AMD confirms triple-core desktop CPU
In an effort to regain a competitive edge over Intel, AMD today said that it has added a triple-core version of the upcoming Phenom processor to its roadmap.
Preceding the opening of the Intel Developer Forum by one day, AMD made a rather surprising announcement today. The upcoming Phenom 2x (dual-core) and 4x (quad-core) desktop processors will be joined by a 3x model (triple-core) in the first quarter of 2008. AMD said that these new CPUs, code-named Toliman”, are expected to be the world’s first PC processors to integrate three computational cores on a single die of silicon.
Of course, the 3x Phenoms do not really have just three cores on a die, but rather four with one core being cut off. The chips are based on the same general layout of the CPU architecture that was introduced with the Barcelona quad-core processor last week and that will surface in the Phenom processors as well. The processor will integrate a DDR2 controller, a Hypertransport 3.0 interface, a crossbar switch, a system request interface and 2 MB L3 cache. Since there are only three cores active, the 3x CPU will only have 3 x 512 kB L2 cache, compared to the 4 x 512 kB of the 4x model.
AMD declined to reveal further details about the CPU, such as expected clock speeds, power consumption and pricing – other than its usual claim that it will “price its products competitively.” However, it is clear that AMD will be using the 3x Phenoms to create another pricing tier – to take advantage of its quad-core technology in the mainstream, while protecting the pricing levels of the “real” quad-cores by positioning a triple-core in the mainstream market.
Source: TG daily
Comments(29)
looks good and also pricey, will have to wait for a decent review!
Quad cores that failed the fabrication process? That would be the triple core.
Basically AMD said that they wanted to utilise 4 core CPUs that had one bad core and not just to disgard these from the production run completely. So really, a 3 core CPU is just a 4 core CPU – where one of the CPUs has failed. If you ask me – i dont know who would want a 3 core CPU which is basically a 4 core CPU with one damaged CPU. Its just AMDs way of still saving money and not wasting these CPUs.
AMD has been doing that for a long time, except they didn’t make another processor group out of the crippled CPUs, they just renamed them to their single core equivalents previously.
It’s nothing new both Intel and AMD have been doing this kind of thing since they started making CPUs The ones which didn’t make the grade are sold as lower level chips.
Celeron FTW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenom_%28processor%29
can’t wait “the day of the thousand dollar CPU is over” (AMD). buying on (4 core) when it first comes out.
Yes while Intel is working on 6 core technology AMD will be working on 3 core technology. AMD FTW !……… NOT.
Unfortunately, AMD continues to fall behind. While the idea of a triple core CPU is interesting, it is also far too late to the party – if it had come along when quad-cores were out of reach for the general consumer then perhaps it would have had a competitive advantage. But Intel’s Q6600 can be had for a couple hundred bucks these days and by the time AMD comes out with their new core, Intel will be hot on their heels with a new one of their own, effectively making AMD one generation behind. Too bad for AMD . . .
I’m sorry but : AMD said that these new CPUs, code-named Toliman”, are expected to be the world’s first PC processors to integrate three computational cores on a single die of silicon.
Is this entirely true? Is the CPU in the XBOX360 not a tipple core CPU? Or is the Core in the 360 not on a single die of silicon?
@3, Actually that’s what AMD is capable… on intels you would have to throw perfectly good cores because one of them might be damaged… and that’s just waste! And don’t call it damaged cause core vary in quality, but how would you know that!
@4, They couldn’t since it was just one core… and FYI, those CPU’s work just fine… you’re just another intel fanboy, I presume!
@10… an XBOX isn’t a PC!
I guess it’s safe to safe that Intel’s 3-core chips will be coming soon now too. Why not, more money for otherwise junked chips.
NVIDIA COULD MAKE SOME SWEET CPU´S dont believe? see their GPU´S capablities
@13: GPU:s and CPU:s are entirely different. They are really powerful at the tasks they were designed for but can’t run normal apps. They are just not built that way. Specialized processors are always much faster than a normal CPU at their specific task.
Yeah, bizarre pitch & timing.
Intel drops price of quad cores.. crowd goes wild.
AMD unveils triple-core.. crowd goes “why?”
AlphA wrote :-
Is this entirely true? Is the CPU in the XBOX360 not a tipple core CPU? Or is the Core in the 360 not on a single die of silicon?
“tipple” that made me giggle
I really hope that AMD survives. Prices on desktop-cpu:s would skyrocket without real competition.
Maybe the Cell-tech present in PS3 might compete when or if it arrives in desktop format.
The triple cores actually perform very close to the quad cores due to the lowering of latency between cores. Supposedly I have read that the introduction of one more core causes high latency in the SRI and Cross Over switch, so it makes sense to use the quad cores that fail on a single core if I still get good performance close to a quad core, they save in materials and provide an excellent solution to the market. So it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.
only benchmarks will tell…
AMD quad core will be a true quad core, the intel quad isn’t a true quad core cpu…
There has been many talks of this over at Tom’s Hardware…
AMD’s quad will blow the Q6600 outta the water..
I’m personally waiting on the quads to come out, to see a price break in the dual cores.. I plan on building a few extra pc’s with some dual core action…
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=42369
Even if it’s from theinquirer, which I don’t really trust, they sau the truth but I also might get you a picture so you’ll uderstand better!
-TJW- … you and me both!
Let me see where’s that fuckin’ picture!
Ahh… here it is:
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2939&p=2
Perhaps these 3 core cpu’s will be like the late Durons, unlockable for more performance if you are lucky? then it would be sweet.
Nice,,, anyway when it comes to Intel vs AMD … always remember than quality is better than quantity …
the world’s first PC processors to integrate three computational cores on a single die of silicon…. thats a lot of crap there.
well expect to see many and many compaq/dell/hp tripple core mighty computers at you local compusa
xD 2+6 = 8
@25, when in comes to gfx cards, always remember that you might have bought crap in the past… cause GFX cards are labled on the same principle as these AMD tri-cores.
I haven’t heard ppl in the past bitching about it…!
i will say this again INTEL are working on the 80 core CPU
so go fuck yourself and die in some hole AMD hahhhaah!!!!!!
and Intel v8 next year just shows how lame AMD are ahahahaa!!!