AMD 45nm CPUs expected 2H08

Author: Richard Swinburne
Published: 25th June 2007
Comments (9) Stumble
45nm AMD CPUs are due to arrive from this time next year.

45nm AMD CPUs are due to arrive from this time next year.

AMD's 45nm CPUs are expected as soon as the second half of 2008, according to Digitimes. Considering AMD's 65nm process hasn't even been rolled out entirely yet and Phenom doesn't arrive until much later this year, this could mean a really short turn around time for AMD, but arguably something it absolutely needs to "catch up".

45nm will launch with Socket AM3, which will be backwards compatible to AM2 and AM2+, the latter due to launch with the next generation of chipsets in August.

Digitimes claims the processors will support a DDR2/3 memory controller and since AM3 processors are due to be backwards compatible with AM2/AM2+ motherboards this dual memory controller compatibility should mean a very painless upgrade path. Something that's very important given the life of CPU sockets now seems so short.

However, newer AM3 motherboards will not accept AM2/AM2+ CPUs because they will only offer DDR3 memory, and DDR3 modules use a lower voltage and have a slightly different core architecture to DDR2 making them directly incompatible.

"AMD's AM3 family will include the quad-core Deneb and DenebFX, dual-core Propus and Regor, and single-core Sargas. Shipments of 45nm products are predicted to surpass those of 65nm products within half a year from launch, noted the sources."

So we will still see 65nm CPUs from AMD a long way into 2009, when Intel will likely be starting to launch its first 32nm CPUs. The vast majority of Intel's lineup will be 45nm by then, with the introduction of Nehalem incorporating a memory controller of its own already hitting shelves if roadmaps go to plan.

Fusion from AMD, a CPU-GPU mix, should also launch on 45nm as well, so maybe the two processes are moving hand in hand which is why we'll see the new process technology much sooner than expected.

Think AMD is doing enough to keep up with the competition? Let us know in the forums.
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Quote RedDethX 25th June 2007, 09:48
It'll be interesting when they finally bring something out that can compete with C2D! ;)
Quote MR BUNGLE 25th June 2007, 12:03
Very interesting...
That's a helluva leap, process-wise from AMD (and IBM I guess) - they must be looking to tape out 45nm chips pretty soon to hit that timeframe...
Providing this goes according to plan, it should bring AMD back into the running in both price, and performance per Watt.
If AMD's Fusion GPU-CPU initiative also goes to plan, then things should really be looking up for them!
Quote Bindibadgi 25th June 2007, 12:55
Well fusion will be a progression: first of all it'll be two discrete units on the same die, with basic interlinking to reduce latency by a whole load, just like the integrated memory controller. Next they'll use common features and finally they'll become just a single entity: a CPU that does GPU or GPU that does CPU.
Quote MR BUNGLE 25th June 2007, 13:23
- So probably just HT or on-die PCIe links to start with then...
I thought they were heading more towards having the GPU as a seperate core alongside x86 cores: I didn't think that the requirements of running x86 code and GPU code were similar enough to fully combine them..?
- Otherwise, I would've expected to see something moving in this direction sooner..?
Quote 2JSC 25th June 2007, 18:41
With a CPU/GPU combo chip... does this mean you won't need a seperate GPU card?

I'm really hoping for AMD to pull something sweet out by the end of this year, it half over and nothing spectacular has come out yet.
Quote Ramble 25th June 2007, 20:45
Short for AMD. This will be interesting.
Traditionally AMD has always been a process shrink behind and still faster. I don't think gaps like this are anything to worry about.
Quote devdevil85 25th June 2007, 21:01
^^I agree Ramble. AMD has always been right behind Intel and their CPUs have usually out-performed Intel's, so I, too, don't think there's too much to worry about...
Quote potoguise2 26th June 2007, 02:13
amd relaxed with the gain they achieve for too long, now intel outpaced them, so they will have to redouble their effort to stay competitive.
i'm awaiting their native quadcore chips so i can upgrade from my present 4400x2 athlon
Quote completemadness 26th June 2007, 02:48
Quote:
Originally Posted by MR BUNGLE
- So probably just HT or on-die PCIe links to start with then...
I expect HT, because PCI-E is handled by the NB and not the processor, the processor only has an HT link
Quote:
I thought they were heading more towards having the GPU as a seperate core alongside x86 cores: I didn't think that the requirements of running x86 code and GPU code were similar enough to fully combine them..?
- Otherwise, I would've expected to see something moving in this direction sooner..?
i agree, it seems a bit odd, i mean, with a combined solution the processor is more expensive, and the GFX is not upgradable as easily
so to upgrade 1, your talking about a much larger cost increase, plus often upgrading a proc is made worse due to new socket complications
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