Source: Tom's Hardware UK – Keywords: Phenom_9700, Spider_Platform, 790FX
Categories: Hardware
Cool'n'Quiet 2.0 in Detail
The core voltage regulation for the CPU has seen a few changes in version2.0 of the Cool’n’Quiet technology. Until now, the voltage ID (VID) on the Athlon 64 processor was transmitted to the BIOS and the voltage regulation modules using several parallel data lines. The drawback to this technique is that the range of values that can be set is rather small.
Beginning with the Phenom, AMD will use a serial VID protocol. The serial method transmits voltage IDs using a 7 bit code, allowing the voltage to be set in 12.5 mV steps. As a result, a wider range of voltage options becomes available, which in turn means AMD can sell its processors with a much more finely-tuned core voltage, reducing the thermal dissipation of many models. Overclockers, meanwhile, also benefit from the new technique, since they can also select the voltage much more precisely, saving a few watts of power consumption even at high clock speeds.
If the processor’s full performance isn’t needed, it reduces its clock speed using Cool’n’Quiet. For each of the P-states with their individual clock speeds, the core voltage is also reduced in order to cut down on energy consumption. In version 2.0 of Cool’n’Quiet, the Phenom processor can effect changes to the core voltage without using the STPCLK or STOPGRANT protocols. Since the CPU no longer has to completely stop its frequency for these changes, it doesn’t lose any CPU time, making the processor a little faster. Since the CPU operates in the gigahertz range, the savings only amount to a few nanoseconds. According to AMD; this technology is meant to prevent hiccups in audio and video playback due to Cool’n’Quiet.
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I'd rather have a slower processor but not have to rebuy the 3 of the most expensive components (CPU, mobo, and RAM) every time I want to upgrade something. That's why I've stuck with AMD for the last few years. Can't wait to drop a couple of Phenom FXs in to my 4x4 platform and have 8 processing cores.
What is going to happen when AMD shortly moves to 45nm processors with DDR3 memory controllers?
unless AMD are going to put both DDR2 and DDR3 memory controllers on their 45nm processors or make them in both DDR2 and DDR3 versions then you will have to change you're ram, motherboard and processor to go 45nm.(that didn't happen with intel)
Unless motherboard makers put both DDR2 and DDR3 slots on current boards although the latter wouldn't be supported until 45nm come in.(can't see that happening though).
I think these chips have more to come, thats an engineering sample and the mainboards got a chipset with undeveloped drivers.
I say give it a month for the nvidia chipset....... and retest.
I can see why they need 4x Crossfire boards given the lack luster performance of the new ATI cards... ATI seem to be struggling since their Cope-de-grace with the X19xx series...
AMD clearly has a good design (architecture) but the process technology is their achilles heal. They need 4Mb+ L3 cache, high K transistor process, and 45nm like yesterday!!
As a bit of an AMD fanboy (I'm on a dual Opteron rig just now) I hate to see whats happening to them now!!
Bob
P.S. But it will be better
Overall, I like the way AMD has gone for compatibility and performance. The price is phenomenal and the ease of implementation will ensure downtime during upgrades is kept to a minimum. It's easy to under-estimate just how hard that is to pull off.