AMD 'Bulldozer' CPU Not Coming Early
According to inside information, AMD will not release its 32nm Bulldozer CPU before late 2010 even though Intel's rival processor will roll out by Q4 2009.
Once AMD kick-started its spin-off company The Foundry Co, established to handle all the manufacturing aspects of the CPU giant, AMD focused on utilizing a plethora of engineering resources. After the spin-off company took root, AMD rewrote its roadmap for the 32nm manufacturing process, pushing up the schedule from 2011 to late 2010. Thus, it seemed likely that AMD would be able to push its next-generation CPU architecture, codenamed Bulldozer earlier than previously predicted to take on Intel's 32nm-based processor set for a Q4 2009 release.
However, the 32nm development schedule and the Bulldozer development schedules just aren't in synch according to TechConnect Magazine. The Bulldozer family of CPUs are still scheduled for sampling by the end of 2010, with full-volume production kicking off in 2010. Originally slated for a release this year, AMD decided to delay it's Bulldozer-based CPUs, wanting to use the new 32nm process rather than the (then) current 45nm process. However, as it stands, it's likely that AMD's first 32nm processors will not use the Bulldozer architecture after all.
Serving as the successor to the Deneb architecture, the first processor to utilize the Bulldozer architecture goes by the codename Orochi. This processor will feature more than four cores, over 8 MB of L3 cache and a pure DDR3 integrated memory controller. The Orochi is slated for internal testing in late 2010, with full-volume production swinging into motion sometime in 2011.
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Perhaps it is wise to wait a while before releasing new technology, especially given the economic uncertainty affecting most companies as well as the potential for desktop technology to change very quickly. The popularity of GPGPU computing for instance, could require a major strategy change, especially with nVidia talking about producing x86 compatible hardware.
As AMD proved with the Athlon64 architecture, you don't need to be first releasing products in order to become successful. If AMD has to consolidate resources in order to come up with fast, new, innovative technology then so be it. I'm sure the Intel i7 users will relish the possibility of yet another expensive socket/memory change..
Well, as my last Intel has been a 484 twelve years ago, cannot consider myself really impartial. My feeling is AMD is stronger what regards architecture and another very important thing; I think it has wiser business leadership. Intel has got a lead in production technology.
Only some unforeseen necessity to step up the PC performance could lead me to buy an Intel before the Orochi comes out. Intel does have a performance lead at the moment. Looking back at the last several years, it has been more luck than wisdom that got Intel out of a bad dead end. I do not expect wonders from the Intel's engineers; their leaders wont let them; seems they care more about impressing the market than offering it better concepts and effective solutions.