ClearSpeed Demonstrates Fastest Chip on AMD- and Intel-Based Workstations at ISC

Jun 22 2005 @ 12:32PM by jimmy

ClearSpeed Demonstrates Fastest Chip on AMD- and Intel-Based Workstations at ISC; Demonstration Advances AMD and Intel Chips into Highest Levels of HPC Performance, without Heat or Energy Penalty

International Supercomputer Conference

HEIDELBERG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 2005--ClearSpeed Technology (LSE:CSD), a developer of high-performance, low-power, programmable microprocessor solutions, today announced the first public demonstration of the CSX600, the highest performance 64-bit floating point processor, at the International Supercomputer Conference (ISC) in Heidelberg. The CSX600 is designed as a co-processor and delivers a sustained performance of up to 25 Gigaflops (GFLOPS) at less than 10 watts.

The ClearSpeed demonstration systems include an IBM (NYSE:IBM) IntelliStation with AMD (NYSE:AMD) dual-Opteron processors and a second box with dual-Xeon Intel (Nasdaq:INTC) processors. One system is running two dual co-processor CSX600 boards, and the second system includes one CSX600 board. At 100 GFLOPS (sustained with two boards) and 50 GFLOPS (sustained with one board), these systems are believed to demonstrate the highest ratio of performance per watt ever achieved in workstations.

 

AMD Slide Show

Jun 15 2005 @ 01:51AM by jimmy

Overclockers also analyzes the slides AMD put up from the recent investors meeting.

It seems clear AMD plans to eventually deepen their pipeline, and they think they can get more performance from doing so. AMD has more leeway than Intel here, and having a deeper pipeline could help heat issues.

Perhaps more importantly, having a processor that architecturally resembles the PIV means that CPU speed will be more comparable than they are today. Irrelevant in fact, but important for Joe Sixpack. Looking faster is often more important than being faster.

I think they may have misunderstood the graph. What I see is the red line and power limitations showing AMD wasn't going the longer pipelined route becuase of the noted power limitations.

 

Phoronix has a post talking about dual core laptops.

Jun 10 2005 @ 01:13AM by jimmy

Phoronix has a post talking about dual core laptops.

"However, both VIA and AMD hope to address some of these problems with their latest mobile processors. On the side of VIA, they had released their latest C7-M processor this year at Computex Taipei 2005. AMD had unveiled their new AMD Geode processor a few weeks prior to the event. These new processors are designed for thin clients, single-board computers, miniature laptops, and mobile Internet/entertainment, but if our predictions here at Phoronix are correct, we may be seeing these processors adapted by laptops in dual CPU/SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processing) configurations."

 

The Technology Behind Dual Core CPUs

Jun 02 2005 @ 12:21AM by jimmy

Dual-core processors work pretty much as you'd expect them to. At their most basic, both Intel and AMD have taken two mostly (or in the case of Intel, fully) functional processor cores and joined them together in a single processor die. Each core functions and processes data independently, and the two are co-coordinated by the operating system software. In this article, PCSTATS is going to focus on both company's versions of this technology, how it works, and the kind of performance boost you can expect from it. Currently only certain of AMD's Opteron server-class processors are available with dual cores, but very shortly AMD will release the Athlon 64 X2 line of dual-core desktop processors. Intel has taken the opposite approach, already releasing the 'Pentium Extreme Edition 840' desktop dual-core chip, while its 'Pentium D' and dual-Xeons lines are not far behind.

Full article from PCStats

 

AMD desktop price cuts likely in July

Jun 02 2005 @ 12:17AM by jimmy

The Inquirer reports that AMD will cut prices in July.

AMD IS EXPECTED to cut prices on its desktop chips in July, sources claimed.

Details are scanty. But anything that cuts the prices of the high end ones will be very welcome.

Current prices can be found here

 

AMD Releases Athlon 64 X2 Drivers and Utilties

Jun 02 2005 @ 12:13AM by jimmy

AMD has release new drivers and utilities for the Athlon 64 X2 dual core processors. Drivers for 32 bit and 64 bit Windows that enable Cool and Quiet are available as is a new CPUID program.

"AMD Athlon? 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions Version (exe) 1.2.2.1 - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. Download this Setup Installation program (EXE) to automatically update all the files necessary for installation. This package is recommended for users whom desire a graphical user interface for installation. This .EXE driver is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core processors on Windows 64 bit OS."

 

AMD edges Intel in early dual-core benchmarks

Jun 01 2005 @ 01:02AM by jimmy

Advanced Micro Devices was second in coming to market with a dual-core desktop chip, but it's first in benchmark scores, according to sites that test the chip.

Both Anandtech and Tom's Hardware--two hardware benchmarking sites--have published reports stating that, in their own tests, the dual-core Athlon 64 X2 chips generally edge out the Intel Pentium D and the dual-core Pentium 4 Extreme Edition, although the results vary by the tests.

More on ZDNet

 

Athlon 64 X2 4400+ and 4800+ Review

Jun 01 2005 @ 12:49AM by jimmy

BeHardware has reviewed the Athlon 64 X2 4400+ and 4800+.

"Of course, if AMD dual core solution is in the end better than Intel, we have to keep in mind that they behave the same way for the different type of uses resulting in performance increases. Dual core is like bi CPU, and should be bought only by the hard-core fans of applications developed to run with multi processor systems. Just like computer generated image software, video processing and fans of intensive multitasks. If, for example, you want to play while encoding a video or 3D rendering, the dual core is the perfect choice and especially the Athlon 64 X2 when it will be available (in small quantities in the beginning) in June."

Check it out

 

AMD: Wide support for AMD Dual-Core

Jun 01 2005 @ 12:45AM by jimmy

Following the introduction of the world's first dual-core AMD64 processors, including the first x86-based dual-core server and workstation processor, AMD announces close alignment and support from the world's premier board manufacturers. AMD and partners have shown a sustained commitment to AMD64 technology with dual-core support for the world's highest performing x86-based 32- and 64-bit processors.

Read more here

 

AMD debuts Athon 64 X2 dual-core desktop processors

Jun 01 2005 @ 12:41AM by jimmy

AMD today announced the immediate availability of the AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor. The AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor is poised to deliver an experience unmatched in the industry, targeting prosumer and digital media enthusiasts, as well as those who run many software applications simultaneously.

These new processors, designed for desktop and desktop-replacement notebooks, shatter the hourglass icon by delivering performance improvements of up to 80 percent on select digital media and productivity applications compared to single-core AMD Athlon 64 processors.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor performance benchmarks have already yielded powerful results. Digital media applications can see an average of a 34 percent increase compared to similar single-core AMD Athlon 64 processors, while overall productivity benchmark results can see a 22 percent average increase. These dramatic performance gains available with AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processors allow power-hungry users to usher in the next generation of digital media software with amazing high definition video rendering and editing, digital content creation, imaging, and audio mixing.

A broad portfolio of AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processors will be supported by leading OEMs including Acer, Alienware, HP and Lenovo, as well as more than 40 leading system builder partners worldwide. For desktop-replacement notebooks, the AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor is also available to OEMs worldwide.

The AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processors 4800+, 4600+, 4400+ and 4200+ are priced based on performance at $1001, $803, $581 and $537, respectively, in 1,000-unit quantities.