Tri-Core CPUs?

[Shadow Conception]

So yeah, I was thinking about multi-core CPUs, and a fairly basic question jumped out in front of me. Why are Intel and AMD completely skipping over the idea of tri-core processors and taking a leap onto quad-core processors? Is it to do with higher financial restraints, or is technology really advancing that fast?

The only CPU I've seen that has used a tri-core setup is the Xbox 360, 3 cores clocked at 3.2GHz. So, if for Xbox 360, why not actual computers?

 

[Crescent13]

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[krotchy]

The main reason, at least in the intel camp is that they like to build non-native dual cores before their native ones.

First was the Pentium D, which was 2 Pentium 4's on the same die. Then they kicked out Core 2 Duo which was a native dual core solution. Next comes the kentsfield, which is essentially 2 Conroes on the same die. It would have been almost the same exact price to make a 3 core as a 4 core at this point, since the Core 2 architecture is native dual core. The next step for them will be a native quad core, making going 3 cores almost pointless, since a native 3 core would still not be as powerful as a non-native dual core. Once intel has their native quad core CPU out there, you can bet they will jump right to an 8 core consisting of 2 native 4 core CPU's. Doing 5/6/7 might be more complex than 8. However There is the posibility of creating an 8 core cpu, then testing each one individually and disabling the cores that arent up to par. This way you might have 8 cores on a die, 2 that have flaws and now you have a good 6 core CPU.

Pretty much it just comes to scaling. Placing 2 identical processors on 1 die is alot easier than placing a dual core and a single core, and is also easier than placing 3 single cores on a single die.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Crescent13
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That's not going to be any indication of what a properly configured 3-core CPU would do. There are a lot of issues at play in that article that would be solved by putting 3 cores onto one CPU.

 

[cubby1223]

The xbox 360 uses a triple core cpu

 

[w00t]

basically a quad core would be more efficent I beleive and to probably the same cost to make.

 

[ForumMaster]

probablly cause compuer alwasy work in multiples of 2. sharing a FSP or cache would be easier on a quad core then a triple core. also, what krotchy said is absolutly true. and about his last comment, this would seem probablle as the yields on the 8-core Cell CPU for the PS3 aren't good at all.