http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/ Engadget Comments for AMD's triple-core Phenoms to launch in March? http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 8:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 12:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 8:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/
As another poster mentioned as well, they aren't producing tri-core, these are failed quad cores with one die disabled. ]]>Dec 26th 2007 10:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 8:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 9:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/They are basically ordinary normal x4 Phenom chips which have one core that doesn't function properly. And AMD won't be producing them per se, they will just sell what is basically the byproduct of their poor 65nm fabrication process combined with the complexity of a 'monolith' quad core. Hence the steppings and core clocks that completely match those of the x4 Phenoms, as do the names (only instead of 9xxx it's 8xxx). I think this will be a good way for AMD to ged rid of defunct products and thus make a little more cash off of the whole Phenom bandwagon.

Not to mention that it is likely that this CPU will outperform intels C2D's (not C2Q ofc) and be cheaper at the same time.]]>Dec 26th 2007 9:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3153&p=3

Basically, the Phenoms look at first glance to be worse than the Intel processors and more expensive too.
In most tests, the Q6600 (2.4GHz) out-performs the Phenom 9900 (2.6GHz), let alone the 9700 which at 2.4GHz is the equivalent spec, or the 9600 (2.3GHz) which is the closest in terms of price.]]>Dec 26th 2007 11:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/But a potential x3 8xxx CPU is likely to outperform most dual core solutions from intel - C2D (again, notice the D), and it is also likely to be cheaper then the new penryn C2D's. (It is also extremely likely that intel will lower prices if that happens).
I hope I clarified it well.]]>Dec 26th 2007 1:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/
Still, whether the triple-core processors are actually any better than Intels C2Ds is something we'll have to wait and see.
Given the tri-core units are actually faulty quads, they will (unless I'm mistaken) quite possibly fail to match dual-core processors in the same way that quad-cores currently fail - the higher FSB speeds of the dual-cores tip the balance in their favour for the time being.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that by the time the tri-core out-perform the dual-cores, the quad-cores will out-perform the tri-cores as they're all manufactured the same way. And, when that's the case, AMD are going to have problems because their quad-cores are just a joke compared to Intel's C2Q line-up.]]>Dec 26th 2007 5:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 10:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 10:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/
They'll need to be the first to give us 8 or 16 cores of goodness, or they're done.

A stock 4Ghz chip would be swell too.]]>Dec 26th 2007 12:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 2:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/
Are they going to be selling these processors at Good Will or Salvation Army?]]>Dec 26th 2007 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/ Point taken. But I am one of those people who DOES occasionally peruse the "Clearance" bins in various retail venues. Always looking for a real bargain...an overlooked diamond in the rough...

A $100 - $150 Triple core CPU that equals or outperforms a $175 - $200 dual core equivalent behind the regular counter sounds like it might qualify. :)

Think a $100 - $150 range is absurd ? Keep in mind these CPS would be scrapped otherwise. Selling them at cost (say...$50 or less) would be useful from a business perspective. Overhead is cut dramaticaly. But given AMDs general sitch at the moment, I'd bet they want/need the extra "profit".

It will be interesting to see the pricing scale of these tripple cores...]]>Dec 26th 2007 5:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/]]>Dec 27th 2007 7:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 6:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 9:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 7:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 7:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 26th 2007 11:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/
I might build a triathlon system if I can do it on the cheap. ]]>Dec 27th 2007 12:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Dec 27th 2007 4:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/
The Phenom is socket AM2 so it can be used in existing AM2 motherboards.]]>Dec 28th 2007 1:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/
99% of people just don't get the real dual core design was amd and not intel. but idiotic gamers buy anything with big numbers like 4 ht cores and big cache. also 99% of people don't understand that more chache isn't better when you have different design of cpus. intel played safe and won. for now.]]>Jan 11th 2008 5:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/
What??? Man, did you forget to put your head on today? How can shrinking the fabrication process save money? Do you think "shrinking" in this case means cutting out bloated processes? It refers to making everything (in the processor) smaller. Every little baby-step for several years now has required massive amounts of research, which costs money. Every new process has required well.....new processes! These new processes require new equipment. This new equipment must be more accurate than previous equipment, which means more expensive. Shrinking IC fabrication is anything but cheaper.

Also, does anyone not realize that AMD decided to skip the b.s. intermediate step that Intel took (slapping 2 dual-cores together and calling it a quad) and is going straight to TRUE quad-cores? They had some trouble with the initial designs. Those problems have now been fixed, and they are now in the production stage. I'm 100% certain these quads will outperform Intel's, just as AMD's singles outperformed Intel's in the past. Just so you know, I'm not talking about the AM2 type....I'm talking about the Phenom FX's. Wait another 6 months, and you'll be glad you did. Intel will be eating dust yet again.

And I agree with those who say it's good to have both AMD and Intel doing well. It drives competition, keeping performance up and cost down.]]>Mar 13th 2008 1:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/amds-triple-core-phenoms-to-launch-in-march/Mar 14th 2008 11:26PM