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Hardware AMD To Show Quad Core Running on Current Platforms
Tuan Nguyen (Blog) - January 27, 2006 3:11 PM

22 comment(s) - last by Viditor.. on Feb 3 at 12:57 AM

AMD provides news that its next-gen quad core processors wil be able to run on current sockets

AMD reported this week that it is on track to rolling out quad-core processors by year end. What has our interests however is that AMD is now saying that its new quad-core processors will be compatible with existing AMD platforms -- as in sockets. The current AMD socket 939/940 plays host to the latest dual-core Athlons and the latest FX-60. Board manufacturers are also delighted to hear the news as this means designing boards and producing them will require less factory upgrades and faster time to market expectations.

InformationWeek is also reporting that AMD will roll out its dual-core processors that support virtualization later this year. While quad-core AMD processors are expected to roll out in 2007, AMD is already preparing for the ramp up for production. Earlier this week we reported that AMD is currently gathering resources to retool Fab 36 to prepare for production on next-generation 65nm fabrication.

Update: AMD has updated its statement and now says that quad-core processors will only be compatible with Socket-F platforms. While Socket-F does support single-core and dual-core processors, it will be the only "current" socket to support quad-core. Unfortunately, Socket-F platforms are not currently shipping to consumers. AMD clarifies that it meant no user who uses a Socket-F platform with a single-core or dual-core processor will have to change boards in order to use upcoming quad-core processors.

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By hans007 on 1/27/2006 3:41:09 PM , Rating: 2

socket F is the new socket 940, and socket m2 is the new 939. so socket F is pretty much strictly a workstation / server platform.

i love how anands has decided to put the update that it wont work on current boards in the post , but the title makes you think it still will and is all over the news page.

RE: .

By Alexvrb on 1/28/2006 2:16:28 AM , Rating: 2

Ditto.

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RE: .

By DerekWilson on 1/28/2006 3:13:57 AM , Rating: 3

I love how people don't get that DailyTech is not run by Anand or AnandTech :-)

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RE: .

By Googer on 1/28/2006 8:08:13 AM , Rating: 2

http://www.dailytech.com/About.aspx

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RE: .

By timmiser on 1/30/2006 2:42:19 PM , Rating: 2

DW, didn't you, Brandon Hill, and KK all come from AT? Even though your "About us" tries to seperate AT from DT, it seems like there must still be a warm & fuzzy relationship going on especially with that AT slash on your logo?

Give us the down and dirty real deal story!

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RE: .

By dali71 on 1/30/2006 8:01:33 PM , Rating: 2

Seriously, you would think that he could extract his cranium from his anus long enough to fix the title, shouldn't be that difficult.

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damn

By gersson on 1/28/2006 12:09:24 AM , Rating: 2

had me all excited until I read the update
::sad::

RE: damn

By racer42 on 1/31/2006 1:51:38 AM , Rating: 3

Will Vista support 4 cores or will you have to get Vista Server edition?

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RE: damn

By shaw on 2/2/2006 10:59:57 PM , Rating: 2

There are so many different versions of Vista, who knows.

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RE: damn

By Viditor on 2/3/2006 12:57:41 AM , Rating: 2

MS doesn't "count cores", only sockets...so theoretically, you could even use XP Home.

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MEH

By GameManK on 1/27/2006 8:04:44 PM , Rating: 3

why would somebody want a quad core processor anyways, unless you're running a workstation/server? OK you're playing a game. probably have a webbrowser and instant messenger running and stuff. dual core helps a little. maybe you use your computer for piracy.. err i mean multimedia.. encoding dvd's. ok dual core! now you want to dish out another $500 to do two other things? whaaaat???

RE: MEH

By Ackbar on 1/27/2006 8:13:12 PM , Rating: 2

1 core for each website open!!!

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RE: MEH

By tmp8000 on 1/28/2006 6:08:03 AM , Rating: 2

That's the whole reason that they announced this for socket F. This is a LOT more important to workstations/servers, thus they announced it for that specific platform...

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Hmmm...

By bigboxes on 1/27/2006 6:02:54 PM , Rating: 2

I thought socket AM2 was to unify the socket 939 & 940. So, which is it. Unified or a new standard?

RE: Hmmm...

By bob661 on 1/27/2006 7:32:54 PM , Rating: 2

You haven't been reading bud. Socket AM2 is only a desktop socket. Server stuff remains on a seperate socket.

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RE: Hmmm...

By Alexvrb on 1/28/2006 2:22:26 AM , Rating: 2

As bob said, desktop. It unifies budget, mainstream, and performance. So instead of 754 and 939, you get your whole desktop range from the lowly Sempron up to the top-of-the-line X2s and FXs.

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interesting

By Eomer of Aldburg on 1/27/2006 6:29:00 PM , Rating: 2

If socket F supports Dual and quad core CPU's and Socket AM2 doesn't support quad core..... than screw AM2. I'm going to buy a Socket F with the new dual core Opteron than upgrade to a quad Opteron when they are released :)

RE: interesting

By Viditor on 1/27/2006 9:13:40 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
If socket F supports Dual and quad core CPU's and Socket AM2 doesn't support quad core..... than screw AM2. I'm going to buy a Socket F with the new dual core Opteron than upgrade to a quad Opteron when they are released

:) It's nice to know rich people...! Keep in mind 3 things:
1. This is for a server and it's a market that AMD will have all to itself for at least a year. Expect the quad core chips to start at ~$1500+ for the cheapest part...
2. Socket F will use FB-Dimms, which cost ~twice as much as standard ECC Dimms...of course if you have unlimited funds you'll be able to buy 4GB FBDIMMS at DDR2 667. :)
3. This won't help with games/multitasking very much until software is written to take advantage of it (2007-8 most likely).

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Huh???

By NightWind on 1/27/2006 3:19:51 PM , Rating: 1

Sooo....wtf is the point of M2 socket and DDR2 that AMD was supposedly switching to this year?

RE: Huh???

By Nehemoth on 1/27/2006 3:28:45 PM , Rating: 2

Virtualizacion, security, new memorya interface, performance.

We gonna se in some months

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oh really?

By Bull Dog on 1/27/2006 3:18:15 PM , Rating: 2

Well not according to this article
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/200601261...

Mmmm quads

By phaxmohdem on 1/27/2006 3:53:40 PM , Rating: 2

Would be tasty, too bad ASUS won't let me even upgrade to a Dually in my SK8N! Yes I'm still bitter you ASUSian bastards!

Guess its time to start saving some nickels and dimes for the socket F rollout.