AMD Plans Extremely Rapid Transition to New Micro-Architectures, Process Technology. ( Bulldozer )

XBitLabs ^ | [02/11/2011 10:38 AM] | Anton Shilov

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Advanced Micro Devices seems to be planning extremely rapid transition of its desktop microprocessors to 32nm silicon-on-insulator fabrication process, a person with knowledge of the matter said. By the second quarter of 2012 virtually all AMD processors will be made using 32nm SOI technology and be based on new designs.

At present the absolute majority of desktop microprocessors shipped by Advanced Micro Devices are AMD Athlon II and AMD Phenom II chips in AM3 form-factor. But already in a little bit more than a year from now all the desktop chips that AMD will sell will be made using 32nm SOI process technology and will rely on code-named Bulldozer, Brazos and Llano designs, the source indicated.

Approximately 20% of AMD's desktop microprocessors in Q2 2012 will be in AM3+ form-factor and will belong to the FX family of chips, which is based on Bulldozer micro-architecture. About 10% of desktop chips will come in FT1 ball-grid-array form-factor and will therefore be based on Brazos design. The remaining 70% will be Llano accelerated processing units with two or four x86 cores as well as a Radeon HD 6000-class graphics engine in  FM1 form-factor.

It is remarkable that after a number of delays AMD seems to have rather ambitious plans for the 32nm ramp. By contrast, it usually takes years for Intel Corp., the much larger rival of AMD, to transit to one micro-architecture to another or from one technology process for another.

AMD did not comment on the news-story.

[stylin19a]

AMD talked about this back in November

Our 32nm is healthy and it is ramping up to support our product launches next year," said Chekib Akrout, senior vice president of technology group at AMD, during the company's conference with financial analysts.

As previously reported, AMD currently promises its partners to start mass production of its eight-core code-named Zambezi processor for desktops using 32nm SOI fabrication process in April, 2011. The chip will be not only AMD's first central processing unit made using 32nm SOI at Globalfoundries, but it will be the first processor based on the highly-anticipated Bulldozer micro-architecture. The Zambezi product will be released to market in Q2, according to Mr. Akrout, whereas its server brethren will see the light of the day in Q3 2011.

[bmwcyle]

bttt

[Tainan]

A question:
Is/Are there good solid reasons for choosing an AMD system over an Intel system?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Yes,...at the moment ...it seems everytime Intel comes out with a new processor you must buy a new Motherboard....

AMD has been kinder with that requirement.

Translates into dollars saved....

At the moment Intels top end...pricey stuff...but it does run faster however

But the AMD stuff runs well for me.

I am not a Gamer.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

What are your requirements for computing.?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well...you are where the motherboards are made...somewhere on that island...although some of that has moved to China itself.

Adding to my comments...if you require a mobile solution then I think AMD has a leg up on Intel with the new Brazos processor....which is architectually called the Bobcat architecture and is new ...shares much with the BullDozer architecture...and has an excellent Graphics processor integrated on the processor chip....

AMD has a review:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4023/the-brazos-performance-preview-amd-e350-benchmarked>The Brazos Performance Preview: AMD E-350 Benchmarked

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

[Tainan]

Thanks for your replies Ern.
I am not a gamer either. My needs are pretty basic. I value longevity and function. Speed is nice, but that seems to be a benefit of the new technology. I have home units and a lap top for travel. Both are Intel based. And both, especially my home units, are pretty long in the tooth.
As to "being here"...let me clue you in...computer thingys here are not only more expensive, but purchase availability is behind the curve compared to the U.S.A. Strange, but true.
Now interweb access is another matter - cheap, fast and widely available. Same for cell phones and coverage.

I'll keep an eye on this thread and Thanks again.

[Tainan]

Oh, another side-note:
Heat is a big big problem here. Huge aftermarket for coolers, fans, and other interesting devices to dissipate heat.
I run 3 fans in each box and have a floor standing fan blowing on my home boxes. Even a/c in the summer still requires this.

And dust...airborne dust...this place is terrible for dust.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I have a oily dust problem here in the South Bay area of Los Angeles...actually down wind from the oil refineries just north of Long Beach.

The Old stuff does run hot and the new AMD chips run much cooler....

Running right now on an AMD PhenomII 555 black processor.

MoBo is MSI 770 AM3 and I have the memory running at 2000...and processor running at 3.5 I think.

Fire it up in the morning and it goes till late in the evening...haven't seen it over 40C.

The older Athlon stuff was a headache trying to keep cool.

I also have a Thuban on an Asus 880 board overclocked with the board doing it automagically at 3.7 Gigahertz...and it runs about the same temps.

But I have a Zalman fan on it and is quite a bit louder so I use the 555 most of the time.

For moderate browsing...not much difference between them...

OS is Linux mint 10....which is great...no concerns about viruses and all of that crapola

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Just out at Anandtech:

Budget System Builder’s Guide February 2011

[Tainan]

Thanks for the link. I’m learning...I’m learning.