PCgameshardware : Bulldozer? Please. Intel Confirms 8 Core SB-E For Q3

[Mopetar]

Where is this mythical $15K server?

Dell R410 with 2 L5630's and 32GB is $4,355
Dell R415 with 2 4170 HE's and 32GB is $3,769

That means 15% more expensive, 8% more performance.

He may have been including the costs of software licenses as well. Depending on what you're running that's not always an issue, but it can add a significant amount to the cost.

Also, wasn't the best value for AMD servers in the 4P models? I recall someone else posting that some AMD 4P configurations cost less than similar 2P Intel configurations.

 

[Maximilian]

Up to 8 core? Boo! 1366 already does 6 core, i would expect 2011 to launch with 8 core as standard and up to 16 cores.

Guess its haswell im waiting for :\

 

[exar333]

I never knew amd was a wallet rapist.

I surly hope its not going to be that bad.

In 06 i was still on an old dell from 01 with a intel single core @766mhz

will the quads run fx aswell or just the 8c?

'Hey, we are AMD and we give our products away...'

Sounds nice but they need to make a buck too...

 

[Phynaz]

Where is this mythical $15K server?

You're kidding, right?

That or you think I'm a fool.

 

[Phynaz]

He may have been including the costs of software licenses as well. Depending on what you're running that's not always an issue, but it can add a significant amount to the cost.

Also, wasn't the best value for AMD servers in the 4P models? I recall someone else posting that some AMD 4P configurations cost less than similar 2P Intel configurations.

No, I'm not including software. I was actually rounding down, our standard small workload server is a little over $16K for hardware and build.

I'm frankly trying to figure out what JF is trying to accomplish here. He has to be aware of the HP systems that use AMD cpu's that can go well over $30K, and yet accesses me of making things up when I mention $15K. And even after insulting me his own words turn a 216% price difference into a 15% difference.

That, or HP and AMD are not really that close. That could explain why in 19 years HP has not once even mentioned seeding me with an AMD system. And maybe that's why there isn't an AMD cpu to be found in the HP enterprise client elite line - desktop or laptop.

 

[Arkadrel]

@Phynaz

AMD just makes the CPUs... not the servers or the software. (afaik)

If a HP server costs 30,000$.... the less than 200$ CPU (that was mentioned before hand) probably isnt to blame for it, and HP is probably pocketing a decent profit.

 

[Conroe]

It's seems people fail to realize the lowly SB i3 is more powerful overall than any AM3 CPU. It's all about IPC.

 

[JFAMD]

He may have been including the costs of software licenses as well. Depending on what you're running that's not always an issue, but it can add a significant amount to the cost.

Also, wasn't the best value for AMD servers in the 4P models? I recall someone else posting that some AMD 4P configurations cost less than similar 2P Intel configurations.

I specifically stayed clear of the 4P because that isn't even close, we have ~40% advantage at the platform level.

No, I'm not including software. I was actually rounding down, our standard small workload server is a little over $16K for hardware and build.

I'm frankly trying to figure out what JF is trying to accomplish here. He has to be aware of the HP systems that use AMD cpu's that can go well over $30K, and yet accesses me of making things up when I mention $15K.

Well, if you are paying $16K for a "small workload server" then you are in the extreme minority. Average sales price for 2P servers is ~$5.

I went to Dell's website and configured an R715 with 2 top bin Opterons, 64GB of memory, redundant power and 2 HD's. $8800. That is a pretty robust configuration, way above a satand "small workload" and yet it is half of what you are paying.

I am not even sure that you could get a 2P HP box to $30K.

Oh, and because you are an HP guy, I went to their site to configure the same thing, 2 top bin processors, 64GB, redundant power, 2 drives. It's $8,900.

Taking the system up to 16 500GB drives and a second RAID controller gets the price to $15K, which is still under your small config price.

I don't disagree that processor prices are reflected differently at the platform level, but in a base config there is ~10-15% difference between Intel and AMD.

I just don't buy that $16K is a small workload server, and none of the analyst data that tracks server market revenue and units reflects that either. The actual IDC number puts it in the $46-4700 range for the past few quarters.

 

[Meghan54]

While intel continues to rape people's wallets, AMD continues to give the best performance/price ratio.

AMD gets the win :thumbsup:

That almost made me laugh so hard coffee almost came out my nose.

AMD's top end chip is trounced by an equivalent priced SB chip. (Phenom II X6 1100 BE vs. SB i5 2500)

True, AMD owns the bottom-feeder arena....but once you get to both companies performance chips, AMD's Phenom II X6's and Intel's SB cpu's, AMD loses rather badly.

 

[bandgit]

With all due respect, Mr. Fruehe, given that we're 2 weeks from Q2 would it not be about time to release some indication of Bulldozer's actual benchmarks, not just leave the blogosphere to hypothesize based on architectural details? I am among many who would be more than happy to build a system around Bulldozer if I had an inkling of how the heck it performed.

 

[Phynaz]

I just don't buy that $16K is a small workload server

Calling me a liar twice in one thread. Nice.

For your education here's our current catalog pricing.
Small - $16K
Medium - $30K
Large - Custom config $66K - $1M

 

[JFAMD]

With all due respect, Mr. Fruehe, given that we're 2 weeks from Q2 would it not be about time to release some indication of Bulldozer's actual benchmarks, not just leave the blogosphere to hypothesize based on architectural details? I am among many who would be more than happy to build a system around Bulldozer if I had an inkling of how the heck it performed.

We have always maintained benchmarks at launch.

Calling me a liar twice in one thread. Nice.

For your education here's our current catalog pricing.
Small - $16K
Medium - $30K
Large - Custom config $66K - $1M

I did not call you a liar, I am saying that your server configs do not reflect the rest of the market when the average config (according to IDC) is under $5K. It's fine that your minimums are huge, but that does not reflect the rest of the market. And the discussion we are having is about the market in general, not your company's habits.

 

[bandgit]

We have always maintained benchmarks at launch.

Fair enough, can you give us an indication of roughly when in Q2 launch will be? I understand you're living under strict confidentiality so I don't expect an exact date, but a month would be reasonable.

 

[JFAMD]

No, quarter granularity is all we will give.

 

[podspi]

Fair enough, can you give us an indication of roughly when in Q2 launch will be? I understand you're living under strict confidentiality so I don't expect an exact date, but a month would be reasonable.

I'm sure once AMD lifts the date embargo we will all know very quickly

 

[Edrick]

For your education here's our current catalog pricing.
Small - $16K
Medium - $30K
Large - Custom config $66K - $1M

If you really pay that you are in the minority.

 

[Edrick]

I am saying that your server configs do not reflect the rest of the market when the average config (according to IDC) is under $5K. It's fine that your minimums are huge, but that does not reflect the rest of the market. And the discussion we are having is about the market in general, not your company's habits.

+1

Just because one company has crazy pricing does not make for a good arguement.

 

[RobertPters77]

Hmm.

8 module/16 core Bulldozer or 8 core/16 thread Sandy Bridge?

I wonder clock for clock which will be better.

 

[JFAMD]

I'm sure once AMD lifts the date embargo we will all know very quickly

Especially because the embargo lifts on launch day.

 

[bandgit]

Especially because the embargo lifts on launch day.

Granted but there are usually indications of general performance that seep out before the launch of most CPUs. Bulldozer seems to be conspicuous by its absence in that group. Is this total secrecy policy due to the fact that Bulldozer is too fast or too slow to be leaked? :hmm:

 

[Ancalagon44]

Yeah Phynaz, thats just stupid. No one is going to buy a $16k server for a small business unless that includes some rather expensive site software licenses. For just hardware, its absurd.

Either you count Microsoft as a small client or you are woefully misinformed.

Also, to those of you think who are dismayed about rumours that the top end BD chips might cost $800 or more, AMD has to make money too. The only reason the Phenom IIs arent priced higher is because they arent competitive enough against the Intel chips. If they were, they would cost more. See the FX-62 which as someone else mentioned retailed for $999.99. Interesting that these days a $100 would beat it.

 

[JFAMD]

Granted but there are usually indications of general performance that seep out before the launch of most CPUs. Bulldozer seems to be conspicuous by its absence in that group. Is this total secrecy policy due to the fact that Bulldozer is too fast or too slow to be leaked? :hmm:

This is standard policy for all of our launches. It's just that people usually don't do this much speculation and rumor.

 

[Idontcare]

Hmm.

8 module/16 core Bulldozer or 8 core/16 thread Sandy Bridge?

I wonder clock for clock which will be better.

Depends on the application and even then it will depend on the specific user-patterns with that application, naturally.

 

[Phynaz]

Yeah Phynaz, thats just stupid. No one is going to buy a $16k server for a small business unless that includes some rather expensive site software licenses. For just hardware, its absurd.

Either you count Microsoft as a small client or you are woefully misinformed.

I don't work for a small business. Perhaps you missed the part in my post where I was saying enterprise class equipment?

 

[Thor86]

Considering we know nothing of how well Bulldozer chips actually perform or what they will cost, it's just a little bit silly to compare unreleased Intel parts to unreleased AMD parts.

+1