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Hardware Update: AMD Demonstrates Native Quad-Core
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - November 30, 2006 2:27 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 10 comment(s) - last by Hippiekiller.. on Dec 1 at 12:52 PM
"Barcelona" in 2007

AMD today demonstrated its quad-core Barcelona Opteron processors. The demonstration was shown on a quad quad-core system for a total of 16 cores. AMD touts its upcoming Barcelona Opteron quad-core processors as the world’s first native quad-core design. The native quad-core design packs four cores on a single die instead of Intel’s method of putting two dual-core dice on a single package.

Upgradability will be a key point in AMD’s quad-core strategy. AMD claims the upgrade from dual-core Opteron processors to quad-core processors is relatively straightforward. All that’s needed to plop a quad-core Barcelona processor in existing Socket F Opteron systems is a BIOS update—similar to Intel’s quad-core Clovertown upgradeability approach.

Interestingly enough AMD claims quad-core processors will have the same thermal and electrical envelope as its dual-core Opteron processors for greater performance-per-watt. The upcoming Barcelona core will be similar to AMD's upcoming Stars core processors for desktops which launches near the same timeframe.

AMD expects to deliver quad-core Barcelona processors beginning in mid-2007 for two to eight-way servers and workstations.

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Barcelona isn't "Stars"...
By Furen on 11/30/2006 7:25:14 PM , Rating: 3
The "Stars" codenames are for the desktop. Server parts are still given city codenames. The underlying architecture should be the same, though.




RE: Barcelona isn't "Stars"...
By archcommus on 12/1/2006 1:43:16 AM , Rating: 2
Mid-2007, not too far off, and native quad core, which Intel is not doing yet. It sure would be nice to see a competitive AMD next fall.


RE: Barcelona isn't "Stars"...
By laok on 12/1/2006 8:53:27 AM , Rating: 2
I hope AMD could win at the quad quad-core market. Intel has dual quad-core now, although not native, which looks pretty good. I think it still take some time for Intel to move core cpu to quad socket system.

I am a fan of neither Intel or AMD, but I really like to see real competition in th e cpu market.


RE: Barcelona isn't "Stars"...
By Furen on 12/1/2006 6:39:53 AM , Rating: 3
OMG, I hate it when the article is changed without putting a notice up or something. Now I sound like a retard just repeating part of the article. Throwing a bold "Updated" somewhere would help...


RE: Barcelona isn't "Stars"...
By Hippiekiller on 12/1/06, Rating: -1
RE: Barcelona isn't "Stars"...
By Hippiekiller on 12/1/06, Rating: -1
RE: Barcelona isn't "Stars"...
By Hippiekiller on 12/1/06, Rating: -1
RE: Barcelona isn't "Stars"...
By Hippiekiller on 12/1/06, Rating: -1
RE: Barcelona isn't "Stars"...
By Hippiekiller on 12/1/06, Rating: -1
By JarredWalton on 12/1/2006 12:16:59 PM , Rating: 3
Love the talking head in the video:

"Just replace an AMD Opteron 1000, 2000, or 8000 processor with a new quad core Opteron, and then update the BIOS...."

Ummm, isn't that backwards? Might want to update the BIOS *first*!

The whole "we're doing four cores on a single die instead of two dual core die in a package" is getting so stupid. After all, two smaller die don't really perform much worse, while it offers a LOT more flexibility in terms of manufacturing: better yields, ability to manufacture more or less quad core CPUs as the market dictates, faster time to market....

And of course Intel will have native quad core on a single die around the same time, only with 45 nm IIRC. Only reason AMD isn't doing two die in a package is because at 90nm the package would generate far too much heat.

Anyway, other than nebulous claims that performance will improve by up to 70% in some database applications and 40% in floating point (that's ALL? For doubling the number of cores?), the video contains nothing really useful.




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