t'bred die shape change why ?

[Mingon]

Looking at the couple of photo's of the thoroughbred I cant help but still wonder why the die shape has changed. The athlon xp's / mp's all have a square die shape, and yet thet'bred goes back to a rectangular shape. Doesnt this point to some architectual changes ? or have they left some unused chip space tto increase the contact area.



t'bred pics

 

[BD231]

Well when you move to the .13m process it's going to be smaller, your contact area idea is correct. There is less chance of cracking a core with that type of sread out shape.

 

[Mingon]

I know the die size should change but they die shape should remain constant shouldnt it ?

 

[BD231]

Not really, IMO it's a smart move, the core wouldn't be able to handle all the downward force that heat sinks apply if it were in the same shape.

 

[Mingon]

But if that was the case you would add extra area on all sides not just 2, perhaps their is something amd is telling us ?

 

[BD231]

Even if you are to find the true technical answer, i doubt it would be of much relevance. AMD is not hiding anything with just a different die shape.