In defense of "Bulldozer"

[drizek]

But it will have more cores too, right? IIRC the 10core chips are slated for 28nm.

5 BD+ modules on a half-node shrink could be quite a compelling product.

I thought they cancelled the 10 cores

 

[Ajay]

I thought they cancelled the 10 cores

That's what I've read as well (for desktops) - my guess it that the chip would still be too large, even @ 28nm. AMD will probably release a 5/10 Module Opteron because they can charge much more for each CPU.

I do have to say, after reading some of Idontcare's comments visa vi CMT plus more info on upcoming changes (B3, Piledriver) - I am more optimistic that BD could eventually be a much more competitive product. I'd love to see BD on 28nm - but I haven't read anything about GloFo's 28nm process yes and don't know if it could be used (probably using a variant of that process) for BD.

 

[biostud]

You can only wonder how well "Phenom III" 32nm would compare in a 4,6 and 8 core version. A 8-core Phenom III would only be around 1.3-1.5B transistors.

 

[drizek]

A 32nm Phenom III would be having yield issues and would be out of stock right now... just like Bulldozer.

 

[formulav8]

A 32nm Phenom III would be having yield issues and would be out of stock right now... just like Bulldozer.

This

 

[Ajay]

A 32nm Phenom III would be having yield issues and would be out of stock right now... just like Bulldozer.

LOLZ

 

[SickBeast]

This

That's not true!

We probably would have had one at least 6 months ago. Even on 45nm it wouldn't have been bad, and they probably could have released one well over a year ago.

 

[3DVagabond]

That's not true!

We probably would have had one at least 6 months ago. Even on 45nm it wouldn't have been bad, and they probably could have released one well over a year ago.

This...^

A 32nm Phenom III would be having yield issues and would be out of stock right now... just like Bulldozer.

...doesn't seem to address this^ at all. WTH are you talking about? Mind explaining it a bit? How's it not true?

 

[exar333]

That's not true!

We probably would have had one at least 6 months ago. Even on 45nm it wouldn't have been bad, and they probably could have released one well over a year ago.

Keep in mind that AMD tied themselves to the SOI 'train' and that train is getting slower and slower with every die-shrink. I would speculate that an 8-core PhII at 32nm would be a better chip than BD, but I wonder at the power consumption there as well.

AMD needs to address their power consumption issues and figure-out what their long-term solutions are. Look at the debacle that was BD, and it makes you wonder if they have any good approach for CPus to released in 1,2,3 or 5 years. Definitely doesn't inspire much confidence.

 

[SickBeast]

Intel is hitting walls as well. Creating faster x86 CPUs is going to be an exercise in frustration for both companies.

 

[Ajay]

Intel is hitting walls as well. Creating faster x86 CPUs is going to be an exercise in frustration for both companies.

But Intel is already well ahead in process technology. Intel has been described as a MPU design shop attached to a giant FAB Corporation.

Fortunately, GloFo (along with IBM) is finally going with the superior Gate Last technique for building up transistors during fabrication.

I can't seem to find it at the moment, but I think GloFo's 20nm node will be in production something like 2 years after Intel's 22nm node (IIRC) - not good for AMD.