Intel's X48 Express chipset

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 is due out this quarter, bringing with it not only four Penryn cores clocked at 3.2GHz, but also a front-side bus running at 1600MHz. That faster FSB presents a bit of a problem, though, because Intel's current P35 and X38 Express chipsets only support front-side bus speeds up to 1333MHz. So the QX9770 needs a new chipset, or at least a new north bridge, which is where the X48 Express comes in.

Based on Intel's existing X38 Express, the X48 brings with it official support for 1600MHz front-side bus speeds. With this faster bus, the X48 looks poised to supplant its predecessor atop Intel's chipset lineup, which means a new wave of motherboards is coming from all the usual suspects.

Gigabyte's X48T-DQ6 is the first X48 offering to hit our labs, and in addition to packing Intel's latest chipset, it comes with an innovative Dynamic Energy Saver mechanism designed to lower power consumption. Join us as we put this power saving scheme to the test and run the X48 Express through it paces against the rest of Intel's chipset lineup.

AMD has something for everyone with its new tri-core processors, but quite a lot is still marked "tentative"

AMD picked up big headlines the day before Intel's Fall Developer Forum with the announcement of its upcoming tri-core processors.

AMD's original release did not specify if this tri-core processor, code named Toliman, would be a totally new processor or merely a stripped-down version of the existing Agena core. The answer, it appears, is both.

In an embargoed corporate roadmap forwarded to DailyTech, details of these new triple-core oddities came to light.

The first triple-core processor, Toliman, is essentially a core-disabled version of the Agena quad-core processor. It includes a full Agena package, including the 2MB of shared L3 cache, with one core disabled.

Toliman, which will eventually herald the AMD Phenom 8000-product name, is scheduled to launch in February 2008 with mass availability in March. AMD representatives, speaking on conditions of anonymity, confirmed the initial 2.4 GHz Phenom 8700 and 2.3 GHz Phenom 8600 tri-core processors will launch with a 95W thermal envelope.In late 2008, AMD will shift almost all of its 65nm quad-core offerings to 45nm. AMD will then follow up these initial quad-core offerings with 45nm dual-core and triple-core processors in 2009.

The first of these 45nm tri-core processors, codenamed Heka, will launch with DDR2 and DDR3 support. However, AMD guidance also details that Heka will ship with two different varieties: one with a shared L3 cache, another without. All 45nm quad-core AMD processors incorporate shared L3 cache, with the exception of the Propus family processor.

AMD guidance goes on to state that all mainstream Phenom quad-core processors, both with shared L3 cache (Deneb) and without (Propus), shipped in 2009 will feature DDR3 exclusively. Heka, on the other hand, will feature a mix of DDR2 and DDR3 support.

Unfortunately the answers for tri-core only raise further questions. While Heka has a unique codename, it seems to be a combination of cut-down Deneb and Propus quad-core processors. The logical conclusion would be that Heka is merely excess or defective Deneb and Propus processors from the 2008 launch.

Yet AMD's roadmap goes on to detail one more chip: Regor. Regor, which has always been described by AMD as a dual-core version of Deneb, will make its debut with variable shared L3 cache and a mix of DDR2 and DDR3 support. Could it be that Regor is a core-disabled version of Heka, which is already likely a core-disabled version of Deneb/Propus? One AMD representative declined to comment on these 45nm processors, stating that 2009 processor launches and specifications are still "tentitive."

Intel Launches Atom Family Of Processors

Intel Corporation today unveiled the Intel Atom processors for an emerging class of compact, easy-to-use devices called netbooks and nettops that will help bring the Internet to millions of new users in India and around the world.

The Atom is based on new purpose-built low power architecture and coupled with 45nm Hi-K manufacturing process it is perfectly suited for this new market opportunity--enabling smaller chips at a lower cost. Local manufacturers HCL, Wipro and Zenith along with others will shortly be launching Nettops and Netbooks based on the Intel Atom processor.

"The newly-launched Intel Atom processor will lead to the availability of a range of affordable netbooks and nettops in the market. These devices, enabled with broadband connectivity will help bring the benefits of the Internet and the basic computing experience to many more people", said R Sivakumar, Managing Director, Sales and Marketing Group, Intel South Asia.

The Intel Atom processor packed with 47 million transistors each is based on an entirely new microarchitecture designed specifically for small devices and low power. It measures less than 25 mm. These new chips, previously codenamed Diamondville, will be manufactured on Intel's 45nm process with Hi-k metal gate technology.

Netbooks are compact mobile devices that children, first-time Internet users and people who desire an extra PC can use for basic computing applications, listening to music, e-mailing and surfing the Internet. They can also be used for playing basic online games, social networking and making voice over IP phone calls. They will also open up usage for purpose built devices that can address some of the unique opportunities in education in schools as well as in rural India.

AMD Phenom X4 9350e and AMD Phenom X4 9150e

For the power conscious, AMD has released two energy-efficient parts, the AMD Phenom X4 9350e and AMD Phenom X4 9150e. These processors, even under the most extreme operation, consume no more than 65 watts, delivering the performance of four independent cores at a low wattage. These processors are designed for mainstream and energy-conscious users, and for digital media enthusiasts looking for enhanced digital content creation and consumption capabilities with energy efficiency.

Intels New Atom Processor

The Intel Atom processor is based on an entirely new micro-architecture designed specifically for small devices and low power, while maintaining the Intel Core 2 Duo instruction set compatibility consumers are accustomed to when using a standard PC and the Internet. The design also includes support for multiple threads for better performance and increased system responsiveness. All of this on a chip that measures less than 25 mm², making it Intel’s smallest and lowest power processor yet. These new chips, previously codenamed Silverthorne and Diamondville, will be manufactured in Intel’s 45nm process with hi-k metal gate technology. The chips have a thermal design power (TDP) specification in 0.6-2.5 watt range and scale to 1.8GHz speeds depending on customer need. By comparison, today’s mainstream mobile Core 2 Duo processors have a TDP in the 35-watt range. The Intel Centrino http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrino Atom processor technology, formerly codenamed “Menlow,” includes the Intel Atom processor, a low-power companion chip with integrated graphics, a wireless radio, and thinner and lighter designs.

AMD's Shrike takes flight in the second half of 2009

AMD may not have a shipping product in the emerging MID/netbook market, but the company is taking pains to talk up its own notebook platforms and strategies. Earlier this month, AMD took time to highlight the new capabilities and technologies within its new Puma platform. Now, it's on to Shrike, the next-generation of AMD mobile technology, set to debut in 2009. Shrike will be the first AMD "Fusion" product, and will incorporate the CPU, memory controller, and GPU into a single die. PCIe support is also included, to allow for the use of discrete graphics cards. This may not be of immediate importance, given that Shrike is a laptop platform, but could prove extremely attractive to OEM's building desktops around the new Fusion processors.

intel Atom inside

Intel announced yesterday that its upcoming low-cost/low-power CPUs code-named Silverthorne and Diamondville will be sold under a single brand once the products launch. The MID-centric product family will hereafter be known as "Atom." Consumers are obviously meant to associate the Atom brand with objects of very small size, though Intel "Quark" would have a certain ring to it.

The Atom architecture is intended to give Intel a foothold in handheld devices that have traditionally been the sole domain of very low-power RISC processors. The chip itself is tiny at less than 25mm square, and, according to Santa Clara, has a TDP of 0.6W - 2.5W, as compared to a 35W TDP for a "typical" Core 2 Duo.

Intel is planning to introduce a "Centrino Atom" brand, like the original Centrino campaign, vendors will have to design their MID products within certain specifications in order to qualify. Centrino Atom products must contain an integrated graphics co-processor (presumably one that meets a minimum feature standard), a wireless radio, and what Intel refers to as a "thinner and lighter" form factor. Presumably this is to disqualify vendors who might be interested in building an MID out of, say, a brick.

Intel, AMD chip battles play out on Wall Street

FORT COLLINS - People driving through the intersection of Harmony and Ziegler roads during the week of April 14 might have heard some raspberries being blown across the street from the rival chip manufacturers on opposite corners there.

Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NYSE: AMD) released closely watched earnings that week. While the chip war was waged between engineers innovating in labs on Harmony Road in Fort Collins, the companies played it out financially on Wall Street.

Both companies had revised their previously stated first-quarter expectations prior to the end of the quarter. Intel revised its gross margin from 56 percent to 54 percent.

AMD's revision was a little more extreme. A week before earnings came out, the company announced it expected a 15 percent quarter-over-quarter decline in revenues "due to lower than expected sales across all business segments," according to the company release. Previously, the company had estimated that the revenue decline from fourth to first quarter would be in line with seasonal decreases, which are closer to 7 percent for the industry.

Intel was first up, releasing its first-quarter earnings on April 15. Despite a 12 percent year-over-year decrease in net income, Intel's earnings were hailed as the silver lining in a decidedly gloomy market. Company income of $1.4 billion was down compared to last year, but revenues were up 9 percent to $9.7 billion.

Intel's stock was up almost 6 percent to $22.13 the day following the release.

AMD unfortunately did not fare as well. The company reported its sixth consecutive quarterly net loss on April 17. The company saw a $358 million loss on revenues of $1.5 billion. But the lower-than-expected earnings had little impact on investor sentiment. The morning following the earnings release, AMD's stock was actually up a few cents.

The hold in the stock price could be related to the company's restructuring plans. When the company announced its revised earnings, it also revealed plans to cut about 10 percent of its worldwide workforce of 16,500. The cuts are anticipated across all business lines and should be completed by the end of the third quarter.

AMD Bobcat (processor)

Bobcat is a processor codenamed and designed by AMD. The processor's existence was revealed during a speech from AMD executive vice-president Henri Richard in Computex 2007 held in Taiwan, no specific release dates was given but rumours and speculations forecast a post-2008 launch.

The Bobcat processor is a very simplified x86 CPU core aiming at low power x86 processing with TDP value between 1 to 10 W, together with low voltage operation, the processor was aimed at consumer electronic markets. According to Dave Orton (previous executive vice-president of AMD), Bobcat would make its debut in UMPC devices, OLPC devices, handheld devices, and other small form factor devices.

According to AMD roadmaps in latest presentations, the Bobcat processor will be incorporated together with GPU cores into processors under the codenamed "Fusion" label . This is similar in concept with earlier AMD research in 2003, detailing the specifications and advantages of extending x86 "everywhere".

Processor benchmarks: Intel versus AMD

This evaluation of current desktop processors utilises over 60 benchmark tests including office and multimedia software, 3D games, Internet applications, video rendering and compression. We have used benchmarks that are relevant to a range of market sectors in order to get a balanced view of CPU performance. However, in an ideal world, you should also run your own mission-critical applications on any processor that you're considering.

Of course, performance is only one aspect of a processor purchase decision. For example, the Athlon 64's support for the NX (No Execute) feature safeguards it from certain virus attacks, and could be reason enough to choose an AMD processor. And if you're after a quiet PC, then AMD's chips have clear advantages over Intel's latest 'Prescott' Pentium 4. The power consumption of the Athlon 64 is lower than that of the Pentium 4 thanks to AMD's use of Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology. The Athlon's 64's 64-bit capability is also a potential advantage, although this feature remains largely unused because of the missing operating system support -- 64-bit Windows XP has now been delayed until 2005.