AMD add triple-core processors to desktop CPU roadmap
Tuesday 18th September 2007, 12:00:00 AM, written by Rys
AMD is officially announcing that, following a couple of days of
out-in-the-open speculation, triple-core Phenom processors are being
added to its roadmap.
Based on its upcoming quad-core processor architecture (already released in Opteron form), the tri-core Phenom processors, presumably called Phenom X3, will see AMD fuse off one of the quad cores at packaging time to create the triple-core chip.
The initial Socket AM2+ tri-core processors will be identical in specification (bar the loss of a core of course) to Phenom X4s, including 512KiB L2 per core, the same 2MiB shared L3 cache, split power planes, architecture enhancements to processing resources, memory controller and all the other quad-core goodness inherent to Agena. Of course, since AMD is looking at an Agena with one core disabled for its triple-core Phenom, this doesn't bode particularly well for the yields of the full quad-core variant. Plus, if they already know that Agena yields will be low enough to require a cut-down model, the battle against Penryn may be uglier for AMD than anyone anticipated. Then again, a three-core CPU could have been on the internal roadmap the entire time.
AMD believes a 3-core Phenom fits a gap in the market between dual- and quad-core processors from its own stable (and the Intel desktop processor lineup too, but don't tell that to the Q6600). The claim being made is that triple-core processors on the desktop will be unique to AMD, although there's no technical reason why a core-disabled tri-core Intel processor can't be created from their existing MCM quad-core processor designs. Of course, it's also worth asking why a quad-core chip with three cores enabled would be preferable to a chip that uses all four, but that's a question for another day.
AMD explain that the roadmap expansion is in response to customer demand for a more versatile, more unique product range for desktop processors, all driven from a consumer demand for more processor cores to enhance their user experience. AMD make mention of their own megatasking push with 2-socket dual-core AMD Athlon FX, but also the general multitasking modern PC desktop, where software is more pervasively multithreaded and the user has a reasonable workload and wants a responsive system regardless of what they're doing.
AMD mention three cores should be no less efficient than two or four at multithreaded workloads, and with the first triple-core processors on the roadmap sharing the same cache setup and hierarchy as Agena quad-core offerings, there's not technical reason why it shouldn't. Modern OS kernels and thread schedulers that support multi-core x86 don't make assumptions about there being even or power-of-two number of processor cores available, so there shouldn't be any software hiccup on the OS side. On the application programming side that may be more of a concern, but well-written multithreaded applications should show reasonable performance improvements over their dual-core brethren.
AMD talk about the Xbox 360 being a proven, popular triple-core consumer device, so there's already precedent for launching a 3-core processor with consumers, so there's confidence in buying already. It says it's also one which is tasked with running much the same application codes as a desktop x86 processor, despite the main CPU having a completely different architecture. AMD is a little remiss in talking about triple-core x86 being an easier port target for Xbox 360 games than other multi-core processors on the PC, for a number of reasons, though (not least because the 360's CPU is a PowerPC chip from IBM).
It talked about 3DMark 2006 being an example of a multimedia-focused multi-core aware application on the PC, where the triple-core benefit would be clear. Huh.
Regardless of the software slip-ups when talking about Phenom X3, it should be a unique offering for desktop PC consumers, slipping into an adjusted pricing structure between Phenom X2 and Phenom X4, and also slipping into the exact same mainboards that support those two processor families too.
It's likely that notebook triple-core will make an appearance somewhere along the line, too, since one less core being enabled -- especially if it can electrically isolated from the others in the parent native quad-core design -- could be a power-efficient multi-core processor for mobile designs.
The AMD desktop CPU roadmap also talks about 45nm triple-core CPUs with no shared L3 cache level, supporting DDR3, to come in 2009. Those processors would share technology with AMD Regor 45nm quad-core on Socket AM3.
So if you're one of those multitasking, digital media-using, gaming-heavy users that AMD identifies as being a natural Phenom multi-core customer, Phenom X3 might well fit your budget. Prices should be nicely competitive on launch in Q1 2008. There's a tiny chance that AMD could pull in the X3 launch to December, when Phenom X4 is set to launch, but don't hold your breath.
Check out the press release for extras.
Based on its upcoming quad-core processor architecture (already released in Opteron form), the tri-core Phenom processors, presumably called Phenom X3, will see AMD fuse off one of the quad cores at packaging time to create the triple-core chip.
The initial Socket AM2+ tri-core processors will be identical in specification (bar the loss of a core of course) to Phenom X4s, including 512KiB L2 per core, the same 2MiB shared L3 cache, split power planes, architecture enhancements to processing resources, memory controller and all the other quad-core goodness inherent to Agena. Of course, since AMD is looking at an Agena with one core disabled for its triple-core Phenom, this doesn't bode particularly well for the yields of the full quad-core variant. Plus, if they already know that Agena yields will be low enough to require a cut-down model, the battle against Penryn may be uglier for AMD than anyone anticipated. Then again, a three-core CPU could have been on the internal roadmap the entire time.
AMD believes a 3-core Phenom fits a gap in the market between dual- and quad-core processors from its own stable (and the Intel desktop processor lineup too, but don't tell that to the Q6600). The claim being made is that triple-core processors on the desktop will be unique to AMD, although there's no technical reason why a core-disabled tri-core Intel processor can't be created from their existing MCM quad-core processor designs. Of course, it's also worth asking why a quad-core chip with three cores enabled would be preferable to a chip that uses all four, but that's a question for another day.
AMD explain that the roadmap expansion is in response to customer demand for a more versatile, more unique product range for desktop processors, all driven from a consumer demand for more processor cores to enhance their user experience. AMD make mention of their own megatasking push with 2-socket dual-core AMD Athlon FX, but also the general multitasking modern PC desktop, where software is more pervasively multithreaded and the user has a reasonable workload and wants a responsive system regardless of what they're doing.
AMD mention three cores should be no less efficient than two or four at multithreaded workloads, and with the first triple-core processors on the roadmap sharing the same cache setup and hierarchy as Agena quad-core offerings, there's not technical reason why it shouldn't. Modern OS kernels and thread schedulers that support multi-core x86 don't make assumptions about there being even or power-of-two number of processor cores available, so there shouldn't be any software hiccup on the OS side. On the application programming side that may be more of a concern, but well-written multithreaded applications should show reasonable performance improvements over their dual-core brethren.
AMD talk about the Xbox 360 being a proven, popular triple-core consumer device, so there's already precedent for launching a 3-core processor with consumers, so there's confidence in buying already. It says it's also one which is tasked with running much the same application codes as a desktop x86 processor, despite the main CPU having a completely different architecture. AMD is a little remiss in talking about triple-core x86 being an easier port target for Xbox 360 games than other multi-core processors on the PC, for a number of reasons, though (not least because the 360's CPU is a PowerPC chip from IBM).
It talked about 3DMark 2006 being an example of a multimedia-focused multi-core aware application on the PC, where the triple-core benefit would be clear. Huh.
Regardless of the software slip-ups when talking about Phenom X3, it should be a unique offering for desktop PC consumers, slipping into an adjusted pricing structure between Phenom X2 and Phenom X4, and also slipping into the exact same mainboards that support those two processor families too.
It's likely that notebook triple-core will make an appearance somewhere along the line, too, since one less core being enabled -- especially if it can electrically isolated from the others in the parent native quad-core design -- could be a power-efficient multi-core processor for mobile designs.
The AMD desktop CPU roadmap also talks about 45nm triple-core CPUs with no shared L3 cache level, supporting DDR3, to come in 2009. Those processors would share technology with AMD Regor 45nm quad-core on Socket AM3.
So if you're one of those multitasking, digital media-using, gaming-heavy users that AMD identifies as being a natural Phenom multi-core customer, Phenom X3 might well fit your budget. Prices should be nicely competitive on launch in Q1 2008. There's a tiny chance that AMD could pull in the X3 launch to December, when Phenom X4 is set to launch, but don't hold your breath.
Check out the press release for extras.
Tagging
amd ± phenom, x3, triple, core, processor, desktop, multitasking
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