Advanced Micro Devices has launched new chips based on its new “Bulldozer” multicore architecture with its lineup of FX processors.
This includes two eight-core desktop chips.
The FX chips – four in all, ranging from four to eight cores – are aimed at high-end systems for extreme multi-display gaming, high-definition content creation, and multimedia for PC and digital enthusiasts. In addition, AMD is shipping the chips unlocked, which means that users can overclock them to increase power if desired.
“AMD FX CPUs are back with a vengeance,’” Chris Cloran, corporate vice president and general manager for AMD’s Client Group, said in a statement when the chips were released 12 October. “While overclockers will certainly enjoy the frequencies the AMD FX processors can achieve, PC enthusiasts and HD media aficionados will appreciate the remarkable experience that AMD FX processors can provide as part of a balanced, affordable desktop system.”
The FX chips come at an important time for AMD. The chip maker has been talking up the Bulldozer architecture, which officials have said will offer high performance and greater energy efficiency. The architecture also is being used to build AMD’s upcoming Opteron server chips – the 16-core “Interlagos” and eight-core “Valencia” processors – as well as the next generation of the company’s Fusion chips, which were first introduced in January and offer high-level graphics and the CPU integrated on the same piece of silicon.
However, AMD has again been tripped up by manufacturing issues. Company executives in September lowered their revenue forecasts for the third quarter, saying problems at manufacturing partner Globalfoundries’ facility in Germany were limiting supplies of AMD’s 32-nanometer “Llano” processors for mainstream notebooks, and also delayed the shipment of the Opteron 6200 Interlagos processors.
The stumble made a difficult situation for AMD even more so. The vendor not only is challenged by Intel and its massive and efficient manufacturing abilities, but the company also is being squeezed by ARM Holdings in the low end.
“Even as AMD faces challenges at 32nm, its primary competitor is poised to start shipping 22nm-based MPUs, which will further pressure AMD’s costs and product competitiveness,” Ross Seymore, managing director of US semiconductor research for Deutsche Bank Securities, said in a research note 28 September.
In a note 13 October, MKM Partners analysts Daniel Berenbaum wrote that “AMD is on the verge of sinking into irrelevancy as ARM-based competitors gain share in low-end computing and Intel extends its advantages in performance and manufacturing.”
AMD is being hampered by not only its manufacturing problems with Globalfoundries, but also a “technology roadmap is severely lagging,” Berenbaum wrote. “Third-party reviews indicate that the performance of new products based on the Bulldozer architecture is disappointing – this means that AMD will likely remain a bystander in the ongoing data centre build cycle (which has accrued significant benefit to Intel), and will now also miss a window to compete in consumer PCs.”
AMD officials believe users will be thrilled by the performance of the new FX CPUs. Not only will they be able to overclock the chips, but also will be able to take advantage of AMD’s Turbo Core Technology to dynamically optimize performance across the chip cores to enhance performance for compute-intensive workloads.
The FX portfolio is starting with four chips – two eight-core models (FX-8150 and FX-8120), a six-core version (FX-6100) and one with four cores (FX-4100) – and more will be added to the family later.
Users also can combine an FX chips with a 9-series chipset motherboard and Radeon HD 6000 graphics cards – all from AMD – to create the “Scorpius” platform for high-end gaming and entertainment. In addition, the Scorpius platform supports AMD’s CrossFireX technology, which enables users to combine multiple graphics cards in a PC, and Eyefinity technology, which offers high-level resolution on up to six monitors.
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thirdparty news load crap just seen test done on core the arcitecture is developed for overclockers so overclock this cpu and you will see the difference same as fx older sib
and when g34 magny soccet is introduced this will change every thing (so for a company that does not cange its underpants all the time and think that we are richie riches that can just carry on purchasing boards and cps again and again does not compute well with many people ) so in all great job amd about time push this unit and it will make most systems look quite outdated for the price.
plug and play have i7 920 and this thing kicks it out the park into space (purchase big air cooler load to 6 ghz and then run against the 2500k gives it a smack second to none, dont know whos doing the testing but the are not doing it correctly.
for the first time in a long time amd has the upper hand and all intel fans are now pissed off for the fact that there 5000 dollar pc is been and can now be with a little more in coolers and fans have the crap kicked out of it.
i have a school in south africa purchased 10 intel pcs 2 years ago and 4 amds only have the amds left all intels overheated and where repaced with core 2 quads then i3s then i7s not i5 i7s have now only one core 2 quad 1 intel 5200 the rest are now athlon x4s and 5 phenoms my system is now replaced my heat generating cook a egg on it i7 920 which got so hot it crashed and never turned on that system is now a phenom 2 x 4 550 be that workes a hell of alot better than that peace of crap that i spent so much cash on.
need best mobo solid state hardrive max mem 32 gigs with best cooler air or liquid and over clock it properly and then compare to intel flavour for the price and you will crapp in you pants and most likely will have to change you jocks like you intel chips and mobos (happy with AMD just dones the job and that is what its duty is to do, heat no more problems bandwidth no more problems and i can go on and on all has been r&d for the last 6 years to be better and better than previous models.
sorry about any spelling mishaps just get so cross with intel and the way x amd now intel crossovers complane when they now see something good and just want to slam it. not nice when shoe is on the other foot.
go amd fxem all