AMD Bulldozer FX-Series CPUs detailed, allegedly set for October release!

AMD's highly-anticipated FX-Series processors (codename Zambezi), the first chips to be based on the Bulldozer architecture, will apparently miss the Q3 release plan, as a report is saying that the launch day of the CPUs is now scheduled for October.

Fortunately it's not all bad Bulldozer news as today we also get to contemplate on an allegedly real chart that provides details on no less than seven FX-Series models - four octo-core chips, two hexa-core and two quad-core.

Seen below, AMD's incoming FX-Series CPUs are made by GlobalFoundries on 32nm process technology, come in an AM3+ package, and have a built-in dual-channel DDR3-1866 memory controller, 1MB of L2 cache per core (so, 4/6/8MB on total), an unlocked multiplier and the Turbo Core 2.0 technology that will boost clock speed depending on load and the application running.

    (Credits: donanimhaber.com)

The flagship of the FX line is supposed to be the FX-8150 which boasts a core clock of 3.6 GHz, a Turbo clock of 4.2 GHz and a TDP of 125W. This one would be followed by two versions of the FX-8120 (3.1 GHz base clocks / 4 GHz Turbo), one with a 95W TDP and one topping 125W, and the entry-level octo-core FX-8100 (2.8 GHz base / 3.7 GHz Turbo / 95W TDP).

The hexa-core FX-6120 and quad-core FX-4120 have a TDP of 95W but unknown clocks, while the FX-6100 and FX-4100 come with the same TDP and feature base/Turbo clocks of 3.3/3.9 GHz and 3.6/3.8 GHz, respectively. Given the delay until Q4 it's not surprising that there are no prices to accompany the processor models.

Source: http://www.tcmagazine.com via http://www.donanimhaber.com

More news:
(Fudzilla.com) More Bulldozer specs revealed
(neowin.net) Bulldozer prototype suggests AMD shooting for Sandy Bridge performance
(wccftech.com) amd-details-bulldozerfx-b2-revision-details-clock-speedtdp-turbo-frequencies-chart-release

AMD Radeon HD 6990M already in Alienware M18x gaming notebook

AMD has gone to press with their official answer to nvidia's gtx 580m, the 6990m, to be showcased in alienware’s flagship M18x gaming notebook.

                                             (Credits: http://game.amd.com)

"At its core, the Alienware brand is about pushing the limits and finding new extremes in gaming performance," said Arthur Lewis, Vice President and General Manager for Alienware. "By offering two AMD Radeon HD 6990M graphics processors in our flagship M18x laptop, Alienware and AMD have come together to provide gamers the ultimate mobile experience." 

Just checked on the Alienware site (M17x & M18x), and HD 6990M card is pretty "cheap"! Much "cheaper" than upgrading to a GTX580M! 

See it for yourself! (screenshots taken on july 13, 2011)

Alienware M17x:

Alienware M18x:

More about AMD Radeon HD 6990M you can find here: AMD Launches AMD Radeon HD 6990M - World's Fastest Single Mobile Graphics Processor 

By: Air T.

AMD Launches AMD Radeon HD 6990M - World's Fastest Single Mobile Graphics Processor

AMD launched the AMD Radeon HD 6990M GPU – the world's fastest single mobile graphics processor – an uncompromising GPU that delivers massive computing power to mobile users. The AMD Radeon HD 6990M GPU was measured to be up to 25% faster than any other announced notebook enthusiast GPU1. Furthermore, hardcore gamers can experience additional gaming performance through AMD CrossFireX technology.

Ultra-fast performance and portability is imperative for enthusiast mobile gamers who crave technology that helps deliver an incredible gaming experience with the latest graphic-intensive titles. With the arrival of the AMD Radeon 6990M GPU and the recently launched AMD A-Series Accelerated Processors (APU), AMD is pushing graphics capabilities to the limits for a wide range of notebook form factors and price points while enhancing the experience through technologies like AMD CrossFireX and Dual Graphics, (using a combination of AMD Radeon GPUs or an AMD Radeon GPU and an AMD APU).

AMD CrossFireX technology combines the output of two GPUs that helps deliver increased performance allowing gamers to immediately notice higher resolutions and greater image quality. With two AMD Radeon HD 6990M GPUs and AMD CrossFireX technology enabled, the notebook gamer can appreciate exceptional performance scaling in their favourite games.

There's always been a belief that when it comes to mobile computing you need to make performance compromises. Today AMD demolishes that myth," said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, GPU division, AMD. "The AMD Radeon HD 6990M GPU, which not only packs AMD Eyefinity technology with unprecedented specs, also provides full Microsoft DirectX 11 and Stereo 3D support. Bottom line, this processor is epic and it's here - now."

The AMD Radeon HD 6990M also represents a significant upgrade from AMD's current gaming notebook graphics solution, the AMD Radeon HD 6970M, raising the bar from both a performance and image quality perspective. With support for DirectX 11, users can expect ultra-fast frame rates and superior image quality, which gives gamers every advantage their desktop computers once enjoyed exclusively. With AMD Eyefinity technology users can immerse themselves in an ultra-rich environment that supports up to six displays. The AMD Radeon HD 6990M graphics processor also delivers AMD App Acceleration technology, which uses the power of the GPU to improve video playback, streaming and faster web browsing with Internet Explorer 9 and Mozilla Firefox. AMD HD3D technology7 ensures mobile users aren't just watching videos or viewing pictures -- rather they become immersed in a truly stereoscopic 3D environment backed by an open ecosystem with supporting software and hardware.

"At its core, the Alienware brand is about pushing the limits and finding new extremes in gaming performance," said Arthur Lewis, Vice President and General Manager for Alienware. "By offering two AMD Radeon HD 6990M graphics processors in our flagship M18x laptop, Alienware and AMD have come together to provide gamers the ultimate mobile experience."

As the PC gaming technology leader, AMD is dedicated to delivering the fastest technology and industry support needed to help create the best possible gaming experience on the PC. Whether it's driving up frame rates, extending quality settings or pushing clock speeds8, the AMD Radeon HD 6990M GPU is the ideal notebook for hardcore gamers looking to run the industry's most demanding DirectX 11 games such as Dragon Age 2, DiRT 3 and Shogun 2.

"We're excited by the new AMD Radeon HD 6990M GPU for enthusiast Clevo notebook users, specially implemented in our X7200/P170HM/P150HM gaming product lines," said Stephen Chien, Sales and Marketing Vice President, Clevo. "With 2GB GDDR5 memory along with 1.6 teraFlops of raw compute power and 1120 stream processing units, those notebook users will reign supreme. The AMD Radeon HD 6990M will help users achieve intense effects and blazing fast frame rates for outstanding performance."

"Eurocom high performance notebooks offer exceptional performance with the addition of AMD Radeon HD 6990M graphics," said Mark Bialic, President, Eurocom. "Our customers can expect record breaking gaming with unmatched realism and blistering speeds in all Eurocom systems powered by AMD Radeon HD 6990M in both single and AMD CrossFireX configurations!"

Source: http://www.techpowerup.com

More news:
(Guru3d.com) AMD Launches AMD Radeon HD 6990M
(VR-Zone) AMD launches Radeon HD 6990
(Expreview.com) AMD Adds Radeon HD 6990M To Its Mobile Graphics Offer
(TechConnect Magazine) AMD claims performance crown in the mobile space with the Radeon HD 6990M
(AnandTech) AMD Raises the Mobile Performance Bar with Radeon HD 6990M
(Fudzilla.com) AMD rolls out Radeon HD 6990M
(The Tech Report) AMD claims mobile GPU crown with Radeon HD 6990M
(echannelline.com) Eurocom launches AMD Radeon HD 6990M GPU in high performance notebook line
(AMD product page) AMD Radeon(TM) HD 6900M Series Graphics

Preview: AMD's 8-core FX processor and test results of the Bulldozer "Zambezi" 8130P!

DonanimHaber have run an AMD FX engineering sample through a battery of tests. The engineering sample is said to be a B1 stepping chip clocked at 3.2 GHz. The Turbo Core 2.0 can up the clock speed up to 3.6 GHz with all cores active, or a whopping 4.2 GHz with only 50% (i.e. 4 cores) active. Needless to say, these are likely not the final shipping clock speeds.

 

 

The sample features 2MB L2 cache per module, for a total of 8MB and 8MB L3 cache shared between all modules (and cores). The motherboard used was a Gigabye 990FXA-UD5, a high end 990 FX motherboard. The GPU paired is a GeForce GTX 580. We have compiled a table of the benchmarks as reported by DonanimHaber.

                     (credit VR-Zone)

 In addition, it took 19.5 seconds to complete SuperPi 1M, which is much slower than Intel competition. However, in real world benchmarks, the story is rather different. In X264 Pass 1 the Bulldozer sample (henceforth mentioned as simply "BD") results a whopping 136.29 fps. To put this in perspective, Intel's fastest CPUs can only manage ~100 fps. However, it is always Pass 2 that is the real test. BD completes with 45.39 fps. The typical speed for a Core i7 2600K is ~36 fps, while Intel's 12-thread goliaths complete in the ~47 fps range. BD is clearly far superior to the 8-thread Sandy Bridge, while nearly catching up to the Gulftown champions.

Even more impressive is the 3D Mark 11. While this score depends from platform to platform, when coupled with a GTX 580, the previous 3D Mark 11 champ Core i7 2600K struggles to achieve the P6000 mark, typically. BD easily sails by with P6265. In Fritz Chess, BD overpowers Core i7 2600K yet again, with a score of 14197 kn/sec. However, it falls short of Gulftown CPUs, which are typically in the 17000-18000 range. Finaly, in Cinebench R10, BD returns a score of 24434. With this score, it slots right in between Core i7 2600K and Core i7 990X.

The results are consistent, for the most part. In multi-threaded applications, BD significantly outperforms Core i7 2600K, and almost catches up with 6-core Gulftown. In less muti-threaded applications, like 3D Mark 11 or X264 Pass 1, thanks to an incredible 1 GHz Turbo Core, BD overtakes Gulftown CPUs. In all situations, BD ended up well ahead of Core i7 2600K. In every situation, BD was massively faster than Phenom II X6 1100T - more than 50% in many cases.

Of course, these benchmarks and comparisons should be taken with a grain of salt - especially it being an engineering sample. If previous rumours of stock clocks up to 3.8 GHz and a price tag of only $320 are true, AMD could have a real winner on their hands. Even with the engineering sample's clock of 3.2 GHz, a $320 is a bargain for a CPU of this power, wiping floors with the mighty and similarly priced Core i7 2600K. Having been delayed, FX-Series CPUs are now expected to release for desktops in the late August / early September timeline, with more information expected in the coming weeks.

 

Source: (vr-zone.com) purported-amd-bulldozer-benchmarks-leaked  Via http://www.donanimhaber.com

More news:
(softpedia.com) AMD-FX-Bulldozer-CPU-Gets-Benchmarked-Review

Nvidia delays 28nm and 22/20nm GPUs to 2012 and 2014!

Despite Nvidia CEO Huang Jen-hsun previously saying that the company is set to announce its new 28nm GPU architecture at the end of 2011 and 22/20nm in 2013, sources from graphics card makers have pointed out that Nvidia has already adjusted its roadmap and delayed 28nm Kepler and 22/20nm Maxwell to 2012 and 2014.

The sources believe that the delay is due to unsatisfactory yield rates of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) 28nm process as well as lower-than-expected performance of Kepler.

TSMC originally expected its 28nm capacity at Fab15 to be available in the fourth quarter of 2011 and was set to start pilot production for its 20nm process technology in the third quarter of 2012.

However, TSMC's other major client Qualcomm, currently, still has not yet adjusted its 28nm process schedule and is set to launch three new products, 8960. 8270 and 8260A using dual-core Krait architecture in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Meanwhile, AMD will follow its original schedule and enter the 28nm era in the first half of 2012. The company's next-generation graphics chips Southern Island as well as Krishna and Wichita processors, which will replace the existing Ontraio and Zacate processors, and will all adopt a 28nm process from TSMC.

Source: http://www.digitimes.com

More news:

(legitreviews.com) NVIDIA Delays 28nm and 22/20nm GPUs to 2012 and 2014

(hw-lab.com) nvidia-shifts-back-28/22/20nm-gpu-release-plans

(vr-zone.com) foundry-delays-push-back-nvidia-kepler-launch-2012