Q3'05 AMD Roadmap; DDR2 and New Sockets for AMD
by Kristopher Kubicki & Jarred Walton on July 21, 2005 1:47 PM EST- Posted in
- CPUs
The Desktop
| AMD Desktop Athlon 64 Roadmap | ||||
| Processor | Core Name | Clock Speed | Socket | Launch Date |
| Athlon FX-59 | San Diego | 3.0 GHz 1MB | Socket 939 | Q1'06 |
| Athlon FX-57 | San Diego | 2.8 GHz 1MB | Socket 939 | Now |
| Athlon 64 X2 >=5000+ | Windsor? | 2.6 GHz? | Socket M2 | Q2'06 |
| Athlon 64 X2 >=5000+ | Toledo? | 2.6 GHz? | Socket 939 | Q1'06 |
| Athlon 64 X2 4800+ | Windsor | 2.4 GHz 1MB? | Socket M2 | Q2'06 |
| Athlon 64 4000+ | Orleans | 2.4 GHz 1MB? | Socket M2 | Q2'06 |
| Athlon 64 3800+ | Orleans | 2.4 GHz 512K? | Socket M2 | Q2'06 |
| Athlon 64 3500+ | Orleans | 2.2 GHz 512K? | Socket M2 | Q2'06 |
Besides the single core M2 processors, we also have the dual core parts, codenamed Windsor. We have a 4800+ part for socket M2, as well as parts greater than or equal to 5000+ for both socket 939 and M2. As with the single core variants, we see two likely possibilities. The first is that the M2 parts will directly match the 939 parts in features, making the 4800+ a 2.4 GHz 1MB per core design. On the other hand, improvements in the performance of the platform through the use of DDR2 may allow AMD to use a 2.4 GHz 512K part for the 4800+. Part of the attractiveness of such a change is that the 2x512K parts would have a smaller die size, decreasing the manufacturing costs. Time will tell what AMD's precise plans are, and at present all we have are model names with which to speculate.
The last addition to the performance desktop market is a new FX model, the FX-59. While in the past we have speculated that AMD would switch the FX to a dual core design, the roadmap instead indicates that the FX-59 is intended to use a San Diego core running at 3.0 GHz. Other details in the roadmap show that AMD intends for the FX line to offer top single core performance. AMD market the FX line as being "ideal for 3D games and single-threaded applications." The X2 line on the other hand is "designed for sophisticated power users who run multiple processor intensive applications simultaneously," and is "ideal for digital content creation as well as for listening and viewing entertainment." It seems pretty clear from such statements that the FX line will remain single core for a while longer.
M2 isn't just a switch to DDR2 memory support, though. Besides DDR2, AMD indicates that the Orleans and Windsor processors will also have "Security and Virtualization" features. Previously codenamed Pacifica, the virtualization technology adds hardware support that allows a system to run multiple operating systems simultaneously. It was possible to do this in the past with such tools as VMware, but hardware support should dramatically improve performance. The security technology mentioned is likely to be very similar to Intel's LaGrande Technology and was code named Presidio. Whether or not you'll need a tin foil hat to operate your computer is yet undecided.
You'll notice that socket 754 is no longer even represented in the desktop arena. There are a couple parts that will work on socket 754 motherboards, but they are no longer marketed as mainstream or performance desktop processors. That brings us to the desktop Sempron processors.
| AMD Desktop Sempron Roadmap | ||||
| Processor | Core Name | Clock Speed | Socket | Launch Date |
| Sempron 3700+ | Palermo Ex | 2.2 GHz 256K | Socket 939 | Q2'06 |
| Sempron 3700+ | Palermo Ex | 2.2 GHz 256K | Socket 754 | Q2'06 |
| Sempron 3600+ | Palermo Ex | 2.2 GHz 128K | Socket 754 | Q1'06 |
| Sempron 3500+ | Palermo Ex | 2.0 GHz 256K | Socket 939 | Q1'06 |
| Sempron 3400+ | Palermo Ex | 2.0 GHz 256K | Socket 754 | Q3'05 |
| Sempron 3400+ | Palermo Ex | 2.0 GHz 128K | Socket 939 | Q3'05 |
| Sempron 3300+ | Palermo Ex | 2.0 GHz 128K | Socket 754 | Q3'05 |
| Sempron 3200+ | Palermo D0/Ex | 1.8 GHz 256K | Socket 939 | Now? |
| Sempron 3100+ | Palermo Ex | 1.8 GHz 256K | Socket 754 | Q3'05 |
| Sempron 3000+ | Palermo D0/Ex | 1.8 GHz 128K | Socket 939 | Now? |
| Sempron 3000+ | Palermo Ex | 1.8 GHz 128K | Socket 754 | Q3'05 |
| Sempron 2800+ | Palermo Ex | 1.6 GHz 256K | Socket 754 | Q3'05 |
| Sempron 2600+ | Palermo Ex | 1.6 GHz 128K | Socket 754 | Q3'05 |
There are quite a few upcoming parts in the value desktop computing sector. Launching very soon will be the Ex stepping of the Palermo core, which will add - or rather enable - 64-bit extensions on all the Sempron parts. All of the presently available Sempron parts are for socket 754 (and even a few older socket A models that are being phased out), but we also have Sempron parts targeting socket 939 that should be launching any time now. Information contained within the roadmap actually seems to indicate that 3000+ and 3200+ Sempron parts have already started shipping for socket 939, though we haven't seen any. It could be that they are going straight to OEMs, as the same parts show up as DTR (Desktop Replacement) notebook processors.
Looking forward to 2006, we still have a few more speed bumps to the Sempron line on both sockets with the 3500+, 3600+, and 3700+ parts. Somewhat interesting to note is that the Sempron 3700+ will apparently be a 2.2 GHz 256K cache part on both sockets - normally AMD has rated the equivalent clock speend and cache socket 939 parts slightly higher than socket 754 parts due to the dual-channel memory support of 939.
Besides the above value processors, we also have some information on the upcoming M2 value processor. Code named Manila, the processor won't support the virtualization and security features that other M2 processors have. That isn't too surprising, as frankly we expect virtualization technologies to be far more useful for the performance sector. However, it will support dual channel DDR2; typically we don't see dual channel support on value processors, so that's a welcome change.
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KristopherKubicki - Sunday, July 24, 2005 - link
Zebo: We are doing desktop tests; so yes everything is the same but the motherboard.Kristopher
Zebo - Monday, July 25, 2005 - link
Kris- That's pretty lame. How's that supposed to give a notebook buyer a clue using desktop motherboards and desktop chipsets?? The whole idea with centrino is it's platform..low power chipset and mobo and chip. AMD same deal with "Turion 64 mobile technology" their complete platform. I want to see how those techs compete with one another not those chips in hacked desktop setup which only works with 1 or 2 motherboards.Not only that Anandtech has done at least 7 Pentium M notebook reviews by my count, is'nt it a bit irresponsible not to have done even one with it's direct competitor?
Lame-- GamePC lame.
KristopherKubicki - Monday, July 25, 2005 - link
We have other mobility only reviews scheduled as well. This is just a comparison of the two chips on the desktop.Kristopher
Zebo - Monday, July 25, 2005 - link
Well Kris (i can call you Kris right:)) I just don't get doing yet another desktop preview of pentium M. I mean you have like 3-4 of them out now in a couple part series and with a .. 855 and the asus adaptor. We know how it performs in the limited desktop. We also know how turion performs for the most part from two years ago in tens of 754 reviews and you had a couple 754 chips inside those very same Pentium M reviews.What I'd like to see is the compete platform technology, done by a thorough site like anandtech using same equiped notebook parts then see how they stack up. No one one has done one yet (at the AT quality level) which is totally bewieldering to me.. not to compare direct competitors in a market which saw sales higher than the desktop first time last month.
Zebo - Tuesday, July 26, 2005 - link
BUMPJarredWalton - Tuesday, July 26, 2005 - link
Zebo - any specific laptop that you'd suggest? I'm not the mobility reviewer, but I can at least put the word out to the others and see what happens. Part of the problem is that non-Pentium M laptops are often billed as more affordable solutions, including the Turion systems. If the battery size is significantly smaller on a Turion, it doesn't really make it a better mobility laptop.Looking at power requirements, which are now 25W for the low power Turion/Athlon 64-M and 22W for the Pentium M, you can pretty much say that all other things being equal, battery life should be similar. Unfortunately, rarely are the other things equal - different screen is a big one, but different battery, HDD, RAM, GPU, etc. will all have an impact. Until someone comes out with a Turion notebook specifically tailored to compete against the high-end mobile Pentium M notebooks, getting anything resembling an apples to apples comparison will be difficult. (Which of course is why I ask for a suggested Turion notebook.)
Zebo - Sunday, July 24, 2005 - link
I'm definity not buying one of these new X2 chips.. Throttle?? No thanks! Even having that potential bugs me to no end. I'd rather burn my chip than throttle. I want Mhz I paid for, not what they feel like giving meNot only that DDR right now is hitting 2-2-2 @270Mhz which DDR2 has no hope the trump.
Then the whole tin foil thing- converting your Personal Computer(PC) into a corporate-controlled terminal(CCT).
Zebo - Sunday, July 24, 2005 - link
The cnet article linked did just that and disagrees with your conclusion.. How do you explain this discrepancy?Performance was split, battery life was within 2% of one another.
Zebo - Sunday, July 24, 2005 - link
Jarred please stop quoting TDP's. Thier highly erronous MANUFACTURES numbers, which should be taken with a grain of salt. You don't use MANUFACTURES benchmarks why use thier power numbers? For example:AMD says X2 has a TDP of 110W while Xbit measured 96W from the 4800+.
Intel says P4E 670 has a 112W TDP Xbit measured 162W!!!
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/penti...
Same story everywhere. Intel signifigantly under rating thier TDP while AMD not only overrating it, but applying that number to almost every chip in the series. Even the lower clocked and less cache ones to that over rated number.
Test it, dont quote it.
Kris: Same battery (mAh), same screen, same hurtz lancaster/M or Sempy/cele , same HDD, Same video card, and same DVD I hope?
JarredWalton - Monday, July 25, 2005 - link
Wow... gonna have to get used to the change. :pAnyway, we don't really have an accurate and reliable way of measuring TDP for ourselves. The change from 80Amp to 95Amp is pretty surprising, though whether it's just a spec change for future stuff or a real change at present is impossible to say. If you can give me an accurate way of measuring TDP on our own (without exotic tools), I'd love to hear it. At present all we can usually do is plug the system into a wall socket device that measure total system power draw. You're right, though: take the TDP with a healthy helping of salt. :)