Richland ES now out in the wild.

[wlee15]

From the x264dev irc channel

2012-11-14 23:42:21 < Skyler_> amd just sent me a Steamroller CPU.
2012-11-14 23:42:26 < Skyler_> I don't know why. all I got was a box at my desk

That just made things a lot more interesting.

http://akuvian.org/src/x264/freenode-x264dev.log.bz2

 

[cytg111]

omg, this so sad.

 

[Idontcare]

:hmm: seems unlikely since the last official word from AMD was that it hadn't taped out yet, I doubt they went from not being taped out to having working silicon in hand in the span of a month.

 

[Ferzerp]

:hmm: seems unlikely since the last official word from AMD was that it hadn't taped out yet, I doubt they went from not being taped out to having working silicon in hand in the span of a month.

It was on the internet. It has to be true.

Uhhh, bonjour!

 

[zebrax2]

Isn't it more like a joke since he said

I don't know why. all I got was a box at my desk

implying that there was no CPU inside?

 

[Idontcare]

Isn't it more like a joke since he said

implying that there was no CPU inside?

Oh thats just what we need, more leaked boxart reviews

 

[inf64]

Yeah sure it was an empty box... If x264 developer said they sent him a SR ES,he is probably not lying .

 

[Vesku]

Hmmm, as a CPU enthusiast I hope this means Steamroller turned out especially awesome and AMD is skunkworking it along for a mid 2013 launch.


Not going to hold my breath, though.

 

[Idontcare]

Yeah sure it was an empty box... If x264 developer said they sent him a SR ES,he is probably not lying .

You don't send software developers potentially buggy ES hardware.

You send ES hardware to platform developers.

No one wants half-borked silicon to attempt to perform software development on.

If a software developer really needs early access to the instruction set features of next-gen hardware then they get access to a simulator.

Something tells me this is a random dude on the internet making up random stuff. After JFAMD, even if it was an AMD guy claiming it was true I'd still have my doubts. But right now nothing about this guy's claims make any sense.

Hmmm, as a CPU enthusiast I hope this means Steamroller turned out especially awesome and AMD is skunkworking it along for a mid 2013 launch.


Not going to hold my breath, though.

Considering when Piledriver was released for the desktop, I wouldn't count on steamroller being planned for anything in 2013. It isn't even on the roadmaps for 2013 anymore.

 

[wlee15]

:hmm: seems unlikely since the last official word from AMD was that it hadn't taped out yet, I doubt they went from not being taped out to having working silicon in hand in the span of a month.

Well they only said that the performance data at the Hotchips reveal was based on simulated data, it didn't necessarily mean that didn't have working silicon at that point. In any case Jason Garrett-Glaser(Skyler) has no real reason to lie on a obscure IRC channel.

 

[Idontcare]

Well they only said that the performance data at the Hotchips reveal was based on simulated data, it didn't necessarily mean that didn't have working silicon at that point. In any case Jason Garrett-Glaser(Skyler) has no real reason to lie on a obscure IRC channel.

They (AMD) really did state they didn't even have steamroller taped out. It was in one of those analyst meetings.

Jason has no reason to lie, true, but he has every reason to not divuldge confidential info. If steamroller ES is out then he would know its not something AMD wants him talking about, and he wouldn't have ES unless he signed an NDA.

 

[Vesku]

Considering when Piledriver was released for the desktop, I wouldn't count on steamroller being planned for anything in 2013. It isn't even on the roadmaps for 2013 anymore.

Hence the "skunkworks" reference. I too am skeptical given AMDs track record. Maybe it's a steamroller based APU with unified memory tweaks ala HSA. Would at least give a reason for passing them out to software devs.

He also may just be mistaken about what he was sent, *Richland or Kabini* would be less unexpected.

 

[Idontcare]

Hence the "skunkworks" reference. I too am skeptical given AMDs track record. Maybe it's a steamroller based APU with unified memory tweaks ala HSA. Would at least give a reason for passing them out to software devs.

He also may just be mistaken about what he was sent, Kaveri would be less unexpected.

Good points, that passes the Occam's razor test for me, seems most probable.

 

[inf64]

Yeah I was also thinking APU,not server/workstation. Who knows,anything is possible.
And even if it is true it doesn't mean SR APUs will launch in 2013. It can still be H1 2014,a year+ from now.

 

[Abwx]

It isn't even on the roadmaps for 2013 anymore.

And your source is....???...

 

[tweakboy]

It was on the internet. It has to be true.

Uhhh, bonjour!

bonjour is spyware it installs with apps.......

 

[podspi]

And your source is....???...

http://seekingalpha.com/article/982931-amd-leaked-roadmap-analysis-prices-margins-and-competitiveness


This is driving me nuts, because last time this came up, I was convinced it wasn't official, then I could have sworn I actually found it on AMD's site. Now I can't find it

Anybody have any idea how credible that roadmap really is?

Hence the "skunkworks" reference. I too am skeptical given AMDs track record. Maybe it's a steamroller based APU with unified memory tweaks ala HSA. Would at least give a reason for passing them out to software devs.

He also may just be mistaken about what he was sent, *Richland or Kabini* would be less unexpected.

Can't imagine him lying. This isn't some anonymous poster on a tech forum . Much more likely that he is mistaken if anything.

 

[tynopik]

Isn't it more like a joke since he said

I don't know why. all I got was a box at my desk

implying that there was no CPU inside?

No, he's saying there was no note or letter, just the CPU.

He doesn't know why they sent him a Steamroller CPU because there was no explanation in the package, just the cpu in a box.

 

[eternalone]

This is mysterious and intresting maybe AMD has something up their sleeve, maybe just maybe the fabled Intel Destroyer has arrived.

 

[Iceshot]

Steamroller is a new architecture. While it's been reported Steamroller will be AM3+ socket, how is this developer suppose to use the cpu without a bios update? No letter, no instructions, no bios update to make it work with his board, and no hint from AMD that Steamroller is this far along in development. :hmm:

I'm a AMD fanboi, been using them exclusively since the 486-DX100 and as much as I'd like to believe this story, this seems farfetched.

 

[eternalone]

 

[Phynaz]

Yeah sure it was an empty box... If x264 developer said they sent him a SR ES,he is probably not lying .

You realize x264 is open source? Anybody can submit code. Which means anybody in an irc channel can say "XXX sent me YYY".

 

[wlee15]

You realize x264 is open source? Anybody can submit code. Which means anybody in an irc channel can say "XXX sent me YYY".

Jason Garrett-Glaser is one of the lead developers of x264 and the x264dev channel is not a place where you just BS in (go ahead try it). Also anyone can submit code but you will need approval to merge it.

 

[Zor Prime]

I read the log. He said he did get shipping confirmation of the package. He also seems to be in contact with AMD from time to time but hadn't spoke to them in a month, allegedly.

Anyway, BS'ing in IRC is a 100% fail-proof method to ruin your credibility if you're into IRC much. There could be some sort of mistake here, but I'm positive he believes it is a Steamroller prototype and likely does have some sort of processor sent to him.

 

[Idontcare]

Anyway, BS'ing in IRC is a 100% fail-proof method to ruin your credibility if you're into IRC much.

Did you ever hear the joke about the AMD guy who kept telling everyone "IPC does not decrease!"?

That was fail-proof too, and yet...