Which CPU will help AMD the most? (Poll included)

[cbn]

If you have thoughts on Nvidia's collaboration with IBM at the server level and ARM at the mobile level kindly include them as well.

 

[maniac5999]

Bobcat seems most interesting to me (with BD as a close 2nd)
People want cheap, small, 'Fast Enough' computing. Bobcat claims "90% of today's mainstream computing" To me that means processing power equivalent to a 2ghz Athlon x2, or a c2d of about 1.8ghz. That would be enough to run pretty much any 1080p video on CPU alone. Graphics wise, that would mean 2-4x the power of the current 3200/4200igp, which would be comparable to the higher end 2nd gen ION. If AMD can provide that in a 10-12" package with battery life comparable to current Atom/CULV with Intel's worthless IGP for $500 or less they'll have a huge winner.

Bulldozer is 2nd for obvious reasons. More/higher IPC cores for less die space? Awesome. (assuming that AMD doesn't pull another Phenom)

 

[khon]

I'm going to go with Llano mobile.

Right now AMDs options for laptops suck, and this could change that. Potentially that processor would provide good enough CPU, no need for dedicated graphics, and solid battery lifetime.
I'd definetely consider buying that.

 

[nonameo]

as much as I like AMD(well, sort of) I don't see bulldozer as doing any more than just keeping up with the current pace. I think there's more fun to be had with bobcat.

 

[cbn]

Does anyone have opinions on possible adoption of AMD Fusion hardware by Apple?

Could an increase in Open CL/Open GL improve the adoption of Linux at the client level? If so, is there any way that Linux and Apple could work together in some mutually beneficial way?

 

[Idontcare]

I can't help but think bobcat will be as helpful to AMD as the Nano is to Via.

Sure its a great low-cost item but that doesn't exactly scream high margins, loads of profits, or huge market share either.

It is a need to have, just like atom, but not a must have. Bulldozer is a must have, the company must have a flagship product that builds brand recognition from the top down.

Not many businesses triumph by having anything less and I don't see AMD being special in this regard.

 

[grimpr]

The fusion chip family is more critical for the company than desktop Bulldozer cores target market.

 

[khon]

I can't help but think bobcat will be as helpful to AMD as the Nano is to Via.

Sure its a great low-cost item but that doesn't exactly scream high margins, loads of profits, or huge market share either.

It is a need to have, just like atom, but not a must have. Bulldozer is a must have, the company must have a flagship product that builds brand recognition from the top down.

Not many businesses triumph by having anything less and I don't see AMD being special in this regard.

I think of it in terms of marketshare. Currently they have a decent 30% share in the desktop market, while in the mobile market they only have 15%. Thus there is a lot more room to grow in the mobile market.

Right now I can't think of any reason why someone would buy a netbook or notebook with an AMD processor, they simple aren't as good as their Intel counterparts. If they can change that with either Bobcat or Llano mobile it would be huge.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

For future reference, if you make a thread about what will be the most effective at something, it's a bit...strange...to create a poll where you can vote multiple choices. Just saying.

I voted Llano mobile. To be honest, I don't think netbooks are going to go anywhere. They used to be the hip thing to have, but I think people have clued on to the fact that they cannot be, and weren't designed for, desktop replacement, and there are a lot of other devices that provide similar functionality but far more power, like the CULV processors. And so I think that the biggest 'proper' computer growth market will be in the notebook market; devices that are energy efficient, light, quiet, but which have more power than current netbooks and can do more. And I think Llano will help AMD capture more of this segment, especially with the increasing usefulness of having a proper GPU.

For all those that voted Bulldozer, do you guys mind posting why?

 

[cbn]

For future reference, if you make a thread about what will be the most effective at something, it's a bit...strange...to create a poll where you can vote multiple choices. Just saying.

Sorry about the mistake. You are right about what you are saying.

 

[grimpr]

Here's a rundown, posted on xtremesystems.

 

[cbn]

Here's a rundown, posted on xtremesystems.

30 to 45 watts for Mobile Llano?

100 watts for Desktop Llano?

Up to 20 watts for Ontario? (ie, two bobcat cores + DX11 Evergreen GPU).

 

[extra]

I'm going to go with Llano mobile.

Right now AMDs options for laptops suck, and this could change that. Potentially that processor would provide good enough CPU, no need for dedicated graphics, and solid battery lifetime.
I'd definetely consider buying that.

That was my vote. Laptops outsell desktops, don't they? I think llano mobile may have the right mix of just enough cpu performance+great (for integrated) gpu performance to really shine.

Bobcat was my other potential vote (but i didn't vote for it)...if they pull it off it could make them a TON of money in emerging segments.

I'm sure bulldozer will be good and profitable, but I don't see it being better at everything like k8 was or anything like that. I bet it'll be more like thuban--sell well to enthusiasts, be great for some things, not as good as intel for some others...

 

[Martimus]

That was my vote. Laptops outsell desktops, don't they? I think llano mobile may have the right mix of just enough cpu performance+great (for integrated) gpu performance to really shine.

Bobcat was my other potential vote (but i didn't vote for it)...if they pull it off it could make them a TON of money in emerging segments.

I'm sure bulldozer will be good and profitable, but I don't see it being better at everything like k8 was or anything like that. I bet it'll be more like thuban--sell well to enthusiasts, be great for some things, not as good as intel for some others...

Same here. I would love to have a Llano based laptop to replace my current Intel/Intel integrated graphics laptop.

Similar battery life, far superior graphics so that I can actually play some games I want to play when I go on TDY.

 

[FragKrag]

I'm pretty sure it would be Llano for laptops as well. If they can get the IGP up to par and keep good battery life and heat output, AMD has a winner.

That said, I'm more excited for Bulldozer at the moment.

 

[LoneNinja]

I voted Llano for laptops. AMD really needs some competitive laptop parts right now, and fusion looks promising for all but the high end. Bulldozer will be important if it has the performance to give Intel a run for their money, but the market share for Llano will be much higher. AMD needs both processors for different reasons, but they need market share, Llano should help out with that.

 

[cbn]

Deleted.

 

[cbn]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3696/...-z600-series-the-fastest-smartphone-processor

Pine Trail still has all of the bells and whistles of a PC platform however. Take the PCI bus for example. Every 12 microseconds it wakes up and polls every IO on the platform. That kills idle battery life, especially when you’ve got a tiny smartphone battery. Pine Trail is useless for smartphones, and that’s where Moorestown comes in.

If you thought this was the netbook Atom squeezed into a smartphone, you’re very wrong. It’s got a completely different memory controller, a true smartphone GPU (the same core, but clocked higher than what’s in the iPhone 3GS) and a ton of power optimizations that just don’t exist in the netbook version. The chipset is also very different. The PCI bus is gone as is anything that could ruin power consumption. Intel did a lot of optimization and a lot of cutting here. What resulted is something that looks a lot like a smartphone hardware platform and nothing like what we’re used to seeing from Intel.

I wonder how Bobcat/Ontario derivatives will fare against Intel's new Moorestown "atom" architecture in smart phone form?

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3696/...00-series-the-fastest-smartphone-processor/16

For me however it's more about software and design wins. Intel needs to be in an iPhone, or at least something equally emotionally captivating. It needs a halo product. I believe Intel has the right approach here with Moorestown. To be honest, I've seen the roadmap beyond it and it's very strong. The technology is there. We just need someone to put it to use and that's the part that isn't guaranteed.

Speaking of software and design wins, how much better would Bobcat/Ontario smart phone version need to be in order to get into Apple iPhone? (Apple already owns an ARM design firm which it apparently bought for a few hundred million dollars).