TG: "12 socket AM2 chips at launch"...

[Furen]

The article is Here...

Here're a few highlights:

The DDR2 mem controller will be tweaked for 333MHz operation (DDR667) possibly using Cas3 latency (Intel currently uses Cas4 for DDR667 according to the article).

Supposedly the following CPUs will launch:

Dual-core

FX-62 2.8GHz Dual-core 2x1MB cache
X2 5000+ 2.6GHz Dual-Core 2x1MB cache (they say 1x1MB but then they say these are the exact same specs as the FX60)
and at least three more X2s

Single-core

According to the article there will be three A64s:
A64 4000+ - 2.6GHz 512KB cache
A64 3800+ - 2.4GHz 512KB cache
A64 3500+ - 2.2GHz 512KB cache

There will be four Semprons:
Sempron 3500+ - 2.2GHz 256KB cache
Sempron 3400+ - 2.0GHz 256KB cache
Sempron 3200+ - 1.8GHz 256KB cache
Sempron 3000+ - 1.6GHz 256KB cache

We've all been speculating that the HTT would be set at 333MHz but if the above clockspeeds are correct then we're wrong. I would be hesitant to say that I believe TG's information without reserve but since the Asus ppl (in their chat with anandtech) mentioned that they had a 2.4 or 2.6GHz part in their labs (I dont remember which clock it was but it wasn't something divisible by 333) then perhaps their info is true.

Pacifica is only for A64s and X2s (and the FX, of course), I think Presidio is for all the chips.

 

[secretanchitman]

FX-62 already? wow...FX-60 JUST came out!

 

[Fox5]

Don't get too far ahead of yourself, AM2 has yet to even hit the market.

BTW, think these chips will be able to overclock much if the fsb's are already going to be at 333?

 

[Furen]

AM2 is supposed to come out next quarter, so within the next 3-5 months. AMD will probably release the FX62 at that time to give it a killer-app if you will. The HTT-333 thing depends on the motherboard more than the CPUs. The memory controller will be speced for 333 so it should have a bit of headroom in that regard.

 

[RichUK]

So no real speed bumps really during this year. I can't see 3Ghz coming from am X2 AM2 within this year. Considering the life cycle of the FX (which is around 6 months or so) and this will already clocked at 2.8Ghz on release. I think this platform may require time to mature. I think the first introduction of AM2 is just to kick off the introduction of a DDR2 mem controller and DDR2 as a whole on the AMD platform not a revamp of their processor line (kind of like a gap period, in wait for their next gen, and also yields AMD valuable testing time for DDR2 mem controllers). Only a next gen CPU from AMD will we some linear performance curves (and big ones hopefully) from this technology above current technology (DDR + K8). I?m thinking 2007 when possibly we will see K9/K10? (I haven?t been checking the road maps recently so it maybe sooner ?Hopefully?). Not to mention the implementation of 65nm on the AMD platform, hopefully this should be quite a benefit in improving clock speeds, and laptop processors.

I can't really see much point in upgrading to AM2 this year, not unless "nForce 5" (Or what ever the new nForce chipset will be called) will yield much of an improvement over the current NF4, which I can only see being more PCI-e lanes more than anything.

The only thing I am looking forward to this year is the Conroe Vs AM2 battle, this should be very interesting indeed. The Conroe is rumoured to have a 250Mhz (1066FSB) default FSB, so this should help against bandwidth issues when it comes to AMD?s on die mem controllers, not to mention 4MB?s L2 cache.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Dubb]

what about socket 1207? I want to know about opterons.

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: Dubb
what about socket 1207? I want to know about opterons.

my guess is that the platform will be pretty expensive and the benefits will be minimal for homeusers.

 

[jazzboy]

I had always doubted whether AMD would change to a 333mhz HT considering only a couple of current boards like DFIs can reach that.

Lets hope that AMD actually stick with this socket like they stuck with socket A.

 

[jlbenedict]

what is expected of the Socket 939 platform? I know this AM2 socket means pretty much close to the end of life for the 939 platform, but I was under the impression that the AMD roadmap has planned out a couple of more speed increases for the 939 platform?

 

[Dribble]

In my opinion the main reason too use AM2 is future cpu support - I read it will support quad core cpu's next year. Hence you've got a good upgrade path with it. DDR2 is quicker and cheaper these days but doubt the performance differences will be huge and any price savings will get eaten up by the more expensive AM2 CPU and motherboard.

 

[Nyati13]

Originally posted by: jazzboy

Lets hope that AMD actually stick with this socket like they stuck with socket A.

The Socket A with 4 different FSB speeds, multiple chipsets, and 2 RAM standards? The Socket A where not all Socket A CPUs worked in all Socket A motherboards?

At least with skt939 all CPUs can work in any motherboard.

It's well past time for the useless "Socket A" whine to be put to rest.

 

[the Chase]

I'm kinda bummed- was hoping(and one or two sites were predicting) that the new Semprons were going to have 512KB of cache which would really make them a deal if the pricing was somewhat relative to 754 Semprons..

 

[CP5670]

When is AM2 expected to come out?

what about socket 1207? I want to know about opterons.

I think that one has the integrated PCIE tunnel on the CPU. Not sure how what the benefit of that will be.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: Nyati13

Originally posted by: jazzboy

Lets hope that AMD actually stick with this socket like they stuck with socket A.

The Socket A with 4 different FSB speeds, multiple chipsets, and 2 RAM standards? The Socket A where not all Socket A CPUs worked in all Socket A motherboards?

At least with skt939 all CPUs can work in any motherboard.

It's well past time for the useless "Socket A" whine to be put to rest.

If you had an nforce2 board, they could support all socket A chips. Anyhow, at least socket A provided the ability for piecemeal upgrades, though I don't think it really came into its own until nforce2, and had lost its performance edge by then.

I think that one has the integrated PCIE tunnel on the CPU. Not sure how what the benefit of that will be.

It'll be interesting to see. I think it was supposed to come out around the same time... if it does provide better graphics performance, it may be worth the extra money.

 

[Sentential]

Originally posted by: CP5670
When is AM2 expected to come out?

what about socket 1207? I want to know about opterons.

I think that one has the integrated PCIE tunnel on the CPU. Not sure how what the benefit of that will be.

The last time I asked about AM2's tenitive ETA I was told it was some time around June of '06. From what I know of AM2 it looks quite strong and I look foreward to going back to AMD.

The new memory controller design is impressivly strong and you will see why when it is released. The levels to which the HTT scales on these chips will blow you away. It is capable of clocking *easily* 2X the levels of what people are accustomed to on S939.

As for AMD's ability to ramp past 3ghz, I think that the possibly it is quite strong. They beefed up the power layout quite a bit for future quad cores and that should allow all others to scale quite a bit better on the new socket just like the Prescott chips did on LGA775.

While 3ghz will not be easy by any stretch, it will be a whole lot *easier* on the new socket. Especially with 65nm right around the bend.

As for the RAM controller Cas 3 is out of the question. Thats not where the industry is going. Higher latency, like it or not, is here to stay. If anything AMD is going for a more DDR3 friendly system with the anticipation of people like Samsung's release of DDR2-900 parts

 

[n7]

Interesting.

 

[coldpower27]

Well it would depend, would AMD tweak for JEDEC standard 5-5-5-15 DDR2-667 or lower CAS3 which is an ethusiast grade of memory. They could make it work with CAS3 as well, but need to have it work with both latencies.

Well AMD has to make sure it works with CAS 5 parts as well as that is what value DDR2 is clocked at.