AMD Adds Multi-Core Triple Threat to Desktop Roadmap

[malware]

Delivering a multi-core triple threat, AMD today announced the addition of AMD Phenom triple-core processors to its desktop roadmap. AMD Phenom triple-core processors, expected to be the world's first PC processors to integrate three computational cores on a single die of silicon, can help deliver the visual experience, performance and multitasking capabilities of true multi-core technology to a broader audience. Offering state-of-the-art platforms and a next-generation architecture with expected availability in Q1 2008, the industry's only x-86 triple-core desktop processor shows why AMD's the smarter choice, with its expanded portfolio for customers to offer platforms with unique multi-core options. AMD Phenom quad-core processors remain on schedule to ship in 2007.


"With our advanced multi-core architecture, AMD is in a unique position to enable a wider range of premium desktop solutions, providing a smarter choice for customers and end users," said Greg White, vice president and general manager, Desktop Division, AMD. "This innovation is a direct result of our development of the industry's first true, native quad-core design, coupled with AMD's manufacturing flexibility, to create multi-core processors in two, three, and four computational core configurations on a single die of silicon. As a customer-centric company, AMD is committed to working with our OEMs to deliver compelling value propositions across their multi-core product families with capabilities that address their requirements and aspirations."

AMD Phenom processors with three cores are a response to demand for increased performance delivered by multi-core processors when running state-of-the-art applications. According to Mercury Research, quad-core processors represented less than two percent of desktop shipments in Q2 2007. AMD believes this suggests a need for a wider selection of multi-core solutions. Triple-core AMD processors may stimulate broader multi-core adoption with a product family that scales to more points-of-entry for the customer.

"Microsoft is excited to see AMD creating new technologies like the AMD Phenom triple-core processors," said Bill Mitchell, corporate vice president of the Windows Hardware Ecosystem at Microsoft Corp. "We see potential for power and performance improvements through triple-core processing in the industry and are exploring with AMD the possibility of taking advantage of this in the Microsoft family of products."

The true multi-core design of the upcoming AMD Phenom processor family of products, based on Direct Connect Architecture, features an integrated memory controller, accelerating performance for productivity, content creation, entertainment, and gaming. In addition, this next-generation architecture includes AMD's Balanced Smart Cache for rapid access to memory, with a shared L3 cache for leading-edge performance on multi-threaded software. With HyperTransport 3.0 and up to 16 GB/second of high bandwidth I/O, upcoming AMD Phenom processors are designed for the ultimate visual experience with amazing HD video and gaming resolutions, as well as high-speed disk and network interfaces. In addition, Cool'n'Quiet 2.0 technology enables independent frequency adjustments to each processor core, and the HyperTransport bus and memory controller for a cooler and quieter PC.

AMD Phenom triple-core processors are expected to deliver increased performance for multitasking usage models and multi-threaded applications, aligned with similar benefits available with the upcoming AMD Phenom quad-core processors. In addition, triple-core processors from AMD can provide significant performance advantages over similar dual-core AMD processors in key industry standard benchmarks, including SYSmark 2007 and 3DMark 2006, as well as similar quad-core AMD processors in certain gaming and digital content creation scenarios.

"A continued commitment to elegant design and innovative processor architecture is instrumental to revolutionizing the technology industry," said Richard Shim, research manager for IDC's Personal Computing program. "The advent of triple-core processors is a valuable market opportunity for customers to deliver compelling solutions to end-users and further differentiate themselves within the desktop PC market."

For free video content highlighting AMD Phenom triple-core processors, please log onto http://www.thenewsmarket.com/amd to preview and request video. You can receive broadcast-standard video digitally or by tape from this site. Registration and video is free to the media.

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[mcloughj]

Heh... i read this in the inquirer yesterday and thought they were kidding! I'm not sure what to make of this in reality!
Could be a nice cheap way of getting some Phenom action!

 

[Wile E]

Hmmmm, interesting. Pricing will surely be the determining factor in it's success. If it carries too much of a premium over a dual core, it will surely flop. After all, who would buy a 3-core, when a 4-core would only be a few dollars more?

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

what a load o' marketing BS, nice try tho AMD.

 

[DaMulta]

What will be cool is to see another 3600+ under the 100USD price tag, BUT with 3 cores instead of 2.

All of Intel's lower CPUs will be 2 core not 3. So when you overclock a lower priced CPU 2 core Vs 3 core which do you think will be better?

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

we both know the answer but i think a core based pentium would still put up a fight ..

 

[effmaster]

“Microsoft is excited to see AMD creating new technologies like the AMD Phenom triple-core processors,” said Bill Mitchell, corporate vice president of the Windows Hardware Ecosystem at Microsoft Corp. “We see potential for power and performance improvements through triple-core processing in the industry and are exploring with AMD the possibility of taking advantage of this in the Microsoft family of products.”



Source: AMD

Microsoft prefers AMD over Intel so this says alot about Microsoft helping to support the little dog (AMD) against the big dog (Intel). Could this be why when I rip a CD on my dual core Intel laptop that both my cores aren't running at 100%?

 

[devguy]

Microsoft prefers AMD over Intel so this says alot about Microsoft helping to support the little dog (AMD) against the big dog (Intel). Could this be why when I rip a CD on my dual core Intel laptop that both my cores aren't running at 100%?

WTF are you talking about?

A dual core laptop isn't going to use 100% of both cores while ripping a cd unless you are doing something in the background. Even then, ripping a CD is less of a cpu task and more of a strain on the HDD and CD-RW and I/O busses.

 

[effmaster]

WTF are you talking about?

A dual core laptop isn't going to use 100% of both cores while ripping a cd unless you are doing something in the background. Even then, ripping a CD is less of a cpu task and more of a strain on the HDD and CD-RW and I/O busses.

idk what im talking about

Thats what im talking about

 

[15th Warlock]

WTF? AMD is promoting this as the second coming... There's been quad core processors available for a long time so what the hell makes a triple core so special??

 

[KennyT772]

The fact its a single die, ie less heat and surface area to cool. Intel has no quadcore chips, just two chips on one pcb. Triplecore dies are the next logical step as now we have to fit three cores onto the same physical area as two. If we can fit three in the area of two, theres a performance increase per watt. Seeing how AMD has large single die quadcores now this is kind of pointless but its all for the progression of technology.

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

WTF? AMD is promoting this as the second coming... There's been quad core processors available for a long time so what the hell makes a triple core so special??

its like getting an award for being a three legged dog ...

 

[d44ve]

its like getting an award for being a three legged dog ...

Is that like a one legged man in a ass kicking contest?

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

Is that like a one legged man in a ass kicking contest?

he's in there alright .... but he's getting pwned

 

[WarEagleAU]

I actually think its nice. I mean you could then get 6 cores on one die as opposed to 4 that AMD has now.

 

[effmaster]

what the hell makes a triple core so special??

Uh the 360 has 3 cores that run like 6 cores with 2 threads per core

 

[panchoman]

The fact its a single die, ie less heat and surface area to cool. Intel has no quadcore chips, just two chips on one pcb. Triplecore dies are the next logical step as now we have to fit three cores onto the same physical area as two. If we can fit three in the area of two, theres a performance increase per watt. Seeing how AMD has large single die quadcores now this is kind of pointless but its all for the progression of technology.

agreed, and the fact that amd had microsoft on its side, intel is being threatened.

 

[p_o_s_pc]

I would like to have a triple core more power than dual core lower price and lower power than quad

 

[erocker]

AMD should just drop thier dual-cores all together and sell these at thier price-point. If these things have good performance compared to Intel, why wouln't you want to go with AMD? Plus the fact that AMD can just throw 3 cpu's on one die is great too. Basically AMD can put any amount of cores onto a chip. Imagine 2 quads with 1 disabled core for each in one package. 6 cores! You can choose how many cores you want, along with power usage etc.. It's a good thing they have I hope they use and market it correctly.

 

[HAL7000]

Maybe this is AMD's response to Intels higher L2 cache processors. Sounds good to me......something new to try when released.

 

[15th Warlock]

Uh the 360 has 3 cores that run like 6 cores with 2 threads per core

That has not much to do with current PC hardware and market trends, even though the 360 use a highly specialized proc based on power pc architecture for the Xenos, its main purpose is console gaming, I don't see any advantage from implementing this to PC hardware.

The more reason to make this even less special. AMD never implemented multi-threading into their core logic, and what diference will a 6 core 4x4 setup do with intel's V8 and 8 core procs just around the corner...

What i think is that AMD had a surplus of quad core procs with one defective core, and they just disabled that defective core and now use lame PR to sell these procs to the masses.

 

[devguy]

What i think is that AMD had a surplus of quad core procs with one defective core, and they just disabled that defective core and now use lame PR to sell these procs to the masses.

Isn't that what AMD needs right now? PR? Whether lame or not, they need some sort of PR, hopefully advertising. I see an Intel commercial every couple of hours when watching TV. I haven't seen any AMD commercials.

 

[Wile E]

I honestly don't see why people think this is a bad thing. If the price is right, who cares if it's just from a bad quad yield? I mean, if you can get a 3 core, for just a couple dollars more than a 2 core, why wouldn't you.

For this to succeed, it has to be priced closer to the duals, than the quads. If that were the case, I'd consider one.

 

[effmaster]

Just a little factoid : does anybody remember hearing about this:http://www.realmmedia.com/next_gen_..._cell_processor_hard_to_produce_says_ibm.html

 

[HAL7000]

I honestly don't see why people think this is a bad thing. If the price is right, who cares if it's just from a bad quad yield? I mean, if you can get a 3 core, for just a couple dollars more than a 2 core, why wouldn't you.

For this to succeed, it has to be priced closer to the duals, than the quads. If that were the case, I'd consider one.

I agree with you concerning this marketing ploy. If they turn out to be really decent performers I will pick one up and try it out, as long as the price is right.
AMD is in my opinion will go after the middle to low end of the market for now. Then when they finally have their heavy hitting hardware, regain momentum and charge after the higher end of the market.
I usually get a bit frustrated with AMD not advertising but to gain the market share they are targeting word of mouth isn't enough,,,,it is time to put out the prime time commercials and in the states...old time marketing...using billboards at the very least.

Sometimes keeping it simple proves to gain more ground than complicating the simple task or explanation.