Thursday, October 18, 2007

AMD Sheds Additional Phenom Details

AMD reveals the model names and operating frequencies of its quad-core Phenom desktop processors

AMD guidance revealed information on the model names and clock frequencies of its forthcoming quad-core Phenom desktop processors.

AMD plans to debut its initial quad-core Phenom processors in late November: the Phenom 9600 and 9500. The 9600 will come clocked at 2.4GHz and the 9500 will have a slightly lower operating frequency of 2.2GHz.

Both Socket AM2+ processors feature a 512KB of L2 cache for each core and a shared 2MB pool of L3 cache. In addition, both processors will operate on a 3.6GHz HyperTransport bus and will have an 89 Watt Thermal Design Power envelope.

In December the slightly higher-end Phenom 9700 will become AMD's third desktop Barcelona-derivative. All technical aspects of the processor will be the same as those for the 9600 and 9500, save for a few improvements. The processor will run at a slightly higher operating frequency of 2.6GHz. The downside of these improvements is a higher 125-Watt Thermal Design Power envelope.

An additional Phenom 9xxx desktop processor is on the horizon and is expected to make its debut in Q2 2008. Although the official clock speed has not been set for this new processor, AMD guidance suggests that it will not exceed 3GHz. The company has demonstrated its 3GHz Phenom processors since July 2007.

Whereas Intel usually releases its high-end chips first, AMD seems to have a completely reverse policy. AMD will be launching its high-end Phenom desktop processors after the initial launch of lower-end Phenom desktop models. AMD's high-end Phenom FX chips will appear on the market in Q1 and Q2 of 2008.

In Q1 2008 the Phenom FX-82 will be the first Phenom FX chip to make its debut. The chip will feature a clock speed equal to or greater than 2.6GHz . Like all of the other Phenom models, it will also come with 512KB of L2 cache for each of its four cores and a shared 2MB L3 cache. The Thermal Design Power of the chip is yet to be decided.

An additional Phenom FX-8x model will make its way to market in Q2 2008. AMD has yet to release additional details of this new processor.

All quad-core Phenom desktop processor are manufactured on a 65nm node.

This week AMD announced additonal price cuts and new chips for its Athlon brand of processors. These are expected to be the last Athlon price cuts before the Phenom launch.

In September AMD launched its newest Opteron server processors. The company has also confirmed that it's next-generation graphics processor, RV670, and its next-generation desktop chipset, RD790, will launch at the same time as Phenom.

No comments: