6 core AMD on Desktop Preview

[classy]

Xbitlabs setup a single 6 core Opty and it shows some nice potential. Considering its running at low clock speeds and I would assume a 5-10% penalty from using registered, slower DDR2 memory it shows some possible muscle. Nice peak to gather some info for folks who may be looking to build now and planning for the future. Clock for clock considering the penalties, it is quite a bit faster in some things than the Phenom II X4.

Article Xbitlabs Six Core AMD

 

[Idontcare]

I like more cores...be it gulftown or thuban...but AMD really needs to get their own versions of turbo-clocking (to boost single-threaded app performance) and powergating (to improve performance/watt and TDP control) implemented and functioning if they intend to chase after Intel in the multi-cores race.

With Intel using turbo-clocking on their IGP starting with the 'dales, this could become a real handicap for AMD's Fusion next year if it is competing with power-gated and turbo-clocked GPU and CPU on Sandy Bridge products.

 

[Gikaseixas]

worry not IDC, your concerns are being addressed as we speak

 

[Idontcare]

That's what I like to hear :thumbsup:

 

[RussianSensation]

Looks like Phenom II architecture is completely overcome. From these benchmarks one can extrapolate that not even a 3.0ghz 6-core Phenom will compete with Core i7 920 HT. That's not even bringing overclocking into the equation which will take the Core i7 into 3.9-4.0ghz with ease.

AMD desperately needs a new architecture with HT, Turbo Boost and 32nm process technology. I can't imagine any 6-core phenom selling above $300 for AM3 platform unless they ramp up clock speeds way into 3.7-3.8ghz. Not to mention 920 may be replaced by 930 at 2.8ghz. I am worried for AMD to be honest. They will rely solely on Phenom II for competing in all of 2010. In that case I just can't see Intel lowering prices on their processors for another 6 months since there is no need. Definitely not great for the consumer.

 

[Lonyo]

Two things:
Testing Farcry 2 would have been nice.
The power consumption figures are a bit weird. Looks like if AMD did bring this to the desktop they would have an extra 30w to play with in terms of power to allow a bit of increased clockspeeds (202w 965 mobo+CPU vs 173~180w for the hexa-core CPUs).

 

[BD231]

I wish games scaled as well over multiple cores as encoding applications (AVI, MP3, ect, RE5 is a great example), why is there still such a huge gap?

I can download free apps that do a better job of putting cores to use than games you pay for .

 

[drizek]

Because games are really complex, and because htey are almost all GPU limited anyway.

 

[cbn]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation

I just can't see Intel lowering prices on their processors for another 6 months since there is no need. Definitely not great for the consumer.

On top of that Intel won't be selling 32nm westmere quads. <-----Those would have been nice processors.

 

[cbn]

Originally posted by: BD231
I wish games scaled as well over multiple cores as encoding applications (AVI, MP3, ect, RE5 is a great example), why is there still such a huge gap?

I can download free apps that do a better job of putting cores to use than games you pay for .

Good point. This leaves Gulftown with a really small targeted market.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Just learning

Originally posted by: BD231
I wish games scaled as well over multiple cores as encoding applications (AVI, MP3, ect, RE5 is a great example), why is there still such a huge gap?

I can download free apps that do a better job of putting cores to use than games you pay for .

Good point. This leaves Gulftown with a really small targeted market.

I kinda hate to point out the obvious, but Gulftown isn't a mass market product.
If you can afford it, you won't care that it's not always used to the max, and if you can barely afford it but must have it, then you're going to be using things which can take advantage of the extra power.

 

[cbn]

Originally posted by: Lonyo

Originally posted by: Just learning

Originally posted by: BD231
I wish games scaled as well over multiple cores as encoding applications (AVI, MP3, ect, RE5 is a great example), why is there still such a huge gap?

I can download free apps that do a better job of putting cores to use than games you pay for .

Good point. This leaves Gulftown with a really small targeted market.

I kinda hate to point out the obvious, but Gulftown isn't a mass market product.
If you can afford it, you won't care that it's not always used to the max, and if you can barely afford it but must have it, then you're going to be using things which can take advantage of the extra power.

Gamers will use Gulftown like a 32nm Westmere quad. Maybe that is why Intel isn't making 32nm quads until Sandy Bridge?

 

[IlllI]

i wonder if this will turn into a "mhz war" like in the pentium 4 days. back then it was all about how fast you could clock it, now it seems like how many cores can you fit on one cpu.
but really what is the point? i think for general consumers, the majority of programs hardly use 4 cores. i bet the vast majority only use 2 at the most, so all this extra will be sitting idle

to me it just seems a little lazy. strap 2 more cores onto the thing and call it a day. where is the innovation in that?

 

[richierich1212]

Pretty cool, just don't know how well it'll compete with Intel's lineup though

 

[aigomorla]

http://xbitlabs.com/images/cpu/amd-istanbul/table2.png

Cinebench score of 14.8k is not impressive.
Not impressive at all.

Originally posted by: richierich1212
Pretty cool, just don't know how well it'll compete with Intel's lineup though

Gulftown will smash this processor.
I pretty much guarantee it.
Intel won on the hexcores.

AMD's only hope is earily marketing, and faster delivery.
But a lot of people will wait for gulftown before they go hexcore shopping.

And gulftown is showing to be WOW.

Originally posted by: Just learning

Gamers will use Gulftown like a 32nm Westmere quad.

Ummm i think it will get bought by more crunchers then gamers.
Like those on WCG and F@H.

 

[LoneNinja]

These results don't really surprise me, its basically how I predicted Phenom II X6 would be. Lets just hope the C3 stepping helps lower voltages/power consumption enough that they can clock these beyond 3.0Ghz. They still have their appeal to some, but it'll really come down to how AMD prices them. Once again consumers will need to choose the slower chip with more cores vs the faster chip with fewer cores, not like this decision hasn't occurred in the past.

 

[thilanliyan]

Don't forget the memory they're using in this test is ECC DDR2-667. I'm pretty sure this affects performance. I hope Thuban can be used with AM2+ m/bs...I think it'll be a first for me with keeping a m/b for so long if it does work.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

http://xbitlabs.com/images/cpu/amd-istanbul/table2.png

Look at the x264/Maya/CPUVantage. Near 100% scaling. 6-core CPU's certainly have a place. If I can get my hands on one for a good price, you bet I'm going to hop on it. We're at a point now where more cores are certainly better.

 

[tommo123]

i hope AMD hang on in there and bring out octo core soon, or hell even 12 cores (whatever that's called). till then my quad is good enough i think

 

[richierich1212]

Originally posted by: thilanliyan
Don't forget the memory they're using in this test is ECC DDR2-667. I'm pretty sure this affects performance. I hope Thuban can be used with AM2+ m/bs...I think it'll be a first for me with keeping a m/b for so long if it does work.

Just noticed that lol.

 

[MikeShunt]

he, thought games were only just catching up with quad cores

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: tommo123
i hope AMD hang on in there and bring out octo core soon, or hell even 12 cores (whatever that's called). till then my quad is good enough i think

Does AMD have an octo-core chip on their roadmap? They jump from 6 to 12 in everything we've seen so far.

 

[tommo123]

no idea tbh, just assumed it would be easier for em to stitch 2 quads together than 2 6 cores

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: thilanliyan
<Don't forget the memory they're using in this test is ECC DDR2-667. I'm pretty sure this affects performance. I hope Thuban can be used with AM2+ m/bs...I think it'll be a first for me with keeping a m/b for so long if it does work.

This.

An OC'ed Phenom II X4 can hit 16k+ in Cinebench with DDR3 1600 --- and if you look at the Everest #s you can see how crippled the set-up really is with SocketF compared to AM3.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo

Originally posted by: thilanliyan
<<<Don't forget the memory they're using in this test is ECC DDR2-667. I'm pretty sure this affects performance. I hope Thuban can be used with AM2+ m/bs...I think it'll be a first for me with keeping a m/b for so long if it does work.

This.

An OC'ed Phenom II X4 can hit 16k+ in Cinebench with DDR3 1600 --- and if you look at the Everest #s you can see how crippled the set-up really is with SocketF compared to AM3.

... its still unimpressive...