Low-power SNB Xeons - 20W Dual and 45W Quads

[exar333]

Pretty impressive from the AT preview here:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4222/intel-plans-on-bringing-atom-to-servers-in-2012-20w-snb-xeons-in-2011

That is a lot of processing power for only 20 or 45W!

 

[Idontcare]

EETimes: Intel plans sub-10W Atom server CPU

Taking aim at a growing set of low power ARM-based server processors, Intel Corp. will ship next year its first CPU for servers based on its Atom core and consuming less than 10W. The news comes days after startup Calxeda said it plans a quad-core ARM Cortex A9 server SoC that will consume just 5W including associated DRAM.

http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4214078/Intel-plans-sub-10W-Atom-server-CPU

Makes you wonder if AMD has any plans to intersect the same marketspace with a bobcat-based server SKU...:hmm:

 

[exar333]

Makes you wonder if AMD has any plans to intersect the same marketspace with a bobcat-based server SKU...:hmm:

Yeah, this is only a month of so after MS asked for a 16-core+ server based on Atom. Energy efficient servers would be awesome application for a lot of companies. It is great to see companies moving to fill this need.

It is pretty amazing to think a modern SNB-based quad could use 45W of power. Think back 5-6 years and we had single-core processors using 100W+ at similar clockspeeds.

 

[Arkadrel]

Makes you wonder if AMD has any plans to intersect the same marketspace with a bobcat-based server SKU...:hmm:

by removeing alot of stuff for the C-50, they can get them down to 5watts.
thats a dual core 1ghz cpu + gpu combo.


I dont see why AMD wouldnt be able to on the new node, make a 10watt quad core bobcat cpu.

question is, would they be worth the trouble to make?

would anyone want a 4 x 1.0ghz bobcat cpu for 10watts? or 8 x 1.0ghz bobcat cpu for 20watts?

 

[IntelUser2000]

I dont see why AMD wouldnt be able to on the new node, make a 10watt quad core bobcat cpu.

question is, would they be worth the trouble to make?

would anyone want a 4 x 1.0ghz bobcat cpu for 10watts? or 8 x 1.0ghz bobcat cpu for 20watts?

Actually that would be really hard to do. 5W for C-50 happens when only 1 USB port is used, and the memory is 1 DIMM or LV DDR.

If they want the server version, it would be too limiting. That would put it back up at 9W. Furthermore, doubling the amount of cores would bring rapidly diminishing returns in performance without overhauling the router and uncore interface. If you kept doubling cores without changing anything else, at certain point it would even bring degradation. Adding scaling features all cost power.

As for the topic of discussion, similar clock speeds and cores are offered for similar TDP levels with the mobile parts.