AMD Making a 5 GHz 8-Core Processor At 220 Watts

Vigile writes "It looks like the rumors were true; AMD is going to be selling an FX-9590 processor this month that will hit frequencies as high as 5 GHz. Though originally thought to be an 8-module/16-core part, it turns out that the new CPU will have the same 4-module/8-core design that is found on the current lineup of FX-series processors including the FX-8350. But, with an increase of the maximum Turbo Core speed from 4.2 GHz to 5.0 GHz, the new parts will draw quite a bit more power. You can expect the the FX-9590 to need 220 watts or so to run at those speeds and a pretty hefty cooling solution as well. Performance should closely match the recently released Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell processor so AMD users that can handle the 2.5x increase in power consumption can finally claim performance parity."

Comments

Re:Awesome

[0111 1110]

Power consumption scales with the *cube* of the clock speed, so you pretty quickly run into a power/heat wall.

Bullshit. There is no wall. I don't care all that much about heat/power/noise. I have a water cooling setup and I'm prepared to move to phase change if necessary. What I want is for Moore's Law to mean something again. Giving up on clock speed was a bad move on Intel's part. It's just sad that we still haven't made it to 5 Ghz. This whole shift from raw performance at any price to performance per watt or even wattage walls that cannot be exceeded just sucks.

I haven't bought a new CPU since my Wolfdale Core 2 Duo that I run overclocked at 4 Ghz when I need performance or at 1.2 Ghz, 0.9 volts when I don't. It was nice to get off the upgrade treadmill for a while, but it has gotten old. I want a 10 Ghz processor (without reducing performance per cycle), and I want it now.

Does anyone have one of those old Intel roadmaps that promised something like 12 Ghz by now? Staying under 4 Ghz for all of eternity is not what we were promised. I haven't owned an AMD CPU since they were king of the hill, but I applaud this performance at any price philosophy. Efficiency is great. I love efficiency. If/when VW ever imports their XL1 to America I'll be first in line to buy one, but I wouldn't want it to be the only car available. I like to save money on petrol, but I also might want to actually enjoy driving every once in a while.

I do realize that Intel's CPUs are just as fast while using a lot less power and that this new AMD processor is the equivalent of a car that drives like a Prius with the fuel economy of a Lambo, but it's a start in the right direction. If you can't beat Intel at their own game then change the game. I like the idea that someone has the balls to say, "Power be damned, we're going to make the fastest processor we know how to make. Full stop."