X-bit labs

AMD Details 4x4 Gaming Platform.

Category: CPU

by Anton Shilov

[ 07/31/2006 | 11:32 PM ]

Advanced Micro Devices, the world’s No.2 maker of x86 microprocessors, last week released some details concerning its high-end gaming platform previously named 4x4. The firm now wants the technology to be called Quad-Father and says that enthusiasts with not limitless budgets will also be able to obtain an appropriate system.

AMD said that it will not only offer systems running two of its dual-core processors with system integrators, such as Alienware or VoodooPC, but will also offer bundles of two processors in one package, making the 4x4, or Quad-Father, technology available in the do-it-yourself (DIY) markets. The pricing on such bundles will start from approximately $1000, according to AMD’s Pat Moorhead.

It is currently unclear whether typical AMD Athlon 64 X2 processors, which pricing varies from $152 to $301, AMD Athlon 64 FX chips, which are usually priced in between $800 and $1100, or a new series of desktop-oriented processors will serve the Quad-Father platforms. The company at this time reviews possibilities to enable “step by step” 4x4, where end-users could get only one chip initially and then add another one some time later.

During the press conference AMD demonstrated CineBench benchmark and said that the 4x4 platform provides 80% performance benefit compared to a similar one with a single dual-core microprocessor. The company did not estimate, what the performance will be like, when two quad-core processors are plugged in.

Advanced Micro Devices needs to offer a platform for enthusiasts that offers higher performance compared to Intel’s Core 2 Extreme-based computers. With the Quad-Father AMD talks about “megatasking”, a usage environment where users play games and perform compute-demanding tasks, such as rendering or video encoding.

Pricing of final systems is also unclear.