Low-Power Versions of the Phenom
Tom’s Hardware: Will we see new processors in the notebook segment any time soon?
J. Polster: Yes indeed. We will be introducing a new notebook platform code named Puma, which will contain the Griffin processor. The key advantages of the new platform are longer battery life, better graphics performance and expanded video functionality. The ability to switch between integrated and dedicated graphics will also be a very interesting feature.
Tom’s Hardware: What’s the current status of chip fabrication in Dresden? Is everything going according to plan?
J. Polster: Yes, everything in Dresden is proceeding as planned. Fab 36 is producing 65 nm parts, with the pilot batches of 45 nm parts also right on schedule. We’re currently ramping down 200 mm production in Fab 30. The first 300 mm tools have already been installed in the new Fab 38, which will begin production alongside Fab 36 in the course of the next year. Fab 38 will become a self-contained production site in 2009.
Tom’s Hardware: How long will production of the “old” Athlon 64 continue, and will we be seeing new models?
J. Polster: We will continue to produce the Athlon 64 for as long as there is a market for it. However, the CPUs have been repositioned since the introduction of the new Phenom processor.
Tom’s Hardware: Energy efficiency is still a hot topic. Will there be special “Energy Efficient” models of the Phenom similar to those we saw for the Athlon 64?
J. Polster: Yes, AMD will be offering energy efficient versions of the Phenom. We will be introducing processors with reduced core voltages in 2008.
Tom’s Hardware: Thanks to the Cool’n’Quiet 2.0 power saving technology, you are theoretically a step ahead of your rival Intel. How does the end user benefit from this?
J. Polster: The end user benefits as soon as he installs a Phenom processor or uses the Spider platform whose components (CPU, graphics card, and chipset) combine a number of power saving techniques. In addition to Cool’n’Quiet 2.0, the platform also offers AMD’s CoolCore technology and Dual Dynamic Power Management, for example.
Tom’s Hardware: The Geode processor, which has been available for several years, only consumes about 2 Watts of power. Couldn’t this CPU be used in the consumer segment with good publicity effect? Rumour has it that Intel is currently designing a CPU for the iPhone 2.
J. Polster: That is an interesting point. Basically, we’re facing a situation today where nobody in the consumer market wants to know what chip or processor powers a device. In the end, the buying decision is influenced by the brand name of the product. The same applies to the competition. Apple would never advertise by focusing on the processor.
for god sake, toms please run through your article with windows spell checker in word before you publish it on the net!
Waving not drowning...
Hey, "UK_GANGSTA"! See that funny key on the bottom left of your keyboard - the one that looks like an arrow pointing upwards? It's called a shift key and it allows you to use CAPITAL LETTERS to start sentences and access all sorts of pretty symbols like apostraphes.
Pot, meet kettle ;-P
lol , pot meet kettle,
Hmm, well in that case, you could say that the exclamation mark(!) should be inside the speech marks("), although i would choose not to use one at all.
also there no need for a comma(,) after pot; and you should have put meets instead of 'meet' your grammar is atrocious.
He has a point for a reputable site, 'Toms Hardware Guide', should use spell checker, found on the industry standard word processor.
Hi to all hardware chaps,
If I had been interviewing Mr. Polster I might have inquired:
"How long can the Arabs and German government prop up AMD before the inevitable happens and your firm goes into receivership??"
OK THG might stop getting all those free samples but it would be interesting to see the look on his face!!
I did feel the interview was a bit "business as usual" but AMD is NOT like the U.S. Government and spiraling debt does not just go away... I just look at my credit cards to see that!! The more in debt they get the less they will have to spend on R&D and the more they will spiral downwards...
Bob
AMD Opteron inside!!