DailyTech - AMD Dual-Core Opterons Hit 3.0 GHz

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Hardware AMD Dual-Core Opterons Hit 3.0 GHz
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - April 5, 2007 1:54 PM

24 comment(s) - last by leidegre.. on Apr 9 at 6:43 AM

New Opteron 2222 SE and 8222 SE models clock in at 3.0 GHz

AMD has released two new dual-core Opteron models 2222 SE and 8222 SE. The new Opterons clock in at 3.0 GHz and match the recently released Athlon 64 X2 6000+, in terms of clock speed. Both AMD Opteron models are identical, except the Opteron 2222 SE Is designed for dual-processor systems while the 8222 SE works in four and eight-way configurations.

The new processors also feature 2MB of L2 cache. These processors will drop into existing Socket F motherboards, which utilize DDR2 memory. Although AMD has yet to reveal thermal data power numbers for the new Opterons, expect a TDP of around 120-watts, which is typical for Opteron SE models.

AMD’s latest dual-core Opterons are based on the existing 90nm fabrication process. Expect AMD to unveil quad-core Barcelona Opteron processors later this year on a smaller fab process.

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Competition is great!

By mlittl3 on 4/5/2007 6:22:30 PM , Rating: 4

Speaking of clock speeds and AMD processors, this article is the closest thing lately to post the following observation of our competitive CPU market. On Monday, AMD is set to slash prices on its CPUs. Intel will also do this on 4/22. The prices were leaked early by xbitlabs.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/dualc...

Here is a quick rundown.

AMD Intel
E6700 $316
X2 6000+ $229 E6600 $224
X2 5600+ $179 E6420 $183
X2 5200+ $169
X2 5000+ $159 E6320 $163
X2 4800+ $129 E4400 $133
X2 4400+ $115 E4300 $113
X2 4000+ $99
X2 3800+ $79 PD 935 $84
X2 3600+ $69 PD 925 $74

The prices match up so that an equivalent AMD processor matches Intel (500 MHz+). With 65 nm on most of these, AMD will be power efficient. If AMD releases a 3.2 GHz at $300, it would compete with the E6700. Plus the AM2 platform will be compatible with K10 processors so upgrades will be available.

AMD could be in a better position but given current data, they aren't that bad off. And both AMD and Intel fans are going to have some nice processors for very little money. I mean a 3.0 GHz Athlon 64 X2 for $229. That is a steal.

RE: Competition is great!

By drebo on 4/6/2007 2:11:43 AM , Rating: 2

I am definitely looking forward to this price cut for both my own systems and for my retail customers.

The Core 2 Duo E4400 has been listed at my main processor distributor for about a month at a VERY compelling price, but no availability. Once these reductions and parts start permeating the supply chain, good things will happen on the retail end of the market. I'm looking forward to it.

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RE: Competition is great!

By Visual on 4/6/2007 3:54:04 AM , Rating: 2

if only they made some for 939 at those prices... i bet there are tons of people that would upgrade.

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RE: Competition is great!

By rdeegvainl on 4/6/2007 7:18:27 AM , Rating: 2

ABSOLUTELY!
I have been looking to upgrade my computer for some time now to dual core. but I don't feel like getting a new MOBO and the 939 procs are so costly I will probably end up buying a new MOBO and the PROC for less than the 939 PROC. That just seems a little ridiculious to me. All well. I guess since the only chip I can make is a tortilla, then I'll have to pay what they charge me.

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RE: Competition is great!

By leidegre on 4/9/2007 6:43:14 AM , Rating: 2

My guess is that it wasn't feasible to keep 939 support in mind, so it got scrapped entierly, but I feel you, been sitting on my 939 Athlon X2 3800, for quite some time. Wouldn't mind upgrading, but I'll guess I'll now have to wait for something like Barcelona.

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RE: Competition is great!

By drebo on 4/6/2007 8:03:21 PM , Rating: 1

Why would they keep developing and producing an outdated platform? Not a sound business move.

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RE: Competition is great!

By hondaman on 4/7/2007 10:20:05 AM , Rating: 2

Pushing out crap processors that are incompatible with older (939) sockets AND have no appreciable speed increase is not a sound business move either.

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RE: Competition is great!

By drebo on 4/7/2007 12:27:18 PM , Rating: 2

Oh, wait...so innovation and forward process is a bad thing just because you can't use it?

AM2 was never meant to break performance records. It was meant to be a stepping stone to the next generation, which is also compatible with AM2.

You can't use DDR2 on Socket 939, so why would you expect to be able to use the latest and greatest? Sure, the benefits are marginal at best, but that's not the point. The point is that they moved to an architecture which is more efficient than the old socket 939. If you're too stubborn to upgrade, that's your own problem.

But it is NOT sound for AMD to appease a handful of whining adolescents when the vast majority of the world wants forward progress.

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Article title a bit misleading

By mlittl3 on 4/5/2007 4:39:22 PM , Rating: 3

The title of the article should read "AMD Opteron Dual core hits 3.0 GHz". AMD has had a single core Opteron at 3.0 GHz for some time now.

RE: Article title a bit misleading

By MonkeyPaw on 4/5/2007 5:42:34 PM , Rating: 2

You are correct to be suspicious. Xbit has a similar story, but claim that these CPUs run at 3.20ghz:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/200704051...

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RE: Article title a bit misleading

By mlittl3 on 4/5/2007 6:04:25 PM , Rating: 2

Read the article again. It states that the 8222SE is 3.0 GHz and that one more version is planned at 3.2 GHz by the fourth quarter of this year. The first sentence states that this higher speed clock will be available by the end of the year. So the story is correct about the 3.0 GHz at least.

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RE: Article title a bit misleading

By MonkeyPaw on 4/5/2007 6:43:38 PM , Rating: 2

Right you are. I was also under the impression that 3.0ghz parts like these were already out there. The 3.20ghz model seems like the bigger news, since that's actually a new high speed for the K8 architecture (though it's not too much help anymore). I wonder if 3.20ghz parts will be an improved 65nm part? Seems unlikely based on current 65nm offerings, but one can hope, right?

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RE: Article title a bit misleading

By mlittl3 on 4/5/2007 6:23:35 PM , Rating: 2

Thanks for the change. ;)

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Boring but Good for them.

By Mitch101 on 4/5/2007 6:26:34 PM , Rating: 3

Its kind of Boring news because we know it wont outrun Intel's current top and be slightly faster than existing AMD chips but Im glad they are getting faster.

So lets look at the positive side. AMD looks to be getting better yields and is getting some exposure in the 3ghz and possibly the 3.2ghz arena with releasing these despite them being 120watt TDP. This could mean 3.2ghz K10's on day 1 but its too early to tell.

I assume these are 65nm parts but if they are 90nm then this is actually pretty big news.

As for K10 While were assured it will be faster than Intels current chipset clock for clock the question remains will it overclock enough to remain the top chip?

We all know Intel chips overclock to 3.6ghz if a 45nm shrink brings Intel into the 4ghz area then K10 might have some problems if it maxes out at 3ghz at 120watt.

Its way to early to speculate on Penryn. Chips have to exist before one can even speculate on its performance. I think most of its performance will come from 45nm more than its enhancements. Probably 3% clock for clock than a Conroe. Hence the die shrink. Again way to early to even guess.

Here is to hoping AMD has a few tricks up its sleeve as I like it when CPU price wars allow me to get tons of power for a good price.

Intel fan boys you should root for AMD even if you dont buy them because AMD just made Intel produce a $266.00 quad coming soon. Cant imagine what that would have cost if AMD didnt exist. Intel isnt going away but if AMD cant leapfrog Intel every now and then AMD will go away and take price wars away faster than you can say _______.

RE: Boring but Good for them.

By Mitch101 on 4/6/2007 1:49:19 PM , Rating: 2

WOW ITS ACTUALLY 90nm running at 3Ghz!

http://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/opteron/details.as...

This raises my hopes about AMD possibilities at 65nm with K10.

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RE: Boring but Good for them.

By crystal clear on 4/6/2007 4:23:49 PM , Rating: 1

"Its kind of Boring news because ....."

Then here is something really...........

Startup Mplicity Ltd. (Tel Aviv, Israel) has developed a technology that it claims can, working from an original netlist, turn a single-threaded system, be it a processor or any other combinatorial logic, into a multithreaded system, with a performance improvement of up to a factor of four.
Mplicity's software is called CoreUpGrade and is independent of processor architecture, the company said. "The CoreUpGrade seamlessly transforms a given single-processor core into an enriched multi-core with a significantly reduced cost to performance ratio; it is also designed to compress large blocks of any repetitive logic," the company claimed at its website.

CoreUpGrade can provide support engineers who want to perform an engineering trade-off between die area and clock frequency which equates to a business trade-off between cost and power consumption.

http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml...

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Benchmarks

By glitchc on 4/5/2007 5:55:31 PM , Rating: 2

How about some benchmarks against Woodcrest or even other (slower) dual-core Opterons?

RE: Benchmarks

By Dactyl on 4/5/2007 9:49:42 PM , Rating: 3

Why bother?

Do you expect surprises? If it's got a 7% faster clockspeed, then it will be up to 7% faster in all of the benchmarks. That's nothing to get excited about compared to Barcelona or Penryn.

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Wow

By Regs on 4/5/2007 4:51:36 PM , Rating: 2

Exciting News

RE: Wow

By bkiserx7 on 4/5/2007 5:22:25 PM , Rating: 2

I sense great sarcasm in your voice

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What else is new? Bring on K10 already !

By ButterFlyEffect78 on 4/5/07, Rating: -1

RE: What else is new? Bring on K10 already !

By suryad on 4/5/2007 3:41:38 PM , Rating: 2

My view is that Intel will still lead with the Penryn.

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RE: What else is new? Bring on K10 already !

By jkostans on 4/5/2007 4:22:20 PM , Rating: 2

Opteron is still very competitive performance wise in the server arena. Performance/Watt is lacking though. No shame in going C2D....

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RE: What else is new? Bring on K10 already !

By mlittl3 on 4/5/2007 4:43:05 PM , Rating: 3

Why would AMD lose you as a customer for releasing this processor? For the past year now, we have know that K10 will not be out until June-August of this year. Never has it been stated that it will be before that time. So if you made up your mind a year ago to wait for K10 in the summer time, why should AMD not release a single product in order to keep you as a customer or for anyone for that matter?

Just don't buy this 3.0 GHz part and keep waiting for the summer time like everyone else has been for the past year. If you need something now, then buy from the company that has what you need now.

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"Nowadays you can buy a CPU cheaper than the CPU fan." -- Unnamed AMD executive