Is AMD Done With Phenom and Athlon?

[N4g4rok]

Newegg is almost completely out of all the more desirable AMD CPUs, and i spot these rumors around that AMD is supposedly done shipping Phenom and Athlon II's with the exception of the Zosma core.

Has there been any official word from AMD on this? I was hoping to upgrade to an X6 after the holiday.

 

[Maximilian]

I think they said global foundries is done making them for now, i dont know if that means they are being phased out completely or not though, dont see why they cant have TSMC make more if they need to.

 

[Arachnotronic]

It's not easy to simply hand the design over to a new fab and then have them start churning it out. It'd take a solid 12-18 months to start Athlon/Phenom production at TSMC.

 

[BD231]

phuckin amd the broke sons of bitches. I still have a few am3 boards that need cpus soon >:^(

 

[N4g4rok]

phuckin amd the broke sons of bitches. I still have a few am3 boards that need cpus soon >:^(

Not only that, i don't consider Bulldozer much of an upgrade. At this point, it's hope for the best for Piledriver, or shell out the cash for and Intel or a last chance grab at an X6 off Amazon or the like.

 

[Vesku]

Buy the x6 while you still can, if you have any boards that support it. It's Fusion or FX from here on out. AMD has been talking about emerging markets and how processor manufacturing is only going to get tougher. Pretty big flags that they aren't too keen to keep up with Intel in the enthusiast bracket.

 

[Chiropteran]

Not only that, i don't consider Bulldozer much of an upgrade. At this point, it's hope for the best for Piledriver, or shell out the cash for and Intel or a last chance grab at an X6 off Amazon or the like.

Yet, it is an upgrade, even if not much of one. It's silly to panic and buy an X6 you don't really need today if you have an FX capable board. Even if FX isn't that amazing right now, given normal CPU price drops over time it'll be a better deal eventually.

Of course if you have an non-AM3+ board that needs a CPU, I'd buy now.

 

[LoneNinja]

I read back in September an announcement from AMD that they will stop production of nearly all 45nm products Q4 2011. Tomshardware.com had a news article on it a few weeks ago too, and despite how horribly inaccurate AMD roadmaps are, I'm pretty sure they showed no 45nm production in 2012. It really shouldn't be a surprise since AMD has replaced the entire AM3 line up with socket FM1 and AM3+ 32nm parts for all price ranges.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/amd-cpu-apu-athlon-phenom-Llano-Bulldozer,14173.html

I guess they just reported on a rumor, but with the supply of Athlon II /Phenom II processors vanishing from the likes of newegg.com it is probably true.

 

[N4g4rok]

It really shouldn't be a surprise since AMD has replaced the entire AM3 line up with socket FM1 and AM3+ 32nm parts for all price ranges.

Well, on that note, should they not have considered continuing to make a few of the bigger sellers due to the launch issues of Bulldozer? By launch issues, i mean the performance per dollar that didn't really hit the mark they had set for themselves.

 

[LoneNinja]

Well, on that note, should they not have considered continuing to make a few of the bigger sellers due to the launch issues of Bulldozer? By launch issues, i mean the performance per dollar that didn't really hit the mark they had set for themselves.

No, they shouldn't continue wasting production on older designs for that reason, what they need to do is correct the price/performance of the FX series. Actually most of Llano isn't priced that well either for someone who has no intent on using the integrated graphics. It sucks for the end consumer, but they're selling the parts as fast as they can produce them, so they have no reason to lower prices right now.

 

[Cerb]

No, they shouldn't continue wasting production on older designs for that reason, what they need to do is correct the price/performance of the FX series. Actually most of Llano isn't priced that well either for someone who has no intent on using the integrated graphics. It sucks for the end consumer, but they're selling the parts as fast as they can produce them, so they have no reason to lower prices right now.

If you have no intent on using the IGP, why would you even consider Llano? W/o the IGP, it's typically inferior to even other AMD options. It's priced a bit high due to demand, for sure, but buying it and a video card would be like buying a 2600K and turning off HT.

 

[Fox5]

It's not easy to simply hand the design over to a new fab and then have them start churning it out. It'd take a solid 12-18 months to start Athlon/Phenom production at TSMC.

GF also optimized their process for high performance, while TSMC doesn't, so it's likely the designs couldn't hit the same clocks (and possibly not even the same density) at TSMC.

 

[nyker96]

I have am2+ board that can take x6, but I think I'll save the cash for Haswell. Amd's track record is just disappointing.

 

[jmarti445]

I have am2+ board that can take x6, but I think I'll save the cash for Haswell. Amd's track record is just disappointing.

I love my X6 and I have an AM2+ motherboard, I suggest if you want more performance out of the platform get the X6's while they are hot, they are worth the money.

 

[v8envy]

Was about to pull the trigger on an x6 for the reasons speculated in this thread, and then microcenter drops the price on a 2500k to the same $160. No brainer there.

 

[Elixer]

Forgot where I read it, but I think production stopped for all older CPUs from AMD, they are 100% llano & BD now.

The channel should dry up pretty quickly though, as people rush to find black edition x6's.
Sad day when they are all gone.

I don't think it is worth it to go from a x4 to a x6, unless you really need more cores. If not, then (sadly) your only choice is a 2500k or 2600k.

 

[ncalipari]

PII x6 will be greatly missed here. Bought thousands of these CPU.

Oh AMD, why did you picked the fabless path?!?!??!

 

[N4g4rok]

I don't think it is worth it to go from a x4 to a x6, unless you really need more cores. If not, then (sadly) your only choice is a 2500k or 2600k.

I was hoping to avoid it, but if i keep an LGA 1155 upgrade kit on a wish list, maybe it will drop down to a decent price after Ivy Bridge's release. I just wasn't crazy about paying that much for a CPU that i felt was not going to be that much of an improvement.

 

[LoneNinja]

If you have no intent on using the IGP, why would you even consider Llano? W/o the IGP, it's typically inferior to even other AMD options. It's priced a bit high due to demand, for sure, but buying it and a video card would be like buying a 2600K and turning off HT.

Right now anyone who wants a cheap gaming build with a sub $100 processor is better off with Athlon II than they are Llano, the price/performance ratio is better if there is no intent to use the IGP. Athlon II and something like a 6770 make a great budget gaming build. Once that Athlon II stock dries up, they'll be forced to pay more for Llano to get the same performance while still using that 6770, or sacrifice cpu performance to maintain the same budget.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Right now anyone who wants a cheap gaming build with a sub $100 processor is better off with Athlon II than they are Llano, the price/performance ratio is better if there is no intent to use the IGP. Athlon II and something like a 6770 make a great budget gaming build. Once that Athlon II stock dries up, they'll be forced to pay more for Llano to get the same performance while still using that 6770, or sacrifice cpu performance to maintain the same budget.

Agree totally with Athlon's being great budget gaming CPU's. The only problem is budget gamers (like me) won't go Llano. Right now I'm looking to do like the OP mentioned.....get my x6 while the getting is good. In a year or two I'll scrounge around for the cheapest Sandybridge combo I can find, like a 2120 on a half way decent mATX. Game for 1-2 years. Replace 2120 w/2500k. Rinse and repeat. That way I keep the same mobo and OS license for at least 5 years.

Price/performance doesn't seem to favor AM3+ or FM1 right now. I've spent the last decade tinkering with AMD's but I think the next decade my $$ is going to belong to Intel.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Yep...

 

[nemesismk2]

what I have noticed is that although the phenom II x4/x6 and athlon II x4 processors are going out of stock all the time. the amd athlon II x3 455 which is 3.3ghz and gives almost quad core performance and can sometimes be unlocked to quad core is still instock in most uk suppliers and can be purchased for dual core kind of prices.

 

[lOl_lol_lOl]

Athlon FM1 will most likely be the last bearer of the name. Stars, an optimized Phenom, will be the last of the architecture.

If they have a bunch of them lying around, they should sell them as part of entry-level/low budget solutions in time for Windows 8.

Multithread optimized OS + apps for 3-6 cores will ensure these chips receive an honorable send-off.

 

[gmaster456]

Once whats in stock is gone. Its gone for good.

 

[nenforcer]

I have a feeling these AM3 CPU's will fetch a decent price on places like eBay the next couple of years. There are a ton of AM2 and AM2+ boards out there.

Sempron to the rescue.