Phenom
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AMD talks up mildly ambiguous graphics supercomputer
It's not entirely clear what the purpose of AMD's newest supercomputer is, but it's pretty safe to say that the company is making it out to be something better than it is. All harshness aside, the so-called Fusion Render Cloud will reportedly be the planet's fastest graphics supercomputer. It sounds like the machine will be good for farming out tasks, and more specifically, for "real-time rendering of film and visual effects graphics on an unprecedented scale." Evidently AMD's hoping that gaming firms tap into the beast in order to develop and deploy next-generation game content, so that probably means it's worthless for you. But hey, it sounds awesome, right?
AMD's Phenom goes on a budget with the Athlon X2 7000 series
Hot on the heels of word that the 45nm Phenom II chip is up for grabs, AMD has announced that its 65nm predecessor has been relegated to budget duty. The new Phenom-based Athlon X2 7000 chips are now available, replacing the aged X2 6000 and delivering an affordable HyperTransport bus boost to 3.6GHz, 2MB of L3 cache, but still just 1MB on L2. It's a dual-core processor, unlike the higher-spec Phenoms, and consumes 95-watts. That's a handy drop from the X2 6000's 125-watt rating, but isn't exactly frugal compared to some of AMD's other Phenom offerings. The 2.7GHz X2 7750 Black Edition is available now in bulk for just under $80, and appears to be retailing for around $90. Meanwhile a paler, cheaper, 2.5GHz version is shipping just for OEMs -- but that shouldn't stop you home builders from finding one if you're really inclined.
AMD Phenom II processor gets outed, might even be released
Apparently, AMD has officially announced the release of its Phenom II processor -- though if they did, they forgot to actually, you know, announce it. According to EE Times, the quad-core, 45nm chip is said to support DDR2 and DDR 3 memory (the latter up to 1333MHz) and is available at both 3GHz and 2.8GHz speeds (for $275 and $235, respectively). If that's not exciting enough, a 65nm (DDR2) version of the chip is also availabe. The article winds up by saying that the chips are expected to appear in systems on display at the upcoming CES. Sound good? Now all we need is an actual, official announcement. Like, from the chip maker itself. We're looking at you, AMD. Call us. You have the number.[Via Register Hardware]Update: So, what do you know? It looks like the EE Times link is down without any sort of explanation. We're not exactly sure what to make of this, but we'll keep you posted regardless. And no, AMD hasn't called either.
AMD Phenom II CPU roadmap foreshadows potent Spring
Not that AMD's being overly secretive about its forthcoming Phenom II processor, but it hasn't exactly been forthcoming with model names / estimated ship dates, either. And that folks, is why we look to leaks. A recent writeup over on Chinese site HKEPC details the impending chip family by listing over a dozen new CPUs (including two Phenom II X3s and seven Phenom II X4s) that are destined to be announced between CES and June 2009. Not surprisingly, some of the model names aren't -- shall we way, completely original -- with the 3GHz Phenom II X4 940 and 2.8GHz Phenom II X4 920 sharing eerily similar naming schemes with Intel's fresh Core i7. Of course, we're not sticklers for silly things like that -- we just want to see a few slabs of silicon get out the door on time. Is that really too much to ask, AMD?[Via CNET]
Mystery Verizon phone features 3-inch touchscreen, attachable function modules
Not long ago we uncovered a VX9600 brought to the FCC's attention courtesy of LG, and naturally, whenever we hear about an LG model that starts with "VX," we think but one thing: Verizon. That's not too interesting -- LGs pass through Verizon's lineup all the frickin' time -- but what caught our eye with this one was the mention of a game pad and a detachable keyboard. Meanwhile, a tipster of ours recently received a survey from Verizon asking what they thought about a purely hypothetical phone with a 3-inch touchscreen and a series of detachable modules, including a keyboard, game pad, stereo speakers, and an "internet module" with integrated WiFi. Coincidence? Doubtful; if we had to guess, the VX9600 is this very device, for which Verizon is apparently considering the names "Phenom," "Clip," and "Versa." We've got to admit, they've managed to stumble across a pretty unique concept here, and we're curious to see how it actually works in practice. We'd seen some intel indicating that Verizon had been targeting a November launch for this thing as recently as September -- but launch windows change insanely fast, so there's really no telling when we'll see this Frankenstein of a phone at this point.[Thanks, Marcus]
AMD said to be revising naming scheme for 45nm Phenom CPUs
Get out your processor score sheets, folks (both of you), 'cause it looks like your world is about to get shook up again. According to some unnamed "industry sources," AMD is going to be welcoming its new 45nm Phenom processors by slightly revising its conventional naming scheme, although it's not going quite so far as to ditch the main Phenom X3 and Phenom X4 branding all together. Instead, it's supposedly going to be switching the model numbers from four to five digits, with the lower-end processors following a 1xx00 format and the higher-end CPUs using a 20xx0 scheme. That, of course, is being done in the name of "simplifying" things, although we'll let you be the judge if that's the first word that pops in your mind or not when you take a glance at the table available at the read link below.
AMD slashes prices on triple-core Phenom X3 processors
AMD may have some new dual-core Phenom processors around the corner, but it looks like those wanting to build an AMD rig on the cheap don't have to wait until then, as the company has just slashed the price on its triple-core Phenom X3 processors, a move that follows some similar price cuts just a few weeks ago. As of now, you can get an X3 8450 for $104 (down from $125 in July), an X3 8650 for $119 (down from $145), an X3 8750 for $129 (down from $175), or even an X3 8750 Black Edition with overclocking support for just $134. As TG Daily points out, that pits the processors up against the low-end of Intel's Core 2 Duo offerings, which certainly makes 'em an attractive option for those looking to get the most bang for the buck.
AMD roadmap leaked, dual core Phenoms could be around the corner
If it's Thursday, then it must be time for more AMD rumors - this time a few different sources report the chipmaker's given its channel partners the high sign indicating "Kuma" dual-core Phenom-based processors will finally see the light of day. For those too shy to indulge in triple- or even quad-core action, El Reg says Phenom X2 dual core chips will range from 2.3GHz to 1.90 Ghz, sporting 1MB L2 cache and 2MB L3 cache for. Freaky 3-core overclockers can look forward to new, better performing 2.4Ghz Black Edition Phenom 8750s, and more efficient 125-watt Phenom 9950 CPUs, if we can trust leaked German sales charts -- and we always do, don't you?Read - The RegisterRead - PC Perspective
AMD's new 790GX chipset for gamers on a "budget"
AMD's got a new performance-per-dollar platform for running Phenom processors without breaking the bank. The 790GX is being positioned right below AMD's top of the line 790FX, with a typical motherboard built around the technology costing around $355. Primary advantages of the chipset include Advanced Clock Calibration, which allows Phenom speeds of 3.2GHz and up, and ATI Radeon HD 3300 integrated graphics -- though of course you can ramp up to discreet graphics or CrossFireX if you're really feeling it. The folks at HotHardware already took a chipset for a spin, and while it won't be besting the best from Intel, it seems to be showing some strong leadership in its price category compared to related Intel and NVIDIA technologies. It's shipping now.Read - AMD PRRead - Hot Hardware review
AMD's flagship Phenom X4 9950 BE announced: Intel laughs, points
AMD just pranced out its latest trio of desktop processors including its new 2.6GHz quad-core Phenom X4 9950 Black Edition ($235) -- AMD's top o' the line desktop proc. The Black Edition branding makes this processor ideal for tweakers and overclockers. HotHardware's already done the job of putting the procs through their respective paces. As you'd hope from AMD's flagship desktop CPU, the X4 9950 is faster across the board than the previous AMD title holder, the X4 9850, albeit, just 5%. That puts it about level with Intel's Quad Q6600 processor but no match for Intel's Core 2 Extreme QX9650. AMD continues to lag Intel in terms of performance per watt as well. Hit up the read link when you're ready to sprinkle a little silicon speak onto your morning ritual.
AMD including hidden overclocking functionality in tri- / quad-core Phenoms?
Straight up, this one sounds just too bizarre to ever be true, but we suppose (almost) anything goes when talkin' AMD. Now that you're suitably skeptical, word on the street has it that AMD's triple- and quad-core Phenom processors posses a half dozen "hidden pins" which can enable painfully easy overclocking when paired with the right chipsets. Yeah, this sounds way too much like some sort of Up / Down / Up / Down / Select / Start fantasy boost, but apparently a 2.8GHz Black Edition CPU can be taken to 3GHz with a SB700-equipped motherboard or an even more tantalizing 3.2GHz when used with a SB750. As expected, the release date for this tech is listed as unknown, but maybe that's just some code trying to tell us we're really stuck in the Twilight Zone.[Thanks, kris120890]
AMD says post-Phenom CPUs will be "completely different," 100 laptops to launch with Puma
Although most of the attention in the increasingly-competitive CPU market has been focused on Intel and newcomer NVIDIA lately, AMD's still in it to win it, and it looks like it's taking some bold moves. First up, the company says over 100 laptop designs based on the new Puma mobile platform are being developed for delivery in June, over twice as many as it's had in the past. AMD's touting Puma's Hybrid Graphics mode that allows the system to intelligently switch between a Radeon HD3400 and integrated graphics for max power-savings, so it'll be interesting to see how the system stacks up against Intel's Atom and VIA's Isaiah -- like NVIDIA, AMD seems to be betting that consumers care more about graphics than raw horsepower. That bet might also explain why AMD's technical director of sales and marketing Guiseppe Amato also recently told CustomPC that its next generation of chips will look "completely different" than Phenom, and that it will be capable of solving "problems that today we think can never be addressed by hardware." That's a pretty bold claim -- the whole processor market is getting pretty boastful lately, have you noticed? -- but we're at a loss to explain what it means. Any ideas? Read - 100 laptops to be based on Puma at launch Read - AMD's next CPU architecture will be completely different
AMD's quad-core Phenom processors face compatibility issues
There's all the makings of a class-A debacle over at AMD headquarters, as it turns out that the chip maker's quad-core Phenom processors are incompatible with some popular motherboard chipsets. Due to a thermal frequency mismatch, the 125-watt 9750 and 9850 CPUs don't play well with 780G-based mobos -- which are designed for AMD's less power-hungry 9600 and 9550 processors. Instead, AMD warns that its quad-core processors should be paired with the company's 790 chipset. Spokesman Jake Whitman blamed PC makers, stating that, "They've taken an enthusiast-class quad-core part and paired it with a mainstream motherboard." Confused yet? Exactly.
HP Compaq announces dc5850 and dx2450 Business Desktops
Remember those AMD Business Class desktops we told you about, oh, just hours ago? Looks like the first of the family are starting to roll out, beginning with the HP Compaq dc5850 and dx2450 Business Desktop PCs. Both rigs support "next-generation AMD Business Class processors" (that's the Athlon X2, Phenom X3 and Phenom X4) along with the usual complement of slots / ports, and while the former gets integrated ATI Radeon 3100 graphics, AMD's Cool'n'Quiet 2.0 technology, up to 8GB of RAM, an optional dual-drive RAID setup and a dual-layer DVD writer, the latter boasts NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE graphics, room for 4GB of RAM and up to 500GB of SATA HDD space. Best of all, both machines come in pretty easy on the wallet, with the dc5850 hitting in early May for $599 and the dx2450 available now for $369.
AMD introduces Business Class desktops for the suits
What's a flagging microprocessor company to do after an absolutely tumultuous 2007 (and start to 2008)? Why, dish out its own desktop family, of course! At least that's what AMD is reckoning judging by the abrupt introduction of the Business Class desktop. Obviously the firm's very first computer brand, the series is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, but it's noted that even the "biggest corporate clients" can find something to love. The company is planning to move the units via Acer, HP, Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens and Lenovo, and they'll be available with Athlon X2 dual-core, Phenom X3 triple-core and Phenom X4 quad-core CPUs. Oh, and if you're own outfit is totally over these "desktops," AMD is looking to unveil Business Class laptops during the second half of 2008.
Alienware's Aurora desktop storms back: AMD Phenom 9850 included
Check it: AMD's potent Phenom 9850 processor, which had a fairly impressive showing during its recent benchmarking test, has teamed up with a pair of ATI's Radeon HD 3870 X2s to bring the Aurora desktop back on the scene. Available now and starting at just $999, Alienware's (potentially) "value-priced" gaming rig can be equipped with one of four AMD CPUs, a liquid-cooling system, twin 512MB 3870 X2 GPUs, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a few terabytes of HDD space, a Blu-ray reader (or burner if you've got the cash), an optional (but totally necessary) Killer K1 gaming NIC, Ageia PhysX processor and your choice of colored enclosures. Of course, speccing this beauty into a rig worth gloating over will easily set you back four large or so, but hey, you only live once, right?
AMD's Phenom X4 9850 gets pitted against Intel's Core 2 Quad Q9300
We'd already seen a few early tests of AMD's new top-end Phenom X4 9850 processor, but the folks at Extreme Tech have now taken it upon themselves to see just how well the processor stacks up against Intel's similarly high-end offering, the Core 2 Quad Q9300. As was suggested by those other reviews, however, the AMD falls behind the (admittedly pricier) Intel processor in just about every respect, including its ability to be overclocked. On the upside, however, that lower cost will likely offset the performance issues for many users, and it does still boast "moderate overclockability" and run cooler than the Intel chip. ExtremeTech apparently isn't convinced that AMD's pricing is "sustainable over the long haul" though. For its part, the Q9300 makes the most of its four cores and 45nm manufacturing process, with the only significant downside being that it packs only have the cache of the rest of Intel's quad core line. That wasn't enough to stop it from snagging an impressive 9 out of 10 rating, however, with ExtremeTech declaring it "one of the best price/performance CPUs you can find."[Thanks, Mike]
AMD's fastest Phenom X4 9850 desktop CPU tested, Intel points and giggles like brat
Today's benchmark day for AMD's fastest desktop processor -- the Phenom X4 9850. Free of the nasty TLB (Translation Lookaside Buffer) bug, the stage is now set for a head-to-head with Intel's best. While it's a significant step forward for AMD, the 9850 proc hardly compares with Intel's best quad-core desktop CPUs. Nevertheless, as PCPer says, "any enthusiast or gamer looking for a ~$240 processor is going to have a fantastic experience with the 9850." We're just happy to see AMD back on track and ready to compete. Now get to it AMD, faster clock speeds and 45-nm processes please? Intel needs someone banging at the door to keep Moore's Law from becoming Moore's Recommendation. Update: Oh, by the way, the 2.5GHz X4 9850 is now shipping. Read -- PC Perspective Read -- Hot HardwareRead -- X4 950 now available
AMD ships triple-core Phenom processors
While there have certainly been questions surrounding AMD's ability to deliver its Phenom 9700 / 9900 chips on time, it looks as if the chip maker is right on target with the launch of its triple-core lineup. Just as we expected it to, AMD has indeed began shipping its Phenom 8400 (2.1GHz) and 8600 (2.3GHz) to Dell -- for use in its OptiPlex 740 -- and HP (respectively), which has it mounted in the AL195AW desktop. Reportedly, the CPUs are only shipping in volume to PC manufacturers at the moment, and unfortunately, it failed to spill the beans on when they'd be available on a wider scale. Nevertheless, those parked across the pond can get their fix of tri-core sweetness by picking up one of two Mesh Computer rigs that are being made available as we speak.[Via PC World]Read - Dell OptiPlex 740 [PDF]Read - HP AL195AWRead - Mesh Computer Matrix xXx PlusRead - Mesh Computer Matrix xXx Pro
AMD finally getting "B3" Opterons out the door
It hasn't exactly been the speediest of turnarounds but, according to Daily Tech, AMD is now finally getting its updated B3 stepping Opteron processors out into the hands of system integrators, making them the first K10-based Opteron processors to ship since the so-called TLB bug cropped up last December. What's more, while there's apparently only hard evidence of the Opterons (pictured at right), Daily Tech says that the B3 stepping Phenom processors are now shipping as well. Those will each obviously be heading to OEMs first, but vendors like Newegg will apparently be getting Opterons ranging from 1.8 GHz to 2.4 GHz starting in "early April," while both Phenom and Opteron lines are set to hit 2.6GHz sometime in the fall -- assuming there aren't any further unforeseen delays, that is.
