AMD Zambezi ''Bulldozer'' Desktop CPU Roadmap Revealed

Thursday, November 18th 2010

AMD's next-generation PC processor architecture that seeks to challenge the best Intel has, codenamed "Bulldozer", is set to make its desktop PC debut in 2Q next year, with a desktop processor die codenamed "Zambezi". AMD is seeking to target all market segments, including an enthusiast-grade 8-core segment, a performance 6-core segment, and a mainstream 4-core segment. The roadmap reveals that Zambezi will make its entry with the enthusiast-grade 8-core models first, starting with 125W and 95W models, trailed by 6-core and 4-core ones.

Another couple of architectural details revealed is that Zambezi's integrated memory controller (IMC) supports DDR3-1866 MHz as its standard memory type, just like Deneb supports DDR3-1333 MHz as its standard. DDR3-1866 MHz, or PC3-14900 as it's technically known, will churn out 29.8 GB/s in dual-channel mode, that's higher than triple-channel DDR3-1066 MHz (25.6 GB/s), which is Intel Core i7 LGA1366 processors' official memory standard. The 8-core and 6-core Zambezi models feature 8 MB of L3 cache, while the 4-core ones feature 4 MB. Another tidbit you probably already knew is that existing socket AM3 processors are forwards-compatible with AM3+ (Zambezi's socket), but Zambezi processors won't work on older AM3/AM2(+) socket motherboards.

Source: ATI Forum

posted by btarunr - 7:24 AM | Related News |

User comments

by 1Kurgan1 (7:26 AM) - Reply

Impressed that the 8 cores will be the ones landing first, wonder what prices look like. I think I'll be getting a mobo first then maybe a proc, we'll see though.

by Fourstaff (7:36 AM) - Reply

Release AM3+ boards pls thx bai. And please get the Bulldozer out earlier than Q3, because intel's Sandy Bridge is going to make Bulldozer look like Nvidia's GTX480 when it was released.

by pantherx12 (7:36 AM) - Reply

+ one to release boards now. Then I can get am3 cpu to tide me over : ]

by btarunr (7:44 AM) - Reply

by: Fourstaff
because intel's Sandy Bridge is going to make Bulldozer look like Nvidia's GTX480 when it was released.

There's no way of saying that right now.

by Imsochobo (7:52 AM) - Reply

by: btarunr
There's no way of saying that right now.

i've heard otherwise in the server market. that amd is the one who will be doing a proper smack!

by (FIH) The Don (8:03 AM) - Reply

by: btarunr
Another tidbit you probably already knew is that existing socket AM3 processors are forwards-compatible with AM3 (Zambezi's socket), but Zambezi processors won't work on older AM3/AM2( ) socket motherboards.

the best thing about AMD :D

by [H]@RD5TUFF (8:31 AM) - Reply

More cache PLZ DAMMIT! Also meh. I do not think these will be the saving grace AMD needs.

by pantherx12 (8:37 AM) - Reply

by: [H]@RD5TUFF
More cache PLZ DAMMIT! Also meh. I do not think these will be the saving grace AMD needs.

Cache has massive diminishing returns .

by 1Kurgan1 (8:38 AM) - Reply

by: [H]@RD5TUFF
More cache PLZ DAMMIT! Also meh. I do not think these will be the saving grace AMD needs.

Why do they need a saving grace? No they of course aren't going to push as much out to the market as Intel, but they never have. The PII's, especially since the 6 cores landed at great prices, infact, since PII's in general came out, AMD's been doing fine.

by [H]@RD5TUFF (8:43 AM) - Reply

by: pantherx12
Cache has massive diminishing returns .

I disagree, it adds life to the life span of the processor.

by: 1Kurgan1
Why do they need a saving grace? No they of course aren't going to push as much out to the market as Intel, but they never have. The PII's, especially since the 6 cores landed at great prices, infact, since PII's in general came out, AMD's been doing fine.

Doing fine isn't the same as competing, the best part of ATI (now AMD) stepping up it's game was prices came down, that's why I want AMD to be a real competitor, and not the go to for budget, because I want more powerful chips at cheaper prices.:D

by Yellow&Nerdy? (8:52 AM) - Reply

This might be a dumb question, but does the 8-core have 4 "Bulldozer cores" or 8? Because a "Bulldozer-core" has two conventional cores stitched together. Next year will be interesting with Sandy, Bulldozer, Keplar and Southern Islands.

by Melvis (8:53 AM) - Reply

That is some impressive dual-channel performance, they wasn't joking when they said they could get it to out perform triple channel, very nice. (or as good)

by blibba (8:56 AM) - Reply

by: Yellow&Nerdy?
This might be a dumb question, but does the 8-core have 4 "Bulldozer cores" or 8? Because a "Bulldozer-core" has two conventional cores stitched together. Next year will be interesting with Sandy, Bulldozer, Keplar and Southern Islands.

I'm also confused by how they're judging core count on the new system.

by 1Kurgan1 (9:15 AM) - Reply

by: [H]@RD5TUFF
Doing fine isn't the same as competing, the best part of ATI (now AMD) stepping up it's game was prices came down, that's why I want AMD to be a real competitor, and not the go to for budget, because I want more powerful chips at cheaper prices.:D

Like I said before, AMD has never sold in the quantities that Intel has, they were much later to the game, don't have the budget, and maybe never will, hoping for that is like dreaming for the moon as yours, well maybe not as bad.

by pantherx12 (9:41 AM) - Reply

by: blibba
I'm also confused by how they're judging core count on the new system.

8 core is 4 bulldozer cores. Unless they've changed how they're doing things in the past 6 months :laugh:

by HalfAHertz (9:42 AM) - Reply

by: Yellow&Nerdy?
This might be a dumb question, but does the 8-core have 4 "Bulldozer cores" or 8? Because a "Bulldozer-core" has two conventional cores stitched together. Next year will be interesting with Sandy, Bulldozer, Keplar and Southern Islands.

It has 4 modules with 2 cores each for a total of 8

by meirb111 (9:52 AM) - Reply

tdp is the same as phenom II 125w-95w

by NdMk2o1o (9:54 AM) - Reply

by: meirb111
tdp is the same as phenom II 125w-95w

oh no, their new 8 core uses the same amount of power as their last 4 core :rolleyes: 95-125w is standard nowadays for any x4+ processors. Do we have confirmation that they have something similar to hyper threading and how it actually works?

by pantherx12 (10:00 AM) - Reply

by: NdMk2o1o
oh no, their new 8 core uses the same amount of power as their last 4 core :rolleyes: 95-125w is standard nowadays for any x4+ processors. Do we have confirmation that they have something similar to hyper threading and how it actually works?

As far as I know no hyper-threading like technology. How ever each bulldozer module ( 2 cores in os) can process two threads fully at the same time.

by NdMk2o1o (10:26 AM) - Reply

by: pantherx12
As far as I know no hyper-threading like technology. How ever each bulldozer module ( 2 cores in os) can process two threads fully at the same time.

Soooooo is one bulldozer "module" just a dual core chip, I seem to recall one of AMD's criticism of intels quads where that the weren't "true" quad core like Phenom....

by FishHead69 (10:48 AM) - Reply

Hail :respect:All Glory to Octocore

by Fourstaff (11:10 AM) - Reply

by: btarunr
There's no way of saying that right now.

True, but then again, we have seen previews of the Sandy Bridge and its going to be a tall order for Bulldozer to "bulldoze" Intel. Pricing may be the saviour this time round tough. History have shown that a new architecture is never going to work as well as intended (R600, P4 HT, Fermi, Phenom 1 etc) so I am not going to get my hopes high. Zacate previews looks good, I must admit. Edit: can 1 Bulldozer module handle 1 thread, or 50% of the module will be idle?

by JF-AMD (11:11 AM) - Reply

Modules contain two integer cores. Each integer core has its own integer pipeline, so they can simultaneously execute 2 threads (unlike hyperthreading which can handle 2 threads, but has only 1 set of integer pipelines, so it really only executes one thread at a time.) We will not market modules, we will only market cores; modules are how the designers lay out the processor, but that will not be part of the marketing or naming.

by Fourstaff (11:13 AM) - Reply

by: JF-AMD
Modules contain two integer cores. Each integer core has its own integer pipeline, so they can simultaneously execute 2 threads (unlike hyperthreading which can handle 2 threads, but has only 1 set of integer pipelines, so it really only executes one thread at a time.) We will not market modules, we will only market cores; modules are how the designers lay out the processor, but that will not be part of the marketing or naming.

So if I have 1 thread, then I can only use 1 integer pipeline?

by NdMk2o1o (11:17 AM) - Reply

by: Fourstaff
History have shown that a new architecture is never going to work as well as intended (R600, P4 HT, Fermi, Phenom 1 etc)

Wow you just completely disregarded Athlon, Core, AMD5 series was said to be a "new architecture as was i7 (although regardless they are all built on previous technologies of a sort)

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