AMD Announces 2014-2016 Roadmap – 20nm Project SkyBridge and K12 ... ARM ...

wccftech.com ^ | Posted 30 minutes ago | by Hassan Mujtaba

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AMD has just announced their Opteron roadmap for 2014-2016 at the Core Innovation conference which unveils the upcoming Project Skybridge and K12 architecture based family of APUs and SOCs. The new roadmap reveals the ambidextrous design framework which brings computing to several form factors in the dense server market.

AMD Announces 2014-2016 Roadmap – 20nm Project SkyBridge

The Project Skybridge is AMD’s next generation ambidextrous computing architecture that allows x86 Cores and ARM cores to be pin-to-pin compatible allowing the motherboard to run off both SOCs and APUs. The Project Sky-Bridge will feature the new family of APUs and SOCs based on the low-power 20nm Cortex A57 cores with AMD’s GCN core architecture. In simple terms, the Project SkyBridge will allow these low-power ARM based SOCs to run on the same motherboards as the x86 low-power SOCs which will feature AMD’s upcoming Puma+ cores which were recently introduced as a part of the AMD Mullins and Beema APUs. Theses ARM SOCs will also be among the first to feature full support for Android OS platform which AMD hasn’t achieved till now. So this could mean that AMD will soon entering the mobile sector as technology becomes more favorable for the small form factor based products.

The Project SkyBridge APUs and SOCs will be designed with full support for HSA (Heterogeneous System Architecture) in mind and will be available starting in 2015 with families based on both 20nm APUs and SOCs with pin compatible x86/ARM compute. These chips will be developed for several applications such as Dense Server, Embedded, Semi-Custom and Ultra-Low Power Client platforms.

AMD Announces Exclusively Developed K12 ARM Core

Moving in 2016, AMD would unveil their next generation K12 ARM Core which will be exclusively developed by AMD for AMD and feature the latest 64-bit ARM cores elevating 64-bit ARM performance to new levels. These K12 ARM APUs/SOCs will be developed alongside new 64-bit x86 Cores from AMD for their current non-ARM APU lineup.

“We have the world’s best graphics. We know how to do high-frequency designs; we know how to do high-efficiency designs … We can extend the range that ARM’s in – that’s a nice play for us” Jim Keller, AMD

This new ARMv8 CPU core which has been codenamed K12 is being developed under the leadership of chip guru Jim Keller. In an earlier report, Lisa Su (SVP and General Manager of Global Business Units) did mention that they will be going 20nm in 2015 and FinFET after that so its pretty clear that AMD’s K12 core would be based on a 16/ 14nm FinFET process.

Lisa Su – SVP and General Manager of Global Business Units

Sure, Chris. So let me take that and give you a little bit of our thinking.

So in terms of product and technology selection, certainly we need to be at the leading-edge of the technology roadmap. So what we’ve said in the past is certainly this year all of our products are in 28-nanometer across both, you know, graphics client and our semi-custom business. We are, you know, actively in the design phase for 20-nanometer and that will come to production. And then clearly we’ll go to FinFET. So that would be the progression of it.

The ARM K12 Cores would be targeted towards server, embedded and semi-custom markets so its clear that AMD is once again looking for the dense market to make an approach for the new APUs/SOCs.

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AMD K12′s x86 Counterpart Also Under-Development

In addition to the K12 which is solely a 64-bit ARM core designed by AMD, the company is also developing a x86 variant of the 64-bit core that would be built from the ground up. AMD’s top chip architect, Jim Keller revealed this during the press conference however no timeframe or codename for the product were revealed. The core’s expected to launch in 2016-2017.

AMD Opteron Seattle / Toronto and Cambridge APUs and CPUs Detailed

Several details of the upcoming server-aimed chips were leaked prior to the conference which showed that the Toronto APU which is the closest thing we have detailing the specifications of AMD’s 2015 APU codenamed Carrizo. AMD’s Carrizo APU have been detailed by us on several occasions and this confirms most of the information we have been detailing for the past few months. Toronto APU, just like the Berlin APU before it would provide us the details of the specifications AMD’s consumer APU would feature that is codenamed Carrizo.

Powering the CPU side are four x86 Excavator modular cores which leverage the IPC for greater performance compared to Steamroller. The exact percentages are not known at this point by the improvement is rumored to be around 30% which is phenomenal for a new architecture from AMD. Ofcourse we still don’t know that what process the Excavator architecture is based on but previous reports point out to 20nm. On the GPU side, we have the Volcanic Islands core which is a great plus point for this level of APU.

You should keep in mind that the Volcanic Islands graphics isn’t the codename for AMD’s Radeon R200 lineup but infact used to denote their flagship Hawaii based chips. This is a key hint that AMD’s next generation flagship parts would have the same improved GCN 2.0 architecture currently fused only inside the Hawaii chips which feature true AMD Mantle, AMD TrueAudio and AMD OpenCL optimizations. Another plus is that AMD would be shipping Carrizo with both DDR3 and DDR4 memory support so its highly possible that Carrizo would feature support on FM2+ boards with DDR3 memory and also a new socket that would allow DDR4 memory support. Both Toronto and Carrizo APU would share this foundation plus featuring support for PCI-Express 3.0 and HSA.

The Toronto APU and CPU variants would be available in BGA and SOC variants where the SOC variants would have the southbridge planted on the APU die itself. This saves both power and space and optimizes workload offering a more coherent architecture approach which AMD’s HSA is all about. It was said during the AMD presentation that a complete system with the Toronto APU would have a max power usage of 70W.

On the low-end side, we have Seattle CPU powering the 1P clusters with 4-8 ARM Cortex A57 cores and DDR3/4 memory support and Cambridge CPU replacing it in 2015 with 64-bit ARM cores. These are some good additions to the lienup but AMD still needs a true high-end desktop platform to replace their much outdated Vishera CPUs which unfortunately isn’t going to happen in the near future.

AMD’s ambidextrous computing roadmap includes:

• “Project SkyBridge” – This design framework, available starting in 2015, will feature a new family of 20 nanometer APUs and SoCs that are expected to be the world’s first pin-compatible ARM and x86 processors. The 64-bit ARM variant of “Project SkyBridge” will be based on the ARM Cortex-A57 core and is AMD’s first Heterogeneous System Architecture (“HSA”) platform for Android; the x86 variant will feature next-generation “Puma+” CPU cores. The “Project SkyBridge” family will feature full SoC integration, AMD Graphics Core Next technology, HSA, and AMD Secure Technology via a dedicated Platform Security Processor (PSP).
• “K12″ – A new high-performance, low-power ARM-based core that takes deep advantage of AMD’s ARM architectural license, extensive 64-bit design expertise, and a core development team led by Chief CPU Architect Jim Keller. The first products based on “K12″ are planned for introduction in 2016.

	AMD Trinity APU	AMD Richland APU	AMD Kaveri APU	AMD Berlin APU	AMD Carrizo APU	AMD Toronto APU
Target Market	Consumer	Consumer	Consumer	Server	Consumer	Server
Core Architecture	x86 Piledriver	x86 Piledriver	x86 Steamroller	x86 Steamroller	x86 Excavator	x86 Excavator
GPU Architecture	VLIW4	VLIW4	Sea Islands	Sea Islands	Volcanic Islands	Volcanic Islands
GPU Branding	Radeon HD 7000	Radeon HD 8000	Radeon R7 Series	Radeon R7 Series	Radeon R9 Series?	Radeon R9 Series?
Socket	FM2/FM2+	FM2/FM2+	FM2+	BGA	FM2+/FM3?	BGA/SOC
Chipset	A88X/A75	A88X/A78	A88X/A78	A88X/A78	SOC?	SOC
Memory / HSA Support	DDR3 / No	DDR3 / No	DDR3 / Yes	DDR3 / Yes	DDR3 / DDR4 / Yes	DDR3 / DDR4 / Yes
TDP	65/100W	45/65/100W	95/65W	95/65W	45/65W	45/65W
Launch	October 2012	June 2013	January 2014	2014	2015	2015

AMD 2014-2016 Opteron Core Innovations Slides:

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Full Title:

AMD Announces 2014-2016 Roadmap – 20nm Project SkyBridge and K12 64-bit ARM Cores For 2016

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See Web site for the Slides Mentioned.

[ShadowAce]

[puppypusher]

As an AMD user I wish that AMD would get to the point that they can meet or exceed anything that Intel is pumping out.

All of the major PC test site show that AMD is well behind the curve and that disappoints me to no end.

It’s getting to the point that I’m thinking of an upgrade using Intel I7 CPU’s.

[SunkenCiv]

ambidextrous — so *that’s* what AMD is an abbrev. for.

[Zenjitsuman]

I like the fact that the socket doesn’t change as much as Intel.

That Carrizo looks interesting, using the current socket and DDR3 memory. I have 32gb of the stuff in my Intel homebuild
box. I could transfer the memory and buy a high end AMD board.

I like the lower power TDP ratings.

I have been using discrete GPU cards, but not being a gamer
any GPU that supports my 2550x1600 27 in. screen I bought for photography is good enough.

One thing I would like to know is how many cpu’s and cores these chips have, and how big are the buffers and cache for each internal processor engines in it.

[dangerdoc]

After several generations of AMD cpu’s, my most recent computer uses an i7. I really like the performance.

[Zathras]

It is highly unlikely AMD could ever again pass Intel in desktop or high end notebooks.
They might have some traction on high end tablets and NUC like boxes.
Controlling costs below 22nm is the key to all semiconductor companies right now.

[Zenjitsuman]

We must be of the few who use these products, I have a 3280
Ivy Bridge I think its a socket 2011. 32gb, and I have it clocked a bit over spec.

I have an SSD and a couple of 1.5TB hard drives. But I need and have 11 fans to keep it cool.

It would be nice to have the power reduced and run cooler.

I also, built a home theatre pc using AMD, and an older intel I5 750 hooked up to a digital keyboard for piano lessons.

Everyone else in the family has laptops, I have an Ipad for travel.

I could see an upgrade to the Carrizo in 2015.

I see the processors moving to ARM for a decade now, of course there has to be support for Win 7 ultimate I run.

[miliantnutcase]

Guess I would like to know if they plan on actually building an architecture that can compete with I5 let alone I7 Haswell.

[dangerdoc]

I hope there is enough remaining market to drive high end CPU development but honestly, most of my time is spent and an ARM, I’m typing this on a three year old Asus Transformer and I always have my phone with me.

[miliantnutcase]

We must be of the few who use these products, I have a 3280 Ivy Bridge I think its a socket 2011. 32gb, and I have it clocked a bit over spec.

3280 is an AMD, you mean you have an i7 ivy bridge cpu? But yes, they do run hot.

[Zenjitsuman]

You guys like me are already running fast PC’s.

the Intel 3820 is a low level server chip, I overclock it plus it has the auto turbo mode. Have 32gb allows a 4gb rampage which is even faster than my 256gb ssd.

However I live in Las Vegas and during the 5 months of relentless heat I would like to run a chip that won’t get real warm. I sit in an 80 degree room which feels fine since there isn’t any humidity to make me perspire. The computer gets warm because I run a fast GPU card and all fast USB 3, and the latest fast SSD interfaces.

I don’t expect to see quicker operation, but cooler operation and lower power consumption would be the reason to upgrade.

I call my computer which is made out of a Fire Engine red polymer “Zorro Rojo” the Red Fox, it has a red fox head on its side.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Have not read thru all of this yet.

Link from the comments to Anandteh:

AMD is also working on a new 64-bit x86 Core
by Anand Lal Shimpi on May 5, 2014 1:16 PM EST

[Zenjitsuman]

I like Asus, most of my motherboars over the years are Asus.

I only bought the Ipad over your transformer because I could get a few apps at the time that were only available for Ipad.

I also use Asus GPU cards.

[fuzzylogic]

I’ve bought AMD in the past, never had a problem but the performance on the desktop with modern Intel CPU’s just isn’t close.

I’ve an Ubuntu machine using a 3rd gen i7 (3930k) - six core with hyperthreading (12 logical)....along with quad channel RAM - it screams.

[Zenjitsuman]

Thanks for the link

I don’t know if AMD will be using my 2+ MB but the Idea that they will never catch up with Intel as an Issue, someone addressed this well

“That’s OK. x86 performance increases have slowed to the point where it’s not as hard to catch up. AMD will reach performance parity with Intel sometime within the next 2 - 3 years because it will cost Intel more than the market can bear to stay ahead of AMD. It’s already costing more than the market can bear to significantly increase x86 speeds, which is why the x86 performance increase curve is flattening out (witness the stagnation in single core performance increases in the past 2 - 3 years)”

Slowing unit sales of the processors we use to build tower computers where interchangeable parts and performance parts
is most important to us and I agree has slowed down speedier cpu’s.

They gave us more cpu cores but the OS and Software usually doesn’t support them all being used.

Only Photoshop of consumer programs tries to utilize the extra cores.

[Zenjitsuman]

The 3280 also uses quad channel ram, I didn’t mention it because I didn’t think anyone else used it.

I also have a GPU that doubles to interface width for graphics.

I am sure that you and I won’t see much of a speed increase next box we build.

I have 30mbps download speeds, and that is where I would like the USA to catch up with the rest of the world.

We have a mighty far behind infrastructure compared to other nations. We should have all fiber to the home.

[killermosquito]

I sure don’t here much from Intel like I used to. For the longest time it seemed like there was only one CPU maker and Intel was it.

[Zenjitsuman]

That is because Intel dominates the market.

But, price performance AMD has always been the value.

I have lots of friends who weren’t so much interested in the fastest chips, just a fast enough cheaper setup that was reliable and AMD has let you build a decent computer for a lot less money.

I also, liked the Radian line of GPU and used them for years until Nvidia got to be a better deal. It didn’t matter Asus builds both GPU architectures.