Desktop Bristol Ridge is MIA

[JDG1980]

AMD's Computex presentation covered Polaris, Zen, and the mobile versions of Bristol Ridge and Stoney Ridge. However, as Ian Cutress pointed out, the expected AM4 launch with desktop versions of Bristol Ridge didn't happen.

Here is Cutress's commentary:

Despite many users believing that AMD would be discussing AM4 and their desktop versions of Bristol Ridge at Computex, the opposite seems to be the case. AMD isn’t discussing it, and I’ve hit a solid wall with the motherboard manufacturers as well. If rumors are to be believed, based on a CPU cooling company Facebook post that was deleted, the socket is mostly likely the same dimensions as AM2/AM3, however we can’t even verify that. It would seem that whatever your prediction for hearing about new desktop products was, add at least a quarter.


But put this into perspective here. Bristol Ridge is still based on Excavator – a core that was initially designed to run at 15W in dual-module configuration. AMD stated at the Tech Day in 2015 that the higher TDP/frequency you run a Carrizo platform, the lower the differential to a 2014 Kaveri platform. AMD teased Carrizo on the desktop with the Athlon X4 845 at 65W for the FM2+ socket (and I apologize that I haven’t got around to writing the review fully yet), however this was one part without integrated graphics and a very low-frequency ceiling when overclocking. Despite this, Carrizo on the desktop was still a surprising performer, but only at the low powered part of the product stack. If we’re going to see Carrizo mk2 and Bristol Ridge on the desktop, it might only be for those lower power 35W-45W parts, and there’s no point releasing a platform with just 45W parts if it is going to evolve into the extreme platform with a Zen drop in: you need both, especially if each one is designed for specific markets. There’s an obvious line of thought I’m going down here, and while I won’t say it outright, the signs are getting less fuzzy as time moves on.

So, are we to assume the desktop Bristol Ridge launch was cancelled? It's worth noting that during the Zen portion of the presentation, Lisa Su was positioning AM4 as a premium platform. Perhaps they thought that launching it now with Bristol Ridge would send the wrong message. Or they were worried that some AM4 boards focused on Bristol Ridge wouldn't support adequate TDP for Zen, thus fragmenting the platform?

 

[dark zero]

Ouch... if that is true, Lisa is preparing to resign... at least it could be a perfect placeholder for Zen chips...
Bristol Ridge was supposed to be the TRUE step from AMD on AM4.

EVERYTHING was on their favor: better 28 nm node, DDR4, better iGPU. And is FAR better than Godavari.... something tells me that AMD didn't sold all their Kaveri stock.

 

[plopke]

AMD's Computex presentation covered Polaris, Zen, and the mobile versions of Bristol Ridge and Stoney Ridge. However, as Ian Cutress pointed out, the expected AM4 launch with desktop versions of Bristol Ridge didn't happen.

Here is Cutress's commentary:



So, are we to assume the desktop Bristol Ridge launch was cancelled? It's worth noting that during the Zen portion of the presentation, Lisa Su was positioning AM4 as a premium platform. Perhaps they thought that launching it now with Bristol Ridge would send the wrong message. Or they were worried that some AM4 boards focused on Bristol Ridge wouldn't support adequate TDP for Zen, thus fragmenting the platform?

Was wondering something like that also , if they would launch AM4 now , would it mean most of these motherboards might not be able to handle zen. Urgh was kidna looking forward to fiddle around a bit with AM4 and hoping to pop in a ZEN later on,... Massive speculation but would have been more like a hobby thing to do

UPDATE : POOOOOP!

 

[ET]

Fuck them, I'm going Intel.

I'm terribly disappointed. I've been itching to upgrade my HTPC for quite a while, and while AMD APU's offer good enough performance for me, I didn't want to buy a dead end platform. Bristol Ridge AM4 seemed so promising...


cussing is not alllowed in the technical forums
Markfw900

 

[Arachnotronic]

This is a disappointment, wanted to see what the crop of AM4 boards would offer.

 

[nenforcer]

This is just a guess on my part - but it looks like to me AMD wants to go full on high end / premium with ZEN and Vega in October - I believe they want to sell as many new CPU and GPU combinations as possible.

Releasing a 2015 Carrizo design (and 40% less IPC) with a new AM4 socket motherboard now might have sort of deluted the excitement (and tempered expectations) of what a full brand new (HEDT) desktop platform can bring. Obviously the ZEN APU slated for 2017 will still go in the AM4 desktop boards which come out later this fall.

 

[deasd]

I don't know release date of DT BR, but:

If rumors are to be believed, based on a CPU cooling company Facebook post that was deleted, the socket is mostly likely the same dimensions as AM2/AM3, however we can’t even verify that.

AM4 has different dimension. That's all I could say. Some authors good at writing(no matter what they say are true or not) but not good at reading/collecting news.

 

[cbn]

If this is true then I feel they made the right decision.

Desktop Bristol Ridge at 65W didn't serve much purpose and I was very concerned having those dies split between desktop and mobile would hurt the laptops. (We already had enough problems with motherboard design sharing with Carrizo and Carrizo-L).

 

[cbn]

Fuck them, I'm going Intel.

I'm terribly disappointed. I've been itching to upgrade my HTPC for quite a while, and while AMD APU's offer good enough performance for me, I didn't want to buy a dead end platform. Bristol Ridge AM4 seemed so promising...

A mobile chip on thin mini-itx board can work for HTPC.

Either for use in a regular Mini-ITX with riser for expansion or for use in a full passive thin mini-itx case like Akasa Euler.

 

[NTMBK]

A mobile chip on thin mini-itx board can work for HTPC.

Either for use in a regular Mini-ITX with riser for expansion or for use in a full passive thin mini-itx case like Akasa Euler.

When's the last time anyone released a new thin mini-ITX board? I got the impression that was dead.

 

[hojnikb]

Well, thats pretty sad. Now they will drag fm2+ all the way into 2017, because ZEN won't initially have iGPU on die.

oh well.

 

[cbn]

When's the last time anyone released a new thin mini-ITX board? I got the impression that was dead.

ASUS has a H110 thin mini-itx.

P.S. I actually think this form factor has more potential than the almost as large mini-STX simply because of the standardized rear I/O (in the form of the I/O plate) makes designing enclosures easier. In contrast, the NUC (with its non standard rear I/O) has created problems with chassis makers . However, to fully unlock the potential of thin-mini itx I would like to see more motherboard makers offering the cut-out for AIB expanion in the tall I/O rear shield shown below.

 

[NTMBK]

Well, thats pretty sad. Now they will drag fm2+ all the way into 2017, because ZEN won't initially have iGPU on die.

oh well.

Or, they will launch Bristol Ridge on AM4 at the same time as Zen.

 

[AtenRa]

Or, they will launch Bristol Ridge on AM4 at the same time as Zen.

Then ZEN APUs are 2018

 

[PG]

AM4 needs new heatsinks due to new dimensions. Thermalright not only deleted the post with wrong info, but later posted that they made a mistake.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/4l4ix9/am3_coolers_will_nor_fit_onto_am4_thermalright/

Translation:

AMD-USA told us that AMD-Germany had given us false information. AM4 will use new mounting material. We are sorry for the confusion.

 

[dark zero]

Then ZEN APUs are 2018

Raven Ridge are 2H 2017.

 

[exar333]

AMD's Computex presentation covered Polaris, Zen, and the mobile versions of Bristol Ridge and Stoney Ridge. However, as Ian Cutress pointed out, the expected AM4 launch with desktop versions of Bristol Ridge didn't happen.

Here is Cutress's commentary:



So, are we to assume the desktop Bristol Ridge launch was cancelled? It's worth noting that during the Zen portion of the presentation, Lisa Su was positioning AM4 as a premium platform. Perhaps they thought that launching it now with Bristol Ridge would send the wrong message. Or they were worried that some AM4 boards focused on Bristol Ridge wouldn't support adequate TDP for Zen, thus fragmenting the platform?

I think this is likely the case. I actually like this delay...BD chipsets were very confusing due to exactly this, supporting some TDPs and not other ones. The platform should be simple, support all the CPUs and be transparent. This is a smart move, if this is truly why it may have been delayed.

It is tough, because we want to see the boards, but I would rather the launch be successful and clear rather than fragmented and frustrating for users.

 

[superstition]

if they would launch AM4 now , would it mean most of these motherboards might not be able to handle zen.

AMD should have had two tiers of boards for AM4, with a label like the 80 Plus system or Nintendo's quality seal.

One tier would be silver: low wattage boards

The other would be gold: Summit Ridge boards

Enthusiast boards could even have a platinum level.

The tiers/labels would make it easy for shoppers to know what they're board is capable of in terms of power delivery.

 

[unicutesx]

It is because AMD has not yet finalized AM4 specifications. It already had 3 revisions...

 

[Justinbaileyman]

This is just a guess on my part - but it looks like to me AMD wants to go full on high end / premium with ZEN and Vega in October - I believe they want to sell as many new CPU and GPU combinations as possible.

Releasing a 2015 Carrizo design (and 40% less IPC) with a new AM4 socket motherboard now might have sort of deluted the excitement (and tempered expectations) of what a full brand new (HEDT) desktop platform can bring. Obviously the ZEN APU slated for 2017 will still go in the AM4 desktop boards which come out later this fall.

Nope to October.. Did you even watch the presentation?? Lisa Su said very clearly we would get them by the end of the year. October isn't by the end of the year.AMD just tapped out the Zen ES she had on hand and she also said they were still messing around with them to get those ES'es running and there testers/special customers should get them in the next few weeks for testing. My guess is Christmas time release or even first quarter 2017 to be more realistic for a Zen Launch.By then Skylake-e should be out so whats the point of waiting now?They totally blew off all the people waiting to hop on board with Bristol ridge and a AM4 motherboard with hopes to upgrade to Zen later on down the line but that out the window now.Its all more lie's from AMD marketing.Just like the way they tried to brain wash everyone to think 2 rx480's out performing a single Nvidia 1080 is something special.I dont know if anyone else caught that or not but there were people in the audience looking at one another shaking there heads so I cant be the only one that see's clearly..??

 

[redzo]

... They totally blew off all the people waiting to hop on board with Bristol ridge and a AM4 motherboard with hopes to upgrade to Zen later on down the line but that out the window now...

Come on! Who the hell plans products like this. Maybe you would do it if the plan is to bankrupt the company(AMD). Should I remind you about the current trend of soldering CPU's to the motherboard? Good luck competing on price with your unique and unified AM4 socket against midrange intel MBs designed to be cheap both(MB and CPU)! Why do you think intel came up with the idea to split the desktop in two sockets?

 

[Justinbaileyman]

My point is they keep giving us a line of bull. First it was Zen would be out end of 2015, then first quarter 2016, then 2nd quarter 2016 and now at the end of the year 2016. No duh there bleeding money left and right,they dont have anything left worthwhile to sell.
Its a long while between now and the end of the year.

 

[Arachnotronic]

My point is they keep giving us a line of bull. First it was Zen would be out end of 2015, then first quarter 2016, then 2nd quarter 2016 and now at the end of the year 2016. No duh there bleeding money left and right,they dont have anything left worthwhile to sell.
Its a long while between now and the end of the year.

If AMD isn't delivering products that you want in timely fashion, it might be worthwhile to look at what the competition is offering.

 

[forgotmypasswrd]

It is because AMD has not yet finalized AM4 specifications. It already had 3 revisions...

actually if zauba is anything to go by, AM4 is already on REV E (which I assume means 5th revision)

 

[Justinbaileyman]

If AMD isn't delivering products that you want in timely fashion, it might be worthwhile to look at what the competition is offering.

I hate to do it but I might have to.I was trying to wait for Bristol Ridge but since its a no show I might have to go Skylake or Broadwell-E now