Following a massive scandal that was caused by “simulated benchmarks” of Advanced Micro Devices quad-core microprocessors, Michael Dell, the founder and chief executive of Dell, the world’s second biggest supplier of personal computers (PCs), said that AMD’s code-named Barcelona chip does have potential and can be considerably faster its rival from Intel Corp.
“If you look at floating point instructions, Barcelona is about 30% faster than Clovertown. However, if you look at integer instructions, Clovertown is about 30% faster than Barcelona,” said Michael Dell at Annual Citigroup Technology Conference, reports EETimes web-site.
In Summer AMD released benchmark results of its quad-core AMD Opteron processors running at clock-speeds that by far exceed those that are projected to be available at launch next week. Some media outlets and bloggers complained that AMD used outdated Intel Xeon processors and their benchmark numbers for comparison. But while the complains were correct when it comes to integer performance, AMD’s benchmark numbers appeared to be accurate in case of floating point performance, at least, according to Michael Dell.
The chief executive of Dell reiterated plans to offer solutions based on both AMD’s and Intel’s microprocessors, claiming that different platforms may offer different benefits that may, or may not be valuable for certain customers.
“Depending on the type of application you are running or even your theory of computer science, you might have a preference for one type of server or another,” claimed Michael Dell.
Considering the sizes of Dell, the company admitted, it would be unacceptable to have only one supplier of microprocessors. Therefore, going forward the company will continue to build and sell systems powered by various chips.
“It is simply unacceptable for a company of Dell's size to only have one of these choices. We think having two suppliers is absolutely in our best interest,” Mr. Dell added.
Quad-core AMD Opteron processors code-named Barcelona are based on the company’s next-generation micro-architecture and will be produced using 65nm process technology. Among the highlights of AMD’s new chips the manufacturer lists shared 2MB L3 cache, 128-bit floating point units (FPU), SSE4A instructions, support for dual-channel DDR2 memory and other innovations.
AMD is expected to host official introduction of its quad-core AMD Opteron processors on the 10th of September. Initially AMD will offer quad-core microprocessors with reduced power consumption and clock-speed, but later in the year the chipmaker promised to release new versions of the quad-core Opteron with higher operating frequencies.
Comments currently: 12
Discussion started: 09/06/07 03:18:23 AM
Latest comment: 09/09/07 11:19:57 AM
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1.
Penryn will be faster about 5% than current Clovertown at the same clock (w/o SSE4 optimized code). As a result, we can expect that Barcelona is roughly 25% faster than Penryn in FP-intensive app, and 35% slower in other app. Even though SSE4 performance is quite impressive, the number of applications which get benefit from the new instruction set is not so many, I guess. One more thing.. Penryn will has much faster clock speed. I cannot expect Barcelona takes back the performance crown (not performance-per-watt) from Intel anytime soon, except multi-socket configuration.
Talking about dual-core part, the benefit from the native quad-code design of Barcelona is dismissed. But Penryn has nothing to lose.
I can't wait to see the competition.
[Posted by: Wegra | Date: 09/06/07 03:18:23 AM]
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I would be very weary about how you make your comments. You are reasonably right for the initial series of Barcelona processors. BUT, people on the "inside" tell me that once Barcelona hits 2.4Ghz or above, it scales extremely well. (Performance will skyrocket once its mature...It explains why AMD is keeping things quiet as they don't want to tip their hand)
For the short term, we can expect AMD's response to be at least equal (overall) to Intel's. In the long term, its tougher to tell. (Not sure how well Intel's solutions scale, and if SSE4 will play a massive effect on things).
Regardless, competition is good for the consumer (or in the server/workstation space, customer).
[Posted by: tumber | Date: 09/06/07 12:14:19 PM]
Do you believe the story from inside AMD without any doubt? But I don't even know the people you mentioned. So no reason to trust the rumor(?). If it's true, it's good news. But I don't wanna believe it till they show something, at least on their roadmap.
[Posted by: Wegra | Date: 09/06/07 10:03:32 PM]
2.
Well this is fairly good news. Because of it's monolithic quad-core architecture the Barcelona should scale better than Intel's CPUs in 2P and 4P configurations. Of course, Intel still has the advantage of higher clock speeds which should still give them the top spot until AMD releases faster Barcelonas. I'm also curious to see some performance/watt comparisons. Anyway, AMD's offering seems to have great potential.
[Posted by: fastpunk | Date: 09/06/07 05:48:00 AM]
3.
Ditto...
Until we see 3Ghz+ K10's Intel will still dance around AMD. AMD will have and has had a superior platform with HyperTransport 3.0 and our current 2.0. AMD guys wont need 1800mhz DDR3 to push Intel memory bandwidth. We can do it with regular DDR2. AMD has had lower latencies as well since HT came out.
Intel needs CSI ASAP to compete with AMD's platform. AMD needs a manufacturing process as efficient as Intel's to compete with Intel's clock speeds. In mid 2008 we should see the weaknesses of these two companies vanish. Competition will be equalized a bit by then. For now, Intel will remain sorta the king. In non SSE4 programs which a good number of us use, I think we'll see real benefits with the K10 architecture though so I'll put money down for a Phenom X4 when they hit.
[Posted by: Wingless | Date: 09/06/07 12:16:22 PM]
4.
hell no!!! awesome!!!
[Posted by: loko_diabolo | Date: 09/06/07 02:55:17 PM]
5.
As usual you can count on AMD to deliver the real goods and not B.S. hype. Intel will be in pain for another several years starting now.
[Posted by: Jorge | Date: 09/06/07 08:36:43 PM]
6.
BENCHMARK SCANDAL??
If you are confident that your chip will perform why scandalize a benchmark??
Someone needs to fire the whole P.R Division of AMD
[Posted by: huh | Date: 09/07/07 06:30:04 PM]
7.
Yeah, that Q6600 I got coming STILL beats EVERY AMD quad-core.
Oh, wait a minute. AMD has no single-socket, 4-core processor.
AMD delivers? What? Low power, lower performance parts?
Big whoop. So does VIA.
Clovertown has been the unitary quad server solution. Period. For 9 months, now. The bulk of the volume UNTIL AMD speeds things up will STILL be Intel. AMD delivers? More powerpoint presentations, I guess.
[Posted by: Mark1 | Date: 09/07/07 11:39:56 PM]
8.
Your whole post sounds like your are trying to justify the purchase of your Q6600. And really added nothing to this topic, what does anything you have posted have to do with the article and what dell has said?
[Posted by: Bill Gates | Date: 09/08/07 08:10:01 AM]
9.
There is no way k10 will be slower than Conroe... It will probably beat penryn as well clock for clock in most applications with my estimations below.
GAMING - +15-20%
ENCODING/MEDIA +5-20%
ENCRYPTION +5-20%
RENDERING +5-20%
GENERAL SYSTEM PERFORMANCE... K10 will be significantly faster by about 5-15% clock for clock.
As far as Barcelona is concerned, it most likely won't be the processor for more of these estimates. We'll have to wait on Phenom for that.
Barcelona will be benchmarked with server applications.
My estimate would be that K10 will be 30-50% faster in Floating Point, but about 5-10% slower in Integer.
From the Graphs here:
http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=184594
IP: Intel has the upper hand for now with a 4-5% lead clock for clock.
FP: AMD has the upper hand a whopping 30-50% clock for clock.
What would you choose? Intel with 4-5% advatage in IP at 2.0ghz? or AMD with 30-50% advantage in FP at 2.0ghz?
Keep in mind as clock increases K10 will only scale better, in turn narrowing Intel's lead clock for clock in IP eventually catching up and surpassing it, and only getting further ahead in FP.
Just my early guesses.
[Posted by: Jeff007245 | Date: 09/08/07 11:20:15 PM]
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