Viral
12-04-03, 02:49 AM
go 64? go dual channel.. (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=13019)
Whelp, a massive change in how AMD differentiate their processors.
Starting with the 'Newcastle' core, socket 939 Athlon 64's will all have a dual channel memory controller (2x64-bit), just like the 939pin Athlon 64 FX's will. As shown in leaked slides, there will still be the 1mb L2 cahce single channel socket 754 A64 up until the 90nm winchester. After that, the only 754 processors will be Paris etc.. (XP continuums).
I see this as a smart move by AMD. For one, FX's that have half their L2 cahce faulty, they can be sold as A64. Secondly, it allows AMD to make much more profitable processors that perform around the same as their more expensive counterparts. With 512kb of cahce, the die will be alot smaller, even if they are just recycled FX's, there will be a large die space that will not be functioning, so it's basically the same as it not being there.
Another factor is for enthusiasts, dual channel has become a free performance gain. Most buyers now buy memory capable of dual channel functionality, so having a processor that does not make use of this is in a way, a waste of money.
I just hope these new chips perform on par with current PR ratings... the good news here is AMD have a bit of leverage as they go on.. They don't have to call the 3700+ as 3700+, just with previous architecture, it would have met such a rating.
I can see how some people would be annoyed with this, especially if you bought a Athlon 64. There is an upgrade path however.. Although past Q2 '04, that path will only be 'low end'. However, we could see a 3700+ in socket 754 format before then, so that's something.
If AMD had 939 ready for launch, none of this would have happened.. but the original intention for A64 was to be single channel until san diego, which is what the A64 is doing, still. So nothing has changed. Only the addition of the 940 pin FX is what is different, and the fact that 939pin A64's will only have 512kb of L2 cahce. So the A64 as we know it now is the clawhammer as it was intended to be, and the 939pin A64 FX is the san diego as it was originally meant to be.. the only difference is the 940pin FX, and 939pin A64.
:p
Whelp, a massive change in how AMD differentiate their processors.
Starting with the 'Newcastle' core, socket 939 Athlon 64's will all have a dual channel memory controller (2x64-bit), just like the 939pin Athlon 64 FX's will. As shown in leaked slides, there will still be the 1mb L2 cahce single channel socket 754 A64 up until the 90nm winchester. After that, the only 754 processors will be Paris etc.. (XP continuums).
I see this as a smart move by AMD. For one, FX's that have half their L2 cahce faulty, they can be sold as A64. Secondly, it allows AMD to make much more profitable processors that perform around the same as their more expensive counterparts. With 512kb of cahce, the die will be alot smaller, even if they are just recycled FX's, there will be a large die space that will not be functioning, so it's basically the same as it not being there.
Another factor is for enthusiasts, dual channel has become a free performance gain. Most buyers now buy memory capable of dual channel functionality, so having a processor that does not make use of this is in a way, a waste of money.
I just hope these new chips perform on par with current PR ratings... the good news here is AMD have a bit of leverage as they go on.. They don't have to call the 3700+ as 3700+, just with previous architecture, it would have met such a rating.
I can see how some people would be annoyed with this, especially if you bought a Athlon 64. There is an upgrade path however.. Although past Q2 '04, that path will only be 'low end'. However, we could see a 3700+ in socket 754 format before then, so that's something.
If AMD had 939 ready for launch, none of this would have happened.. but the original intention for A64 was to be single channel until san diego, which is what the A64 is doing, still. So nothing has changed. Only the addition of the 940 pin FX is what is different, and the fact that 939pin A64's will only have 512kb of L2 cahce. So the A64 as we know it now is the clawhammer as it was intended to be, and the 939pin A64 FX is the san diego as it was originally meant to be.. the only difference is the 940pin FX, and 939pin A64.
:p