AMD to Offer “Graphics Free” Llano Chips

[NoobyDoo]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/di..._Offer_Graphics_Free_Llano_Chips_Sources.html

The new central processing units will be made using 32nm process technology and will have similar characteristics similar to Llano APUs (advanced power consumption management, performance tweaks, etc.), but will naturally lack graphics adapter. The novelties will only be compatible with FM1 mainboards.
The first model – Athlon II X4 631 (2.60GHz, 100W, 4MB L2 cache) – is already listed on the company’s web-site. Thanks to 1MB of level-two cache, the new Athlon II should provide higher performance than previous-generation offerings with 512KB cache per core in certain cases.
Since the new Athlon II and Sempron are made using 32nm process technology and are generally inexpensive (the Athlon II X4 631 costs $79 in 1000-unit quantities), they may become popular among overclockers.

 

[Arkaign]

Now this is exciting With value pricing and potentially much better overclocking possibility without the GPU portion throwing out heat (unknown but that'd be my guess) this could reach a good section of value gamers. Cheap 32nm quad, run it at 4ghz or more? If so, could be a stellar alternative to i3-2100.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Are these just harvested Llano chips with serious faults in the GPU portion of the chip or are they fabbed bottom up? I'm thinking yes and I'm thinking these guys don't have any power gating going on for the GPU portion cause its downright embarrassing to have a 32nm Quad running at 2.6Ghz consuming 100W of power.

I thought the whole idea behind Llano was to make sure all low level chips came with some form of competent on die graphics and bulldozer would shore up the high end segment that would forgo on-chip for a more balanced discreet offering.

Intel had the right idea with putting a GPU on every chip then fumbled it when they decided the K-series was going to get the extra powerful GPU. AMD seems intent on sabotaging its own strategy?

 

[beginner99]

Are these just harvested Llano chips with serious faults in the GPU portion of the chip or are they fabbed bottom up? I'm thinking yes and I'm thinking these guys don't have any power gating going on for the GPU portion cause its downright embarrassing to have a 32nm Quad running at 2.6Ghz consuming 100W of power.

I thought the whole idea behind Llano was to make sure all low level chips came with some form of competent on die graphics and bulldozer would shore up the high end segment that would forgo on-chip for a more balanced discreet offering.

Intel had the right idea with putting a GPU on every chip then fumbled it when they decided the K-series was going to get the extra powerful GPU. AMD seems intent on sabotaging its own strategy?

You are probably right. Llanos with faulty GPU. I would try to sell them to instead of just throwing them away. And yeah the 100W is rather telling...

 

[NoobyDoo]

btw : SB price cuts coming :
http://www.techpowerup.com/img/11-08-17/90a.jpg

 

[OCGuy]

I really don't understand AMD's direction. It seems like they may have a bad 32nm process here, unfortunately.

 

[greenhawk]

You are probably right. Llanos with faulty GPU. I would try to sell them to instead of just throwing them away. And yeah the 100W is rather telling...

+1

they did it with the tri-core cpus. No reason not to also do it with the integrated GPU.

 

[nonameo]

If it's true that AMD has been purchasing per good die instead of by the wafer, it's possible that glofo offered them a price they couldn't refuse for the "bad" chips.

at 80$, seems like it's not that good of a value though.

 

[Eeqmcsq]

I really don't understand AMD's direction. It seems like they may have a bad 32nm process here, unfortunately.

Looks like you're right. AMD is getting weaker than expected yield rates right now:

AMD Llano processors suffering from shortage; to be resolved in September

 

[Arg Clin]

+1 on the theory that these are APU's wiuth faulty GPU. Makes sense to make a few bucks out of them, instead of throwing them away. Might make sense in a (tight)budget level gaming rig.

This seems like a niche product, so I don't think it says much about AMDs strategy.

 

[Arkadrel]

waste not, want not.

These will probably be dirt cheap... like 60-75$ for a quad core 2.6-2.9ghz,
Athlon II (llano, without gpu).

 

[jvroig]

My question is, how high can these things overclock now that the GPU portion does not get in the way?

Llano overclocking is still unclear to me - or rather, an unfinished picture. Supposedly, due to TDP being hard-wired into the chip, you can't OC much, especially because the GPU portion shares the same TDP budget.

Then, someone (MAC_MAC?) from hardware canucks posted here that this is not the end of it, hinting that Llano OC is somehow going to get better, but no reason given. Better boards? Better BIOS? TDP not hard-wired anymore?

Now, still no word about those things, but with GPU-less CPUs, the reason for the hard-wired TDP is gone, yes? If so, then can we finally see just how high their first 32nm CPUs can overclock without the GPU baggage?

$79 is pretty cheap, and if these overclock better than Deneb / Thuban, they are a steal.

 

[frozentundra123456]

We dont need any more of the old architecture. Get Bulldozer to market already!!
Stars architecture is slow enough, no need to bring out a slower clocked version.

Maybe for the rather small segment of the market that builds their own comps and overclocks, they could be useful. AMD just seems mired up to their necks inoutdated CPU architecture though.

 

[khon]

Can't say I'd want one of these myself, or that I believe they'll be much good for overclockers, but I'm sure there'll be a market for dirt cheap quadcores, and it certainly makes sense from a business perspective for AMD (And GloFo)

 

[notty22]

LLano with LN2 o/c ing did not look impressive. This design is not going to be a good o/c'r, nothing like Intel@32nm.

 

[jhu]

This is a good thing: more money for AMD, less waste going to the landfill, customer gets decent chip for the money.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

I'll take an $80 2.6GHz quad over a $60 3.0GHz dual for the budget boxes I build.

Oh wait, FM1 motherboards are still overpriced. And does the lack of on-die GPU mean I'll have to pair these with a discrete GPU?

 

[Spikesoldier]

i would imagine these ending up in OEM systems much like the castrated phenom II's.

 

[Lonbjerg]

Wait a second?
The Lllano chip got flak for having a piss poor CPU, partial saved by a powerfull APU...now the cut away the APU and sell the piss poor CPU...

lol

 

[Elixer]

This is a good thing: more money for AMD, less waste going to the landfill, customer gets decent chip for the money.

A good thing? Think of all those jobs lost from the lack of sending things to the landfill! Someone call Uncle Sam, quick and put a stop to this!

I doubt that most of the tech crowd would like these gimped chips, OEMs might get a really sweet deal from these though.

If the price is really, really good, imagine having 2 socket boards for cheap...

 

[VirtualLarry]

Where are the FM1 mini-ITX boards?

 

[grimpr]

I'll take an $80 2.6GHz quad over a $60 3.0GHz dual for the budget boxes I build.

Oh wait, FM1 motherboards are still overpriced. And does the lack of on-die GPU mean I'll have to pair these with a discrete GPU?

I think in Q3/Q4 we will see price cuts in the FM1 platform, now its simply too early.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Wait a second?
The Lllano chip got flak for having a piss poor CPU, partial saved by a powerfull APU...now the cut away the APU and sell the piss poor CPU...

lol

Bingo, you hit the nail right on the head. Although I wouldnt even be so kind as you were to say that Llano had "powerful" graphics. I would describe it as barely adequate. But anyway, your point is well noted that they took away the best part of the APU and are selling the weakest part.

 

[frostedflakes]

I'll take an $80 2.6GHz quad over a $60 3.0GHz dual for the budget boxes I build.

Oh wait, FM1 motherboards are still overpriced. And does the lack of on-die GPU mean I'll have to pair these with a discrete GPU?

Once the A55 chipset comes out we should see cheaper FM1 boards. A75 has some nice features like native USB 3.0, but that also means extra cost. A55 boards will hopefully be closer to $50.

As far as the GPU free Llano chips, just sounds like binning as usual. Manufacturers have always disabled cores and other parts of the CPU to make use of faulty dies and/or segment their market. Now that ~2/3 of the silicon is dedicated to the GPU, not surprising that chips would be binned based on that as well.

People still bought Athlon II and Phenom II, and Stars should have comparable or better IPC. So there's definitely a market for Llano with the GPU disabled.

edit: My bad looks it's closer to 1/3 to 1/2 of the APU that is graphics.

 

[nyker96]

I like the 32nm. I wonder how far can these be OCed. heard the 631 will be like 80 bucks. pretty reasonable if it can be push to 4,5ghz. but why not realese them in am3 board format? so we can just drop and play.