AMD launches first 45nm, quad-core Shanghai Opterons, hitting desktops Q1

Intel might get all the consumer praise, but AMD has been blazing architectural trails well before Nehalem. As EE Times points out, AMD's 65-nm Barcelona was the first quad-core processor with 2MB of shared L3 cache integrated with the Northbridge memory controller. Now AMD has (finally) caught up with its own 45-nm technology under the code-name, Shanghai. AMD's newest quad-core Opteron server chip with 6MB L3 cache now offers up to 35 percent better performance while drawing 35 percent less idle power. Better yet, it's drop-in compatible with Barcelona which should keep IT-types happy as they extend the life of their server farms. Available immediately in 75-watt, quad-core versions running clock speeds from 2.3GHz to 2.7GHz. Desktop-class "Dragon" chips should hit the PC market in Q1. Great, now where are those 45-nm netbook procs, eh AMD?

[Via EE Times and CNET]

[Alexei @ Nov 13th 2008 4:26AM]

Well, should I eagerly wait for benchmarks compared to Core i7?

Or will we be looking at another season of riding the Intel boat? :)

[AVG @ Nov 13th 2008 4:51AM]

The chances that Intel's offerings at similar speeds will be cheaper when these release? I'd say around 100%.

[mirakutea @ Nov 13th 2008 4:54AM]

And why would AMD price them higher?

[AVG @ Nov 13th 2008 5:00AM]

You haven't been keeping up with this whole AMD VS Intel thing, have you?

[Macdelaney @ Nov 13th 2008 5:12AM]

I haven't really, why would they be cheaper?

[Mikeo @ Nov 13th 2008 5:19AM]

AVG's rather a joke.

The i7 will perform well when it comes to Xeon, but it will NOT be cheap. Even current 6-core, 8-socket Xeons cost much more than AMD's Quad Opterons, even when they actually get rather close in quite some apps like virtualization and DB.

[ctbear @ Nov 13th 2008 10:52AM]

There needs to be another major chip making company...that way Intel isn't always picking on AMD and vice versa. More competition = cheaper chips for us and quicker development cycles.
I nominate Tostitos to take on this role.

[melvz @ Nov 13th 2008 4:55AM]

I seriously doubt these chips will outperform nehalem

[mirakutea @ Nov 13th 2008 5:05AM]

Yea, but so long as DDR3 prices remain high these chips could be a very good budget option with DDR2.

[Kurian @ Nov 13th 2008 5:14AM]

These perform like Q6600s.

[mirakutea @ Nov 13th 2008 5:19AM]

They better be cheaper than the Q6600s then :].

[loosely_coupled @ Nov 13th 2008 7:08PM]

No, these won't, but they aren't target at Nehalem. They basically can't compete with those, but that is ok for them since the vast majority of shipping processors are still based on 45nm Penryn.

The real advantage of these are in server markets where Nehalem-based 2-way Xeons aren't out till late-Q1/Q2 2009 and the 4-way MP Nehalem Xeons are out till early 2010 --- whereas AMD is launching Shanghai for ALL server segments NOW. So for the next 4-12 months (depending on segment) they retain the advantage of HyperTransport and an integrated memory controller. They need to make up some serious ground in the server market else they'll get slaughtered when Nehalem is cheap and shipping in volume later next year.

[Homer @ Nov 13th 2008 5:20AM]

AMD maybe are losing customer in desktop market but in server market, AMD is equally competitive with Intel in terms of price/performance ratio.
Just look at IBM's Road Runner supercomputer, they chose Opteron and Cell instead of Intel's Xeon.
Cray is also planning to develop their next supercomputer with Opteron chip.

[da.geek @ Nov 13th 2008 5:23AM]

Look like it outperform Xenons http://www.crn.com/hardware/212002190

[mirakutea @ Nov 13th 2008 5:53AM]

Intel is going to extend its desktop domination from 2 years to 3 years or more, AMD is surviving because of the server market or what?

[Rob @ Nov 13th 2008 7:36AM]

IT-types swapping processors? I sincerely doubt that. In roughly 14 years in the industry I have only ever had one customer that wanted the _flexibility_ to potentially swap processors at a later date.

Even memory is rarely upgraded during the lifetime of a server. Most servers are simply replaced after 3 to 5 years.

[wonkydonkydotnet @ Nov 13th 2008 8:48AM]

What, no more Tricycle-core cpus? -Wah!
I'll miss you, tricycle processors! -You shall live on in the Big Wheels of my memory.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 13th 2008 9:34AM]

Shouldn't last too long then.

[kal326 @ Nov 13th 2008 9:09AM]

They might now beat the i7 in performance, but until Intel releases a chipset that supports those chips that doesn't start with an 'X' the price to performance ratio is going to be squarely in AMD's court. Unless the i7 motherboards drop in price you could probably get 2 chips and motherboards for the price of one Intel, and that's using the cheapest Intel chip. That's not even taking into consideration the price of DDR2 to DDR3. I like the performance capabilities of the i7 chips, not so much liking the price of admission to run a system using one.

[mirakutea @ Nov 13th 2008 9:21AM]

If Intel's current Core 2 Quad chips are equal to AMDs brand new chips.. then the price to performance ratio is not as you say.

[Jim @ Nov 13th 2008 9:15AM]

AMD is a day late and a dollar short on 45nm.

Or should I say, a year late.

Where are the consumer level 45nm procs, AMD??????

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 13th 2008 9:37AM]

Read the article titface.
"Desktop-class "Dragon" chips should hit the PC market in Q1."

[Peter @ Nov 13th 2008 9:28AM]

That picture would make an amazing wallpaper.

[AVG @ Nov 13th 2008 9:34AM]

Not as colorful, but it's a start: http://www.geekpedia.com/gallery/fullsize/cpu-technology-wallpaper.jpg

[DarkMan08 @ Nov 13th 2008 6:56PM]

Here you go.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/Additional/44701A_Wafer_2.jpg