8-core-fx-processors-arrive-q1-2012/

 

[Pijoto]

yeesh what happened to the keep your product for three years before the next upgrade....

It's a good thing PC games don't need all that much CPU resources these days... I'm betting that an eventual upgrade to an Athlon II X4 and a Radeon 7000 series card will carry me till 2014; that should be when the new consoles come out.

 

[Hotobu]

Roadheader? Screw that if it doesn't go Bulldozer, Piledriver, Wrecking Ball then AMD's failed me as a company.

As for the longevity of socket types I've never understood this complaint. If you're the type to upgrade your processor every 12 months then I guess that's understandable, but for everyone else that tends to keep their computers for at least 2 years isn't it expected that it's time to buy a new motherboard and memory as well?

It's a good thing PC games don't need all that much CPU resources these days... I'm betting that an eventual upgrade to an Athlon II X4 and a Radeon 7000 series card will carry me till 2014; that should be when the new consoles come out.

Change that to 2013 and 2500K and I'm inclined to agree.

 

[XoR]

@seronx
LGA2011?
first Bulldozer have to prove it can beat Nehalem

 

[ensabrenoir]

mooorrrtaaalllll cooommbbbaaaatttt!!!!

Bull dozer pile driver its like amd and intel are playing mortal combat or. Some sort of wrestling video game don't care what u call it until its released its all fictional

 

[AlienIsGOD]

next one should be called PowerBomb followed up by Sweet Chin Music

 

[ensabrenoir]

The move:
http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss110/glitchygoblin/Anime and Manga/1245821686912.jpg

The Actual machine:
http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00qBkaHwGWhcbU/Long-Screw-Pile-Driver-KLB32-800-.jpg

Shark seems pretty happy. Large slow moving machines..... yep perfect name 4 a cpu. Don't get sandy bridge either....

 

[link2009]

Wow, TPU comments have really gone down hill.

Every other thread you read involves some sort of sexual pun or other stupid inference. It's too bad people are so bored and feel the need to impress others instead of discussing the topic at hand. I remember why I stopped coming here, I don't know how I even remembered my account name.