Xbitlabs: AMD Expects Next-Gen Chip to Cut Power Consumption by Half

[Idontcare]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/...en_Chip_to_Cut_Power_Consumption_by_Half.html

"We plan to introduce a version of Trinity that will consume less than 50% the power of today's lowest power, 35W Llano APU, bringing performance computing to the ultra-thin notebooks," said Thomas Seifert, interim chief exec of AMD, during the discussion of financial results of the company with financial analysts.

You think this is just going to be based on lowered clockspeeds to reign in the power-consumption, or more selective binning of low-Vcc chips, or are they banking on some serious 32nm process tech improvements over the next 12 months before Trinity is released?

 

[Tsavo]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/...en_Chip_to_Cut_Power_Consumption_by_Half.html



You think this is just going to be based on lowered clockspeeds to reign in the power-consumption, or more selective binning of low-Vcc chips, or are they banking on some serious 32nm process tech improvements over the next 12 months before Trinity is released?

Yes.

 

[podspi]

Missing option: Performance/watt for BD is much higher and/or much more aggressive TurboCORE implementation.

 

[nonameo]

Well, they only mention that there will be some version of trinity. No comments on how cut down it will be.

So if you add to that: 1 module and lowest shader processor count, then yes.

 

[Terzo]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/...en_Chip_to_Cut_Power_Consumption_by_Half.html



You think this is just going to be based on lowered clockspeeds to reign in the power-consumption, or more selective binning of low-Vcc chips, or are they banking on some serious 32nm process tech improvements over the next 12 months before Trinity is released?

All of the above? Sounds like something similar to the Intel ULV chips. I'm guessing the power savings would mostly be realized from lower clocks and selective binning (since they sound much simpler than process tech improvements). I'm sure AMD will improve power consumption as their 32nm process matures, but I doubt it alone would be enough to halve Llano's power consumption.

 

[dma0991]

Most probably a PR hype by AMD in response to Intel's move from the standard 35W TDP to 17.5W TDP.

 

[Soleron]

I think it just means there will be a 17W dual-core Trinity. Not that each replacing product will consume half the power.

 

[Idontcare]

Yeah that's what I'm trying to figure out...what was the relevance of tying the unqualified Trinity comment to Llano's 35W footprint?

Surely AMD could release a 17.5W Llano SKU today of they so desired, just dial the clockspeed down accordingly.

So I am assuming they mean to imply that performance will not suffer, Trinity IPC improvement combined with something is going to deliver comparable performance with half the TDP footprint?

Although won't AMD have the 28nm Brazos followup out in the market then? Surely there will be 18W TDP SKU's of that as well...so I'm a little confused as to how AMD will position these overlapping products when the time comes.

 

[StrangerGuy]

What a lame attempt from AMD to divert attention from an MIA Bulldozer.

I'll might be more interested in stuff scheduled further than BD if BD was actually out now.

 

[drizek]

Brazos is more like 5W TDP, right?

 

[Idontcare]

Brazos is more like 5W TDP, right?

You mean "down to" not "more like"...the C-series targets 9W TDP, E-Series is 18W.

Obviously the low-end of Brazos shrink won't be competing with the low-end of Trinity, but the high end will (unless they don't release an 18W TDP SKU for Brazos shrink, always a possibility).

 

[Vesku]

Seems they are trying to hype their new found mobile power efficiency. I think this is the first time AMD has been able to provide a useful mobile platform that runs for more than 2 hours on a typical battery. Based on current Llano chips if they wanted to hit the 18W power envelope today, it probably wouldn't be much better than Brazos but have a higher cost to OEMs.

I hope GloFos 32nm process matures as well as AMD is forecasting.

 

[Edgy]

Although won't AMD have the 28nm Brazos followup out in the market then? Surely there will be 18W TDP SKU's of that as well...so I'm a little confused as to how AMD will position these overlapping products when the time comes.

Same way Intel is doing for their ULV - with higher price, I would assume...

 

[waffleironhead]

What sort of die savings could they expect from a 4 thread bulldozer verses the 4 core husky in the current llano?

 

[frostedflakes]

Most probably a PR hype by AMD in response to Intel's move from the standard 35W TDP to 17.5W TDP.

Exactly, they don't really have any choice but to follow Intel. Unfortunately for them this reduction in power consumption probably isn't going to be enabled by a new process technology like Tri-gate, but rather by cutting clocks and compromising on performance.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Most probably a PR hype by AMD in response to Intel's move from the standard 35W TDP to 17.5W TDP.

Intel didn't make "a move" to 17.5W TDP. They're not gonna be switching the main mobile CPUs to it. It's an addition made for higher-end ultra-portables.

What worries me is how low the clock speeds are gonna be. But if BD brings a significant IPC boost, it's a non-issue.

 

[frostedflakes]

You're right actually, I thought I had read in other places that standard TDP was being lowered but it looks like Ivy Bridge mobiles will still be available with TDP up to 55W.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

You're right actually, I thought I had read in other places that standard TDP was being lowered but it looks like Ivy Bridge mobiles will still be available with TDP up to 55W.

Yep. 35W TDP is pretty much a standard for mobile CPUs, same as 65W for desktop CPUs.

As always I expect the standard Core i3s and i5s to be 35W. The quad-core i7s should be 45W, with the Extreme Edition i7 being 55W.

Some of the power savings will be used for the more powerful IGP and probably to increase clock speeds.

 

[dma0991]

Intel didn't make "a move" to 17.5W TDP. They're not gonna be switching the main mobile CPUs to it. It's an addition made for higher-end ultra-portables.

There was an article that I read that stated something like that but as I was commenting I have forgotten where it was. I am not generalizing that all will be 17.5W TDP, only a few which would be in the ultrabook category will be in the 17.5W range.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

There was an article that I read that stated something like that but as I was commenting I have forgotten where it was. I am not generalizing that all will be 17.5W TDP, only a few which would be in the ultrabook category will be in the 17.5W range.

You should've worded what you said differently. It sounds as if you were saying that 17.5W TDP mobile CPUs are gonna be the new standard.

In any case, yes, they're for higher-end ultra-portables and Intel's new ultrabook standard. The chips are also very expensive.

 

[ed29a]

Exactly, they don't really have any choice but to follow Intel. Unfortunately for them this reduction in power consumption probably isn't going to be enabled by a new process technology like Tri-gate, but rather by cutting clocks and compromising on performance.

And you know that because you have an ES Trinity APU that you have tested/examined?

 

[AtenRa]

So I am assuming they mean to imply that performance will not suffer, Trinity IPC improvement combined with something is going to deliver comparable performance with half the TDP footprint?

That something could be FD SOI, it will add to the cost but mobile CPUs are way more expensive, add Bulldozer cores and VLIW4 for the iGPU and you have a deadly combination.

 

[Nemesis 1]

You should've worded what you said differently. It sounds as if you were saying that 17.5W TDP mobile CPUs are gonna be the new standard.

In any case, yes, they're for higher-end ultra-portables and Intel's new ultrabook standard. The chips are also very expensive.

Actually he worded it correctly . Intel did say they were cutting normal Voltage to 17.5w on mobile . Not just ultras thins . Ultra thins will get like 10w. cpus and be fanless.

 

[gdansk]

Can I get a link to your source, Nemesis 1? Why would they deliberately sacrifice the performance crown to anyone that makes a 35-45w "normal" mobile part?

 

[soccerballtux]

Most probably a PR hype by AMD in response to Intel's move from the standard 35W TDP to 17.5W TDP.

now that you mention it I think u right.