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  (Source: HEXUS)
AMD has a new chip in the works to tackle the MID/netbook market

Intel and AMD have been fierce rivals for many years. Intel almost always had the upper hand over AMD until the launch of AMD's K8 architecture which saw the Sunnyvale, California-based company basking in the spotlight (and in enthusiast praise). Intel shoved AMD into the backseat with the launch of its Core architecture and AMD has been pretty much stuck in that position ever since.

While AMD may be having problems tackling Intel in the high-end desktop and notebook markets, the company is looking to go toe-to-toe with Intel in the emerging Mobile Internet Device (MID) and netbooks/nettop market. Intel is currently having a lot of success with its Atom processor which will be in short supply until the end of Q3 2008.

AMD is countering with a low-power AMD64-based CPU design of its own according to leaked slides obtained by Eee PC News. The unnamed processor features an integrated memory controller, 16-lane 800MHz HyperTransport link, 256KB of L2 cache, and a 1GHz core clock.

Considering that this new chip is to be used in low-power applications, power consumption is a critical talking point. Intel's Atom N270 -- the most popular Atom variant for netbooks -- features a 2.5W TDP at 1.6GHz. However, we can't forget the i945GSE Northbridge which adds another 4W -- more than the Atom processor itself.

AMD’s new processor, however, has an 8W TDP for the processor with its integrated Northbridge/memory controller at 1.0GHz. Although performance figures obviously aren't available at this time, it would be interesting to see how AMD's 1.0GHz processor would do against Intel's in-order 1.6GHz Atom N270.

Intel and AMD have both been in the news in recent weeks -- mostly for squabbles between the two companies. Intel recently got slapped with a $25M fine for anticompetitive practices in South Korea. Shortly after, the Federal Trade Commission opened up a formal investigation into allegations of anticompetitive behavior in the U.S. market.

Finally, AMD and NVIDIA have taken Intel to task over its refusal to release specifications on its open host controller for USB 3.0. Intel countered that it would provide the details once the spec is finished and that the company had invested “gazillions of dollars and bazillions of engineering man hours” in developing the open host controller.

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guuuuhhhhh
By BSMonitor on 6/17/2008 2:47:19 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
Intel and AMD have been fierce rivals for many years. Intel almost always had the upper hand over AMD until the launch of AMD's K8 architecture which saw the Sunnyvale, California-based company basking in the spotlight (and in enthusiast praise). Intel shoved AMD into the backseat with the launch of its Core architecture and AMD has been pretty much stuck in that position ever since.


Does every AMD/Intel article/blog have to start out with this crap? Can we just report the news? Please.




RE: guuuuhhhhh
By eye smite on 6/18/2008 2:53:54 PM , Rating: 2
I second the motion on dropping the drama and reporting the news only.


Intel FTC etc
By BruceLeet on 6/17/2008 2:44:16 PM , Rating: 1
Intel and AMD have both been in the news in recent weeks -- mostly for squabbles between the two companies. Intel recently got slapped with a $25M fine for anticompetitive practices in South Korea. Shortly after, the Federal Trade Commission opened up a formal investigation into allegations of anticompetitive behavior in the U.S. market.

A copy & paste of one of my older posts during Intel and AMDs race for the Ghz mark, this was posted on zdnet on March 8th 2000

Dell will begin taking orders on Wednesday for its Special Edition Dell Dimension, a high-end PC that it will sell in limited quantities with the Intel 1GHz chip.

"We are going to have a (Dimension) product," a Dell spokesman said. "However, we don't have a date yet." While dates are not final, it is likely that Dell will have its 1GHz Pentium III-based Dimension PC ready by the end of the month as well.

Intel product rebates incentive? its possible...

"We're supporting the 1GHz Pentium III," said a Hewlett-Packard spokeswoman

Alas...

The 1GHz Pentium III processor will cost $990 (£613) in 1,000-unit quantities, making it significantly less expensive than AMD's $1,299 (£805) 1GHz Athlon chip. The new Pentium III, which uses a 133MHz system bus, is available now in limited quantities, Intel officials said.

Since when has Intel ever had a lower priced product than AMD? Rebates? Also why would you sell a product you have limited quantities of for so little, unless they're ONLY buying YOUR product.




RE: Intel FTC etc
By FITCamaro on 6/17/2008 2:57:44 PM , Rating: 2
Intel's early dual cores were much cheaper than the Athlon X2s. But that was because the X2s were much faster.


RE: Intel FTC etc
By BruceLeet on 6/17/2008 3:30:36 PM , Rating: 1
But this is the beginning of the general timeline where AMD wants the FTC to look into.


It gets funnier
By Totally on 6/17/2008 1:52:36 PM , Rating: 2
“gazillions of dollars and bazillions of engineering man hours” that should be added, in it's entirety, in with the collection of quotes that appear at the bottom of the page.

Every time I picture a guy with a few degrees under his belt speak like a 7 year old, he might as well bust out with baby talk while he was at it.




Not including GPU.
By chippysteve on 6/17/2008 2:13:55 PM , Rating: 2
As far as I can see, you missed sometihing in your 'report.' This baby doesn't include any GPU so you'll need to add 3-4W for that too making it big, hot and power hungry comapared to Atom. It's something for cheap vista notebooks and high-end UMPCs but not for netbook or MID territory. I see it competing with VIA Nano.

Oh, by the way, http://www.EeePCNews.de were the ones to get the slides, not Hexxus.




By kilkennycat on 6/17/2008 5:04:22 PM , Rating: 2
It seems as if this discussion thread has forgotten the fully integrated nVidia Tegra series.............

http://www.nvidia.com/page/handheld.html




Nasty 1.5W
By jordanclock on 6/17/2008 5:36:00 PM , Rating: 2
Many people are pointing out that the performance of AMDs new CPU may negate the extra power draw, but I think you are all missing the point: When it comes to platforms like this, power usage is first priority. The AMD chip might be able to complete things faster, but for the kind of use such a platform would see (Streaming video or VoIP comes to mind.), you're looking at constant usage.

This kind of chip definitely has a place in ultra-lower power usage PCs, like the Eee Box. Something where the extra performance will be worth a couple of watts, but where the point of diminishing returns on performance is pretty low. The Eee Box demonstrated that the Atom is fine for such tasks, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. Improvement that AMD may be able to provide.




bias
By KinEnriquez on 6/18/2008 7:38:52 AM , Rating: 2
"Intel and AMD have been fierce rivals for many years. Intel almost always had the upper hand over AMD until the launch of AMD's K8 architecture which saw the Sunnyvale, California-based company basking in the spotlight (and in enthusiast praise). Intel shoved AMD into the backseat with the launch of its Core architecture and AMD has been pretty much stuck in that position ever since."

this is crap. why should the article even starts with this




I think we can see where this is going.
By MrBungle123 on 6/17/08, Rating: -1
RE: I think we can see where this is going.
By Natfly on 6/17/2008 1:36:06 PM , Rating: 5
Depends on how it performs, if it can do out of order execution combined with an IMC and other architectural superiorities, it might be worth the extra 1.5 watt TDP.


RE: I think we can see where this is going.
By System48 on 6/17/2008 1:41:04 PM , Rating: 3
The problem is with the way AMD has been performing lately. By the time they get this out the door they'll be competing against the next generation Atom, Lincroft, which will have an IMC and IGP.


RE: I think we can see where this is going.
By weskurtz0081 on 6/17/2008 1:43:51 PM , Rating: 2
This is yet to be seen. Since it seems like all they are doing is stripping K8, it might not take them too long. I guess we shall see.


RE: I think we can see where this is going.
By freaqie on 6/17/2008 2:15:53 PM , Rating: 2
amd already had the geode processors.
these were very energy efficient
and pretty fast ( basicly as fast as a 2100+ using ony a few watts) this is proably a relaunch with some added features


By Brandon Hill (blog) on 6/17/2008 2:34:26 PM , Rating: 3
IIRC, the Geode is derived from the original K7 architecture -- this appears to be K8-based.


By Regs on 6/17/2008 3:29:23 PM , Rating: 4
This is what I don't like. How AMD can develop something new, bring it to market, and some how before the product reaches the shelves it's branded a stripped down K8.

AMD comes out strong before a product launches, however when it launches or right before it launches, it's like the whole marketing team decides to take a vacation.

AMD has to sell these things like they have a actual purpose. Like true quad core and HT. What are their purpose? They sound sweet, but you forgot to sell me or show me the benifits. I can show people innovation all day long, like being able to brush me teeth with only one index finger, however I forgot to mention to them the purpose or even practicle sense of it.


RE: I think we can see where this is going.
By stryfe on 6/17/2008 4:46:47 PM , Rating: 1
The K8 is pretty much an optimized K7 plus IMC anyway.


RE: I think we can see where this is going.
By zpdixon on 6/18/2008 12:57:01 AM , Rating: 3
Are you kidding ? IMC, AMD64 (!), HyperTransport (!), SSE2, 3-way superscalar uarch, NX bit, etc. By far the biggest gap between the last 4 iterations (K6, K7, K8 and K10) is K7 -> K8.


RE: I think we can see where this is going.
By boogle on 6/18/08, Rating: 0