X-bit labs

AMD Plans Trim Dual-Core Desktop Chips’ Power Consumption by 30%.

Category: CPU

by Anton Shilov

[ 05/15/2007 | 11:55 PM ]

Even though Advanced Micro Devices does not currently own performance crown in the market of x86 central processing units (CPUs), the world’s second largest supplier of microprocessors plans to broaden a family of processors with power consumption lowered to 45W. The family will include both single-core and dual-core chips.

While AMD64 processors for desktops have always had moderate power consumption compared to chips based on Intel NetBurst micro-architecture, as Intel Core 2 processors ramp up, AMD increases its attention on lowering power consumption of its chips.

In addition to gradually increasing the amount of dual-core processors with 65W thermal design power (TDP), AMD ships six processor models for applications that require power consumption as low as 35W, two processors that fit into 45W thermal envelope, two chips for previous-generation socket 754 platform with 51W and 59W TDP as well as tens of chip models with typical thermal power of 62W.

In addition to already broad lineup of microprocessors with restrained power consumption and, perhaps, not very high performance, AMD plans to substantially expand its family of chips with 45W TDP later during year, sources close to the company revealed.

Already in May the company reportedly plans to start production of AMD Athlon X2 BE-2350 (2.10GHz) and Athlon X2 BE-2300 (1.90GHz) processors for current AM2 platform with 45W TDP using its 65nm process technology. In August the chipmaker is expected to start making AMD Athlon X2 BE-2400 (2.30GHz) chip as well as single-core LE-1200, LE-1250 and LE-1300 processors, which also have power consumption of about 45W. Sometime late this year, in the fourth quarter, AMD is projected to drive its next-generation micro-architecture to low-power PCs by introducing several Phenom X2 processors with 45W TDP as well as 1.90GHz, 2.10GHz and 2.30GHz clock-speeds based on code-named Kuma core. The new Phenom microprocessors will be made in AM2+ form-factor. In the first quarter of next year AMD reportedly intends to introduce several single-core chips with Spica core, which TDP will also be trimmed to 45W.

Power consumption of x86 chips used in the vast majority of desktops, laptops and servers has always been important, though, not really critical peculiarity of such microprocessors. Despite of the fact that the consumer still watches for highest performance, in the recent years many end-users started to pay much more attention to visual outlook of their computers as well as low acoustic levels, which catalyzed developers of CPUs and other main components of PCs to design hardware that would comply to their customers' demands.

Officials for AMD did not comment on the news-story.