Following the CPU market has lost it's excitement for me

[jhu]

It's already boring when you can build a 16c/32t 128GB monster for < $500 :
http://www.natex.us/mobile/Product.aspx?ProductCode=S2600CP-SR0H8-128GB-12800

Stil need a case and power supply. Damn, I assembled mine with only 32 GB RAM. Wonder why they say not to use with virtual machines?

 

[poofyhairguy]

I think Apple CPUs are very interesting. I mean hell they give better than Core2Quad performance (the line of "good enough" computing) in super small form factors.

The Samsung CPU might be cool.

Nvidia's CPU was something new and cool. It just couldn't get the design wins.

Oh and then there is Knights Landing.

Gaming CPUs are boring because we aren't where we expected to be by now.

 

[bigboxes]

Stil need a case and power supply. Damn, I assembled mine with only 32 GB RAM. Wonder why they say not to use with virtual machines?

Yes, I'd like that answer as well. Why do they say not to use with virtual machines?

 

[Arachnotronic]

In 2012, the fastest Intel Xeon was an 8 core Sandy Bridge-EP. In mid-2017, the fastest Intel Xeon will be a 28 core Skylake-EP/EX chip with AVX-512.

CPU innovation is alive and well. The problem on the desktop is that more cores is the best way to get more performance these days, but desktop software can't use it. Cranking up IPC and frequency from current levels is just really hard.

 

[CHADBOGA]

With the benefit of hindsight, the excitement in the CPU sector for desktop users pretty much ended during Conroe's reign.

CPU hobbyists were keen to see if Bulldozer could shake things up, but when it became clear that it was going to massively underperform expectations and Intel's small increases every year or so, it has been very hard to maintain enthusiasm.

For me the double whammy has been the dearth of games that interest me and/or push the demands of CPUs.

Hell, I have switched to bicycle riding to fill the void that the Computing world has left in my life.

Now I spend most my free time working out what is the best tyre, wheels, crankset, brake set, gear systems, derailleur setups etc, that I use to spend on my computer setup.

 

[TheELF]

Hell, I have switched to bicycle riding to fill the void that the Computing world has left in my life.

Now I spend most my free time working out what is the best tyre, wheels, crankset, brake set, gear systems, derailleur setups etc, that I use to spend on my computer setup.

/sarcasm
Oi,don't get me started on the wheel, it's practically unchanged since the dark ages,what was the last real innovation for the wheel?Rubber tubing, some 100 years ago?
/sarcasm

 

[zinfamous]

Even if Zen turns out to be God's gift to nerds, the tech isn't all that exciting compared to everything out there today, and the last 5+ years. it won't possibly be anything as cool, new, and revolutionary as the first Pentium or the first AMD64 chips.

OP's point is that design was exciting and had huge momentum back in those days, but things have just gotten boring--mostly tweaks and improved efficiency on relatively identical backbones. But, that's what happens when you hit the barriers inherent in physical laws.

well, poop. Maybe I was wrong?

 

[DrMrLordX]

well, poop. Maybe I was wrong?

Don't worry, we won't hold it against you.

Sadly they didn't name it "Ryzin" right? You'd be rich!

 

[sirmo]

well, poop. Maybe I was wrong?

hehe, if you managed to "stay awake" on the CPU tech this long, it's just getting interesting again.

 

[zinfamous]

Sadly they didn't name it "Ryzin" right? You'd be rich!

I own 3 out of 5 of those letters! This is more solid than a typical Apple patent!

 

[PliotronX]

We are on the eve of a huge release from AMD, perhaps their biggest in a decade, and you're not excited about CPUs?

I would have to concur, it is comical being a brand neutral builder and witnessing the Intel fanbois reversing their position on power draw claiming it doesn't matter now that AMD has something competitive.

 

[realibrad]

I own 3 out of 5 of those letters! This is more solid than a typical Apple patent!

You are 2 for 2 in jokes. First safe spaces, and now this. Well done sir.

I remember when C2D came out and how it blew everyone away. After that, I visited the CPU section very little because there was not much to talk about. I went from a dual core Athlon, a 3 core phenom, to an 2500k. I'm looking to build a whole new system and this looks to be the perfect time. Its hard not to get over excited.

 

[zinfamous]

You are 2 for 2 in jokes. First safe spaces, and now this. Well done sir.

Well, that's all I got, tbh. My eyes tend to gloss over and my brain turns to mush when you guys start talking megahurtz and thread efficiency whatsits. I still read it, though.

 

[coffeemonster]

Desktop/laptop performance reaching a "fast enough" point for 99.9% of the population, web browsing, Word, Excel, Photoshop, video editing, ...

which has been the case for how many years now though? a decade?

 

[TheELF]

which has been the case for how many years now though? a decade?

No, ~2006 we still had core2 and unless you had a top end chip that 99.9% of people couldn't or wouldn't afford performance was so-so.
Sandy and after was probably where even cheap chips became "fast enough" .

 

[DrMrLordX]

I own 3 out of 5 of those letters! This is more solid than a typical Apple patent!

What, you mean patents like this one? Fiona Apple beat them to it. Ironically.

 

[StrangerGuy]

So much raving about AMD finally matching Intel, but how many of you would really rush to buy 8C Zen especially if AMD charges HEDT prices? It isn't really that impressive considering SB is almost 6 years old by now.

 

[VirtualLarry]

So much raving about AMD finally matching Intel, but how many of you would really rush to buy 8C Zen especially if AMD charges HEDT prices? It isn't really that impressive considering SB is almost 6 years old by now.

I'm interested if 8C/16T Zen is under $500.

 

[PliotronX]

So much raving about AMD finally matching Intel, but how many of you would really rush to buy 8C Zen especially if AMD charges HEDT prices? It isn't really that impressive considering SB is almost 6 years old by now.

The 6900k they have their crosshairs on isn't SB. I expect the pricing to be very near its counterpart though because Intel can respond in kind which is good for us but how low can AMD go?

 

[ericlp]

Hmmm, I use to always have the best hardware till I moved from the mainland, to Hawaii and now live on solar and have to really watch my CPU Wattage usage.

intel i3 3220 40 watts at idle and 70 under load.

I chose the best bang for wattage I could find. I must admit, with the games that I play, far cry type games... 2 cores is all you need...

I use to always want the latest and best but, I really still enjoy the i3, it does pretty much everything I want at relatively quick speeds. I find most apps and games don't utilize multi core cpu's, unless, you are a engineer or running simulations or... use your computer for research, like seti, multi core is just a waste of untapped potential. I use to do seti all the time as well, on the mainland, today, on solar ... I never EVER keep my computer running 24x7, 70-80% of the time it's in sleep mode.

All this has come to my conclusion, that have the baddest - best cpu is mostly marketing hype. I would have never known if I hadn't moved off grid.

 

[Makaveli]

There have been so many "AMD is back!" products since C2D put the nail in the Athlon's coffin that I honestly stopped paying attention. Seems like AMD just falls further and further back. A success is catching up a bit and only being 2 or 3 generations behind instead of 4 or 5. I hope Zen is all you think it will be and put some heat on Intel. Problem is clockspeeds have topped out and IPC seems to have as well. Right now i'd just be happy if Zen could push Intel to release an 8/16 core mainstream (affordable) part.

AMD hasn't been back since leaving after core2 duo. The rest has been wishful thinking from fanboys that are not facts. Zen looks to be the first competitive piece of silicon from AMD in 10 years. The OP is correct though the market is boring now. I remember the excitement from say 1998-2008 but those days are long gone now.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I would have to concur, it is comical being a brand neutral builder and witnessing the Intel fanbois reversing their position on power draw claiming it doesn't matter now that AMD has something competitive.

Actually it is just the opposite. The AMD contingent whose mantra for years has been "who cares about power usage" are now suddenly touting it as the be all/end all, since AMD appears to be competitive (still waiting for independent benchmarks). And this is nothing compared to the reversals that occurred in VC&G when Polaris failed to deliver its supposedly superior performance per watt and it ended up nVidia was still more efficient. So it seems pretty odd to be calling out "intel fanbois" for contradicting themselves.

 

[bbhaag]

I'm with Hulk (the OP) on this one. The cpu segment has bean stagnate for awhile now. Ever since SB was released as far as I'm concerned. Even Intels offerings since SB haven't really wowed me. Zen may offer a breath of fresh air into the arena but I'm waiting for more benchmarks and reviews to come out. It's doubtful that Zen will even excite me though. Isn't it a chip geared more toward large enterprise markets? Like databases (whoohooo exciting!) and server type stuff......

 

[PliotronX]

Actually it is just the opposite. The AMD contingent whose mantra for years has been "who cares about power usage" are now suddenly touting it as the be all/end all, since AMD appears to be competitive (still waiting for independent benchmarks). And this is nothing compared to the reversals that occurred in VC&G when Polaris failed to deliver its supposedly superior performance per watt and it ended up nVidia was still more efficient. So it seems pretty odd to be calling out "intel fanbois" for contradicting themselves.

They are not mutually exclusive, fanbois exist with any brand. I just think its funny the types who would try to shut down any talk by citing TDP now want to ignore it but I see your point, pots and kettles are both black as night.

 

[waltchan]

CPUs have become LESS-obsolete now as time goes on. Intel Sandy Bridge LGA1155 in 2011 and AMD Trinity FM2 in 2012 pretty much confirmed everything. Six years later, I still feel Celeron G530 2.4GHz and A4-5300 3.4GHz very, very competitive today for Windows 10. I rate FM2 far less-obsolete than AM3+, however, despite the half-price.