AMD's Bulldozer: More Design Details Surface
AMD has released new documents outlining the architecture for its upcoming Bulldozer release.
AMD's Bulldozer is one of the most highly-anticipated CPU architectures in recent memory. For those who are eager for more info on this new processor design, some new slides outlining Zambezi for the Socket AM3+ platform recently surfaced.
Breaking down the eight-core "Bulldozer" die, we find four modules that are each composed of two cores. Each module packs 2 MB L2 cache for a total of 8 MB. The is also an integrated Northbridge that contains 8 MB of L3 cache, two 72-bit DDR3 memory channels and four 16-bit receive/16-bit transmit HyperTransport links.
From the slides, we also see how Turbo Core will behave in Bulldozer. When the CPU's workload is within the TDP headroom, there is no core boost activity. When there is TDP headroom in given a workload, the Turbo Core kicks in and increases clock speed across the board. Conversely, when there is a lightly threaded workload, half the modules go into C6 sleep state, and the remaining cores get clocked up higher for better performance.
See the full deck of slides at Computerbase.
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Looking forward to Tom's review of this when samples are released. Seeing as my next upgrade is an AM3+ board and DDR3 to drop my existing 955 into, this is timely news for me.
I would really like to see something big from AMD in Bulldozer. Even though pricing is pretty competitive at the moment- Intel's highest performer goes for £240, if AMD bring something great to the table things can only get better for us.
Confirmation that you can upgrade your motherboard and drop in your existing AM3 CPU is brilliant news for those like myself who have DDR2 systems running AM3 CPU's
That means i can upgrade the second older PC in the house to leapfrog the currant PC and keep the cost down.
Great news but im waiting to see what kind of performance hit/ issues there might be with doing so.
I can't wait to see what Bulldozer is capable of! Such a different architecture could really change CPU design direction over the next ten years!
Hopefully this isn't all hype, I would really like to see Intel displaced to keep prices competative.