AMD has unveiled elements of its forthcoming processors and other chips planed to arrive in next two years, such as HyperTransport 3.0, use of L3 cache shared between the CPU cores, use of DDR3 memory, PCI-Express 2.0, shift to DirectX 10 and use of hybrid graphics in laptops. AMD also showed details of desktop, notebook and server/workstation processors roadmaps for 2007/2008, as same as a concept of the future multi-core chips called Accelerated Processing Units, during company’s Financial Analyst Day held this week.
Regarding desktop processor and chipset roadmap, AMD plans quad-core CPU introduction in mid-2007, featuring Level 3 cache shared between the cores. At the same time, AMD will introduce CrossFire chipset family for use with multiple graphics cards. This AMD platform will incorporate HyperTransport 3.0 providing faster chip-to-chip and board-to-board communications. HT 3.0 extends HyperTransport 1’s 800 MHz clock to 1.8 GHz, 2.0 GHz, 2.4 GHz and 2.6 GHz, while the PCI Express 2.0 will double the bus standard’s bandwidth. DirectX 10 graphics in AMD’s desktop platforms will also debut in mid-2007, while the new AM3 CPU socket will be introduced in 2008.
The DDR3 memory support will show up in AMD powered desktops in mid-2008, along with new single-, dual- and quad-core parts. The DDR3 SDRAM (Double Data Rate 3 Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) is the successor to DDR2 SDRAM. The DDR3 promises a power consumption reduction of 40% compared to current DDR2 modules, according to the Wikipedia.
AMD Desktop Roadmap - Source: AMD
The laptop platform refresh will include processors update, as same as use of hybrid graphics and forthcoming wireless 802.11n standard, according to the unveiled company’s public roadmap.
The mobile ‘Hawk’ processors will debut in second half of next year with an 800MHz DDR2 memory support. Additionally, in 2008, AMD’s Griffin processors and ‘Puma’ notebook platform will bring low-voltage portable computing, PCI Express 2.0, HyperTransport 3.0 and DirectX 10.
An interesting feature in next generation AMD-based notebooks will be hybrid graphics, scheduled to arrive in 2007. It is a combination of integrated and discrete GPUs. According to AMD, simply plugging in or unplugging the laptop’s AC adaptor will automatically flip between the discrete and integrated graphics. The battery life is to be saved by using less power-demanding integrated graphics chip, when laptop is unplugged from power supply.
AMD Mobile Roadmap - Source: AMD
In the field of server and workstation computing, AMD Opteron CPU roadmap announces a quad-core processor code-named Barcelona, which will come out mid-year in 2007. The CPU will be aimed at two-socket and four-socket platforms, according to the reports. At the same time, Budapest will debut as a quad-core Opteron offering for one-socket servers and workstations. The Budapest will shift Opteron platforms to HyperTransport 3.0.
In the first half of 2008 the quad-core Shanghai will be introduced featuring HT 3.0 and L3 cache. It will still have DDR2 (not DDR3) options, according to the AMD’s officials.
AMD Opteron Processor Roadmap - Source: AMD
The mentioned Accelerated Processing Units represent a future of multi-core chips that include a mix of processor cores and other dedicated cores. The dedicated cores could be used for separate physics processing or audio/video encoding for example. According to the reports, APUs may bring specific tailored processors in the future, such as office, gaming or CAD CPUs. This direction of processor development is significantly different from Intel’s strategy, based on adding large number of identical cores to existing dies.
AMD Accelerated Processing Units - Source: AMD
All announced AMD’s processors will certainly be 64-bit units.
Sony today announced the VAIO RM HD Video Editing System, which features Blu-ray Disc-enabled high-definition video authoring. It incorporates an Intel Core2 Duo processor, 2GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT graphics and a terabyte of HDD storage.
