AMD Finally Unveils Barcelona Chip

Justin Oblehelm writes "AMD has finally unveiled its first set of quad-core processors, three months after its original launch date due to its "complicated" design. Barcelona comes in three categories: high-performance, standard-performance and energy-efficient server models, but only the standard (up to 2.0 GHz) and energy-efficient (up to 1.9 GHz) categories will be available at launch. The high-performance Opterons, together with higher frequencies of the standard and energy-efficient chips, are expected in the out in the fourth quarter of this year. But it's far from clear that this is the product that will help right AMD's ship."

Comments

Benchmarks

[eebra82]

Here's some benchmarking done by Anandtech.

And a performance preview for Barcelona desktop as well.

Re:Benchmarks

[644bd346996]

Since Barcelona is one of the bigger architectural changes from AMD in the past few years, the 32-bit benchmarks are relevant because they are good predictors of what's to come for the entire product line, including the desktop processors, where 32-bit code dominates. Also, if they used exclusively 64-bit code, they would be accused of using unrealistic benchmarks to highlight the fact that AMD has better 64-bit performance than Intel.

Re:Benchmarks

[evilbessie]

It could be argued, however, that these are server and workstation chips and so would be expected to perform mainly 64bit tasks to get the full use out of the performance. So 64bit benchmarks would make more sense. Now when the Phenom chips are out then 32 and 64 bits would be both useful as over the next few years most software will convert to 64bit and drop 32bit.

Techreport

[Eukariote]

The Techreport also has a review up: http://techreport.com/articles.x/13176/1. Barcelona is similar to Core2, clock for clock. It has better energy efficiency and SMP scaling. But the clock frequencies will need to come up in order to beat Intel's highest clocking chips in absolute performance.

Re:"Full generation behind"?

[Mr Z]

This is a direct reference to 65nm vs. 45nm geometry. If AMD brings their quad core to a 45nm process, that should help yield, power and performance. If nothing else, it puts them on a level playing field with Intel (who already have product at 45nm) so that it's down to "design vs. design." Being stuck one silicon technology generation back, they need to resort to other tricks to "keep up."

In other words, to be at overall performance parity with Intel, they have to have a more advanced design in 65nm to keep up with Intel's 45nm work.

Another thing worth noting: By being 1 generation back, the quad core setup is a double whammy. The die area of a given chip roughly halves with each technology node. Not only is AMD putting twice as much on one chip, it's also making chips that are twice the size per transistor. (Remember, to double square area, you only increase your linear feature size by sqrt(2). 65/45 = 1.444... which is about sqrt(2).) Each additional sq mm of die area causes greater yield loss than the one before it (driven by defect density in the source silicon). Doubling die size has a huge impact on yield. So, AMD will potentially suffer significantly higher yield loss, and correspondingly higher costs. Even if it can keep its ASP (average selling price) up, the profit margins will suck.

It'll be interesting to see if AMD can quickly shrink this design to 45nm and get closer to parity. The benefits of the quad core design probably become much more apparent at 45nm.

--Joe

Re:Not another fake number AMD!

[afidel]

Uh, they are doing this to come closer to Intel's TDP numbers which have been average high use numbers instead of worst case for at least the last couple generation of chips. AMD is actually being much more upfront here by offering both worst case and average case numbers, I hope Intel follows their lead and offers both numbers.

Re:I've been buying Intel/Nvidia . . .

[Anonymous Coward]

Interesting....I've been buying AMD/NVidia for a few years now for the exact same reason....

Re:"right AMD's Ship" ?

[Wavicle]

I don't understand why everyone always talks about AMD's problems.

Because it doesn't matter how many fronts you are leading on, if you run out of money and can't borrow any more, you lose.

AMD has been running out of money, fortunately they can still borrow. If they don't stop losing money their credit rating will tank and then they will not be able to borrow any more.

THAT is what righting the ship means.