The Core Truth

November 14th, 2008

AMD's Extreme Makeover: What the new roadmaps reveal

Posted by John Morris @ 1:57 pm

Categories: AMD, Desktops, Intel, PC gaming, PC graphics, Servers, multicore processors, notebooks, quad-core processors, semiconductors

Tags: Platform, Plan, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Chip, DDR3, Notebooks, Desktops, Processors, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets

Lost in all of the (inaccurate) commotion yesterday about AMD entering the netbook market were much broader changes in the company’s product plans as it struggles to regain profitability and keep up with a deep-pocketed Intel. In the past year, AMD has announced plans to spin-off manufacturing, abandoned efforts to compete for “all screens” including TVs and smartphones, and at yesterday’s analysts’ meeting, revealed major changes to its server, desktop and notebook roadmaps. The extent of these changes is clear when you compare the new plans to the presentations at AMD’s previous analysts’ meeting less than a year ago.

AMD’s “Market Opportunity”

Last year AMD executives were talking up plans to compete in everything from servers to cell phones. Processors and GPUs for servers, desktops and notebooks would still be the bulk of the business, but the acquisition of ATI gave the company the portfolio to sell more chips for digital TVs and handhelds. These new markets would increase AMD’s TAM, or total addressable market, by a combined $6.4 billion in 2007. The company has since been forced to retrench.

Last month, AMD completed the sale of its digital TV business to Broadcom, and it is seeking a buyer for its handheld division. AMD is now focused strictly on chips for servers, desktops and notebooks–including GPUs–though the total market has grown to $46.5 billion by 2009 according to yesterday’s presentation. (This implies a compound annual growth rate of about 10%–the market for commercial and consumer IT was $38.3 billion in 2007–which seems plausible.) Though it makes for a less interesting product portfolio, this is a smart strategy–AMD simply doesn’t have the resources to compete in all of these areas.

Before (late 2007)

After (now)

The Notebook Roadmap

The biggest changes are in AMD’s notebook roadmap, where executives announced six new processors slated to appear between 2009 and 2011. Last year, the big news was Shrike, the first platform that would include a processor, code-named Swift, with both a CPU and a GPU on the same silicon die. This was set to appear sometime in 2009 on the new 45nm process technology. Now these APUs (application processor units)–for both notebooks and desktops–have been pushed all the way back to 2011 and will debut at 32nm.

Read the rest of this entry »

November 13th, 2008

AMD's 45nm Shanghai gets official

Posted by John Morris @ 8:00 am

Categories: AMD, Servers, multicore processors, quad-core processors

Tags: AMD Opteron, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Processors, Servers, Semiconductors, Hardware, Components, John Morris

AMD officially introduced its first 45nm processors today. Compared to its existing 65nm AMD Opterons, the new quad-core server processors code-named Shanghai, will offer better performance and use less power, and because they use the same socket and have the same thermal requirements, they will be available in more than 25 server systems by the end of the year, according to the company.

The new AMD Opterons range from 2.3- to 2.7GHz with an ACP, or Average CPU Power, rating of 75 watts (AMD uses different power ratings so you can’t directly compare this with the TDP rating on Intel Xeons). In the first quarter of 2009, AMD will release additional server chips with both lower and higher power ratings, as well as a new high-end desktop platform, code-named Dragon, which will include 45nm Phenom II X4 processors paired with the existing 700 series chipset and ATI Radeon 4000 series graphics.

The key improvements in the new Opterons include higher frequencies without using more power, a 4X increase in L3 cache to 6MB and support for 800MHz DDR2 memory. AMD says this will result in performance improvements of as much as 40% over the current Opterons (aka Barcelona) on certain applications such as virtualization, databases, and Java. The new chips also include several new power management features, and AMD has posted some performance test results which it claims show that clock-for-clock the new Opterons deliver better performance per watt than Intel Xeons.

Today’s announcement was expected. AMD executives have repeatedly said Shanghai was running ahead and schedule and the company is holding its annual analysts day today. In addition to its server and desktop roadmaps, AMD is expected to discuss the pending spin-off of its manufacturing operations, the Fusion processor with on-die graphics, and its strategy to address the growing netbook market.

[Read the AMD 45nm press release.]

November 3rd, 2008

Intel's Core i7 gets put to the test

Posted by John Morris @ 11:21 am

Categories: AMD, Desktops, Intel, Semiconductor architecture, multicore processors, notebooks, quad-core processors

Tags: Desktop, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Intel Core Microarchitecture, Core, Processors, Semiconductors, Hardware, Components, John Morris

Intel won’t announce its new Core i7 chips until later this month, but the first real reviews are popping up all over the place today. Based on the early previews, I expected to see good numbers and Core i7, formerly known as Nehalem, delivers.

These first Core i7s are Bloomfield processors designed for high-end desktops. There are three versions corresponding to different market segments: the 3.2GHz Core i7 965 Extreme Edition ($999), 2.93GHz Core i7 940 ($562) performance part, and the more mainstream 2.66GHz Core i7 920 ($284).

The new Core i7s are all quad-core processors (four cores on a single die) and each core can handle two threads. They also have an integrated memory controller and a new three-level cache, including an 8MB shared L3 cache. All of that adds up to a relatively hefty chip with 731 million transistors and a die size of 263 square millimeters. By comparison, a dual-core Penryn Core 2 Duo, which uses the same 45nm process technology, has 410 million transistors and measures 107 square millimeters. AMD’s current quad-core Phenoms–a more accurate comparison since they have four cores and a similar architecture–are even larger at 283 square millimeters, but it is still manufactured at 65nm. AMD’s 45nm Shanghai server processors–also expected later this month–will reportedly be nearly identical in size to Nehalem.

Though it is based on the same process as Penryn, the list of new features is long. Core i7s have three memory channels that support 1,066MHz DDR3; a new high-speed system bus, Quick Path Interconnect (QPI), that connects the processors to other system components (and to one another in multi-socket systems); a new socket; a new supporting chipset (the X58); more sophisticated power management features; a Turbo Mode that transparently pushes more power to the active core when running single-threaded applications; and new SSE instructions.

The results look very good. The Core i7 is the fastest desktop processor across the board on mainstream applications, multimedia tests, games and workstation applications. It looks like the second time’s the charm for Hyper Threading since the performance is especially impressive on applications that can take advantage of simultaneous multi-threading such as video encoding, 3D graphics rendering, and file compression and encryption. On some tests, the sub-$300 Core i7 920 outperformed the current Penryn 3.2GHz Core 2 Extreme QX9770, which sells for $1,399. The current Penryns were already faster than AMD’s fastest quad-core, the 2.6GHz Phenom X4 9950 BE, and Core i7 pads Intel’s lead. Shanghai should close the gap a bit, but at this point it’s hard to see how AMD can catch up anytime soon.

For now, the Core i7 and X58 are strictly for high-priced desktops, but that will soon change. Next year Intel will release server versions, currently known as Nehalem-EX, and eventually more quad-core and dual-core versions for both desktops and laptops. By late 2009, some desktop and mobile packages will also include integrated graphics processing units.

Intel Core i7 reviews coverage:

• Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition [CNET Reviews]
• Intel’s Core i7 processors: Nehalem arrives with a splash [The Tech Report]
• Intel Core i7 Review: Nehalem Gets Real [ExtremeTech]
• Intel’s Core i7 920, 945 & 965 processors [bit-tech.net]
• Intel Core i7 ‘Nehalem’ processor and X58 chipset [The Register Hardware]
• First Look: Intel’s Nehalem Smashes Performance Thresholds [ChannelWeb]
• Falcon Northwest Mach V [PC Magazine]

October 22nd, 2008

Samsung says it is no longer interested in SanDisk

Posted by John Morris @ 7:52 am

Categories: Uncategorized, semiconductors

Tags: SanDisk Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Memory Industry, EE Times, Flash Memory, John Morris

Samsung has abruptly dropped its $5.8 billion bid for the memory card-maker SanDisk.

In a letter to SanDisk’s board, Samsung Electronics CEO Yoon Woo Lee wrote that the recent quarterly results heightened concerns about SanDisk’s ability to weather a protracted downturn in the memory industry and the broader economy. In addition, SanDisk had just announced a preliminary agreement with its manufacturing partner, Toshiba, to in effect sell some of its share of the NAND flash back to Toshiba in exchange for cash and relief from some other financial obligations. EE Times has posted the full text of Samsung’s letter.

For its part, SanDisk said it remained open to discussions with Samsung, but only at a price that it felt reflected the value of the company’s intellectual property. And it questioned whether Samsung really wanted to buy the company in the first place. (The SanDisk press release is here.) The negotiations (or lack thereof) were also complicated by a key licensing agreement between Samsung and SanDisk that is set to expire in less than a year. SanDisk earns hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties from this agreement each year.

SanDisk’s quarterly results were disappointing, but it’s hard to believe that they were a surprise to Samsung. The entire memory industry has been suffering through a severe downturn for some time, and the math is simple. Memory suppliers invested heavily in expanded production, which resulted in sharp oversupply that is expected to extend from 2007 through the first half of next year. As a result memory prices have fallen below production costs, even for suppliers with the most advanced technology. Initially this mainly affected the DRAM suppliers, but eventually it caught up with the NAND flash players as well.

Ultimately it seems SanDisk and Samsung were too far apart on price to even begin to tackle other formidable issues. Here is a link to my previous post on the technology that made SanDisk an attractive target for Samsung.

October 11th, 2008

Report: Three Intel Nehalems in November

Posted by John Morris @ 5:40 am

Categories: AMD, Desktops, Intel, Semiconductor architecture, dual-core processors, multicore processors, notebooks, quad-core processors, semiconductors

Tags: Desktop, Mobile, Intel Corp., Chip, Nehalem, Server Processor, Chipsets, Semiconductors, Processors, Network Technology

Intel will launch its first three Nehalem processors on November 17, according to a report on the site Expreview.com. These Bloomfield high-end chips will include the 3.2 GHz Core i7-965XE ($999), 2.93GHz Core i7-940 ($562) and 2.66GHz Core i7-920 ($284).

Nehalem is manufactured using the same 45nm process as current desktop and mobile chips, but it has a new design or microarchitecture. I’ve written previously about some of the new features in Nehalem.

Next year Intel will release mainstream desktop processors, as well as mobile and server versions of Nehalem. Like the Core i7, the Lynnfield desktop and Clarksfield mobile processors will use a separate GPU; the Havendale desktop and Auburndale mobile version will integrate a GPU in the processor package, thought it will also work with a separate GPU. The Lynnfield and Clarksfield processors will have four cores, while Havendale and Auburndale will be dual-core chips. The server processors are currently referred to as Nehalem-EX.

Desktops PCs with these first Core i7 chips will also have new, high-end motherboards based on the Intel X58 (or Tylersburg) chipset. Even though it has several new features such as integrated memory controller and Quick Path Interconnect, the X58 platform will still use a chipset that consists of two separate chips–like current systems that have a Northbridge and Southbridge. Next year’s Ibex Peak (for Lynnfield and Havendale desktop chips) and Ibex Peak-M (for the Clarksfield and Auburndale laptop chips) chipset will in fact be a single chip–or a two-chip solution if you count the processor.

The details on the X58 platform have been slowly leaking out since the Computex tradeshow last June where motherboard makers show off their products. Several enthusiast sites such as Anandtech and Tom’s Hardware have posted previews, but we’ve yet to see any real performance results.

AMD is set to launch its first 45nm processors (code-named Shanghai) sometime this quarter. As with Barcelona, the first versions will be server processors followed by desktop parts most likely in early 2009. The new 45nm process should help AMD reach high frequencies (and cut manufacturing costs), but there’s a big gap between the current 2.6GHz Phenom X4 9550 and a possible 3.2GHz Intel Core i7-965XE, so it seems unlikely that AMD will wrest the performance crown from Intel with Shanghai.

October 7th, 2008

AMD finally announces "asset-smart" plan; new Foundry Company created

Posted by John Morris @ 4:44 am

Categories: AMD, semiconductors

Tags: Asset, Foundry Networks Inc., Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Manufacturing, Asset Management, Financial Services, Operational Planning, Business Operations, John Morris

AMD and a technology investment company backed by the government of Abu Dhabi have established a new semiconductor company that will manufacture AMD’s advanced processors. The new company–currently known as “The Foundry Company”–will take over all of AMD’s existing manufacturing facilities, including the two leading-edge fabs in Dresden, Germany, and will construct an additional fab in upstate New York.

After eight years at the helm of AMD as CEO, and more recently as chairman, Hector Ruiz will become chairman of The Foundry Company. Doug Grose, currently AMD’s senior vice president of manufacturing operations, will become CEO of The Foundry Company, which will be based in Silicon Valley. Most of the 3,000 employees at the new company will come from the fabs in Dresden, though about 300 process engineers from AMD offices in Sunnyvale, Austin and East Fishkill will also join The Foundry Company. The Foundry Company will join the IBM alliance for developing both silicon-on-insulator (SOI) and bulk silicon process technology through the 22nm generation.

The investment company, Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC) will invest $2.1 billion to purchase its stake in The Foundry Company, including $1.4 billion invested directly in the new company and $700 million paid to AMD to purchase shares in the new company. ATIC also assumed some AMD’s formidable debt and committed significant funding–up to $5.7 billion over five years–to expanding manufacturing operations. This includes completing Fab 38, an advanced 300mm wafer fab in Dresden, in 2009, followed by construction of the Luther Forest facility in Malta, New York. Later The Foundry Company will consider a new fab in Abu Dhabi depending on market conditions.

“Today’s announcement significantly alters the global semiconductor industry,” said ATIC Chairman Waleed Al Mokarrab. “This is great news for those communities, but most importantly it is great news for the semiconductor industry.”

When the deal closes around the end of this year, AMD will own 44.4% and ATIC will own 55.6% of The Foundry Company.

As part of the announcement, Mubadala Development Company, a sovereign wealth fund of the government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, that currently owns 8.1% of AMD increased its stake to 19.3% through the purchase for $314 million of 58 million newly-issued AMD shares with warrants to purchase 30 million additional shares. Mubadala also gets a seat on AMD’s board.

AMD had been promising this “asset-smart” plan for so long that it had become the butt of jokes among industry analysts. The announcement turns the page on a difficult period for AMD, marked by the disappointment of its Barcelona native quad-core processor, and begins a new chapter in which AMD becomes a fabless semiconductor company. AMD’s President and CEO, Dirk Meyer, promised the combination of the manufacturing spin-off and Mubadala increased investment would “result in a stronger and more tightly focused AMD.”