josiahsuarez
11-02-09, 11:16 AM
http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2009/11/2/amds-next-gen-gpu-manhattan-and-northern-islands-use-32nm-process.aspx
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/josiahsuarez/AMD_Notebook_Roadmap_2010_1.jpg
Courtesy of Japanese hardware web portal ASCII.jp, we got our hands on two slides from confidential presentations concerning AMD's future hardware platforms and gained an insight how 2010-2011 is taking shape.
The information given on slides is somewhat controversial, because it contradicts with some of information we had before.
AMD Notebook Platform Roadmap for 2010 and 2011. Picture credit: ASCII.jp
AMD Notebook Platform Roadmap for 2010-2011 reveals 32nm GPU architectures: Manhattan and Northern Islands
These are official slides, thus we can confirm that AMD plans to launch two 32nm next-generation graphics architectures in 2010 and 2011. But, according to the leaked slides, desktop platform will stick with current 40nm Evergreen series throughout 2010 i.e. no desktop refresh. The only new GPU parts planned to debut are 32nm Manhattan ones, targeted to be a discrete option for mobile platforms in 2010. The reason for lack of desktop parts might lie in the conversation we had about GlobalFoundries implementing GPU production. According to that conversation, Manhattan might be that "trial run" for 32nm bulk process over at GlobalFoundries. We might be wrong on this one and see Manhattan coming out of TSMC as well - but again, we were told that GlobalFoundries will "get its feet wet on complex 32nm bulk silicon designs by using ATI discrete parts." Is GlobalFoundries only going to try to manufacture Manhattan and then prepare volume manufacturing with Northern Islands or Manhattan, remains to be seen. The decider for that is only one word - yield. GlobalFoundries beats TSMC's yields, and that's that. GlobalFoundries does not beat TSMC's yields - again, that's that.
Getting back on the subject, Manhattan is a discrete GPU option for Danube and Nile notebook platforms, paired with quad-core Champlain and dual-core Geneva processors. By default, Danube and Nile notebooks support DirectX 10.1 API courtesy of RS880 Chipset [integrated Radeon 4000 series], and if you want DirectX 11.0 support - adopt one of three Manhattan GPUs in the works: Park, Madison and Broadway. Yes, we are talking about 32nm die-shrinks of current Evergreen architecture. It seems to us that after the TSMC's 40nm fiasco resulting in problematic availability of both RV740 [Radeon 4770] and Evergreen parts [Radeon 5700, 5800 series], AMD is taking a page from nVidia's book of "Manufacturing conservatism" and first working on shrinking the Evergreen into 32nm process node first, and then moving on to use of 32nm with next generation GPUs.
Given that nVidia's NV70/GF100/GT300/Fermi [seriously guys, how many codenames per generation?] has its 32nm die-shrink in the works as well, 2010 is looking to institute Intel's famous Tick-Tock cadence into the world of GPUs, for both AMD and nVidia [nVidia already has the cadence in place with NV50/G80-NV55/G92b, NV60/GT200 and NV65/GT206/GT200b]: new architecture, old/tried manufacturing process, followed by a die-shrink.
The only problem we see with Manhattan will be the branding - ideally, these 32nm parts should fit "inside" 5000 series, unless AMD resorts to using the 6000 series [reserved for DirectX 11.1] for Manhattan parts and pushes Northern Islands to 7000. Then again, that would result in the same renaming hell as nVidia one - we hope that AMD will play it smarter.
AMD Desktop Platform roadmap 2010-2011: M-SPACE CPUs [Bulldozer], Northern Islands in 2011 - but Evergreen throughout 2010, no 32nm die-shrink planned for desktop
AMD Desktop Roadmap reveals the biggest surprise: No plans for 32nm Manhattan die-shrink on desktops
Getting into 2011, AMD plans to debut Northern Islands, their true next-generation part. This is the part that is being designed with DirectX 11.1 specification in mind [according to sources inside AMD, Evergreen also supports 11.1 specification. Upon our insisting, we were told that is not entirely true - DX11.1 is not finalized and they cannot be sure if Evergreen will support 11.1 or will fall short]. The DirectX 11.1 is currently being worked upon, and among our sources, it is widely expected to debut in the winter of 2010, with hardware following either in late 2010 or early 2011. According to information at hand, we are talking about a brand new architecture which follows the prolonged cadence between new architectures [R600 - RV770: May 2007-July 2008, RV770-Evergreen: July 2008 - September 2009, Evergreen-Northern Islands: September 2009-February 2011?].
Unlike Manhattan, Northern Islands is set to debut on both AMD desktop and notebook platforms, and this is the architecture that is going to end up inside AMD's first and second generation of Fusion processors. Now, when it comes to Fusion, the situation is getting quite complicated. Originally, Fusion CPU+GPU would use a Bulldozer core for high-end and Bobcat core for ultra-low power CPUs. But according to roadmaps at hand, AMD placed a step between Bulldozer and Bobcat - as you can see for yourself, the "Mainstream Desktop" [Lynx platform], "Mainstream Notebook", "Ultrathin Notebook" [Sabine platform] all will use 32nm Llano APU.
If we read correctly, Llano itself is a combination of already existing STARS cores [K10, K10.5 i.e. Agena/Deneb] and the Northern Islands GPU, all manufactured in 32nm. On the other hand, AMD is targeting netbook/smartbook platform with Brazos platform, featuring Ontario APU - next-gen Bobcat CPU cores and again, a Northern Islands GPU. Both Llano and Ontario will be paired with next-gen Southbridge codenamed "Hudson".
Naturally, there is a lot details that need clarification, but we compiled a short list that should help you out.
In a nutshell - AMD platforms
2010 Desktop - 45nm Dual to Sexa-Core CPU, 40nm Evergreen GPU, 40nm RS880/RD890 chipset, DX10.1-11.0
2010 Notebook - 45nm Dual to Quad-Core STARS CPU, 32nm Manhattan GPU, 40nm RS880 chipset, DX10.1-11.0
2011 Desktop - 32nm M-SPACE CPU/APU, 32nm Northern Islands GPU, 40nm Hudson-D chipset, DX11.1
2011 Notebook - 32nm M-SPACE CPU/APU, 32nm Northern Islands APU/GPU, 40nm Hudson-M chipset, DX11.1
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/josiahsuarez/AMD_Desktop_Roadmap_2010_20.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/josiahsuarez/AMD_Notebook_Roadmap_2010_1.jpg
Courtesy of Japanese hardware web portal ASCII.jp, we got our hands on two slides from confidential presentations concerning AMD's future hardware platforms and gained an insight how 2010-2011 is taking shape.
The information given on slides is somewhat controversial, because it contradicts with some of information we had before.
AMD Notebook Platform Roadmap for 2010 and 2011. Picture credit: ASCII.jp
AMD Notebook Platform Roadmap for 2010-2011 reveals 32nm GPU architectures: Manhattan and Northern Islands
These are official slides, thus we can confirm that AMD plans to launch two 32nm next-generation graphics architectures in 2010 and 2011. But, according to the leaked slides, desktop platform will stick with current 40nm Evergreen series throughout 2010 i.e. no desktop refresh. The only new GPU parts planned to debut are 32nm Manhattan ones, targeted to be a discrete option for mobile platforms in 2010. The reason for lack of desktop parts might lie in the conversation we had about GlobalFoundries implementing GPU production. According to that conversation, Manhattan might be that "trial run" for 32nm bulk process over at GlobalFoundries. We might be wrong on this one and see Manhattan coming out of TSMC as well - but again, we were told that GlobalFoundries will "get its feet wet on complex 32nm bulk silicon designs by using ATI discrete parts." Is GlobalFoundries only going to try to manufacture Manhattan and then prepare volume manufacturing with Northern Islands or Manhattan, remains to be seen. The decider for that is only one word - yield. GlobalFoundries beats TSMC's yields, and that's that. GlobalFoundries does not beat TSMC's yields - again, that's that.
Getting back on the subject, Manhattan is a discrete GPU option for Danube and Nile notebook platforms, paired with quad-core Champlain and dual-core Geneva processors. By default, Danube and Nile notebooks support DirectX 10.1 API courtesy of RS880 Chipset [integrated Radeon 4000 series], and if you want DirectX 11.0 support - adopt one of three Manhattan GPUs in the works: Park, Madison and Broadway. Yes, we are talking about 32nm die-shrinks of current Evergreen architecture. It seems to us that after the TSMC's 40nm fiasco resulting in problematic availability of both RV740 [Radeon 4770] and Evergreen parts [Radeon 5700, 5800 series], AMD is taking a page from nVidia's book of "Manufacturing conservatism" and first working on shrinking the Evergreen into 32nm process node first, and then moving on to use of 32nm with next generation GPUs.
Given that nVidia's NV70/GF100/GT300/Fermi [seriously guys, how many codenames per generation?] has its 32nm die-shrink in the works as well, 2010 is looking to institute Intel's famous Tick-Tock cadence into the world of GPUs, for both AMD and nVidia [nVidia already has the cadence in place with NV50/G80-NV55/G92b, NV60/GT200 and NV65/GT206/GT200b]: new architecture, old/tried manufacturing process, followed by a die-shrink.
The only problem we see with Manhattan will be the branding - ideally, these 32nm parts should fit "inside" 5000 series, unless AMD resorts to using the 6000 series [reserved for DirectX 11.1] for Manhattan parts and pushes Northern Islands to 7000. Then again, that would result in the same renaming hell as nVidia one - we hope that AMD will play it smarter.
AMD Desktop Platform roadmap 2010-2011: M-SPACE CPUs [Bulldozer], Northern Islands in 2011 - but Evergreen throughout 2010, no 32nm die-shrink planned for desktop
AMD Desktop Roadmap reveals the biggest surprise: No plans for 32nm Manhattan die-shrink on desktops
Getting into 2011, AMD plans to debut Northern Islands, their true next-generation part. This is the part that is being designed with DirectX 11.1 specification in mind [according to sources inside AMD, Evergreen also supports 11.1 specification. Upon our insisting, we were told that is not entirely true - DX11.1 is not finalized and they cannot be sure if Evergreen will support 11.1 or will fall short]. The DirectX 11.1 is currently being worked upon, and among our sources, it is widely expected to debut in the winter of 2010, with hardware following either in late 2010 or early 2011. According to information at hand, we are talking about a brand new architecture which follows the prolonged cadence between new architectures [R600 - RV770: May 2007-July 2008, RV770-Evergreen: July 2008 - September 2009, Evergreen-Northern Islands: September 2009-February 2011?].
Unlike Manhattan, Northern Islands is set to debut on both AMD desktop and notebook platforms, and this is the architecture that is going to end up inside AMD's first and second generation of Fusion processors. Now, when it comes to Fusion, the situation is getting quite complicated. Originally, Fusion CPU+GPU would use a Bulldozer core for high-end and Bobcat core for ultra-low power CPUs. But according to roadmaps at hand, AMD placed a step between Bulldozer and Bobcat - as you can see for yourself, the "Mainstream Desktop" [Lynx platform], "Mainstream Notebook", "Ultrathin Notebook" [Sabine platform] all will use 32nm Llano APU.
If we read correctly, Llano itself is a combination of already existing STARS cores [K10, K10.5 i.e. Agena/Deneb] and the Northern Islands GPU, all manufactured in 32nm. On the other hand, AMD is targeting netbook/smartbook platform with Brazos platform, featuring Ontario APU - next-gen Bobcat CPU cores and again, a Northern Islands GPU. Both Llano and Ontario will be paired with next-gen Southbridge codenamed "Hudson".
Naturally, there is a lot details that need clarification, but we compiled a short list that should help you out.
In a nutshell - AMD platforms
2010 Desktop - 45nm Dual to Sexa-Core CPU, 40nm Evergreen GPU, 40nm RS880/RD890 chipset, DX10.1-11.0
2010 Notebook - 45nm Dual to Quad-Core STARS CPU, 32nm Manhattan GPU, 40nm RS880 chipset, DX10.1-11.0
2011 Desktop - 32nm M-SPACE CPU/APU, 32nm Northern Islands GPU, 40nm Hudson-D chipset, DX11.1
2011 Notebook - 32nm M-SPACE CPU/APU, 32nm Northern Islands APU/GPU, 40nm Hudson-M chipset, DX11.1
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/josiahsuarez/AMD_Desktop_Roadmap_2010_20.jpg