Advanced Micro Devices plans to add dynamic overclocking technology to its server processors code-named Interlagos that are based on the Bulldozer micro-architecture next year. This will be the first time when an AMD server chip will get ability to dynamically boost itself. However, the server TurboCore technology will naturally have some specifics and will most likely receive a new name.

"There will be a TurboCore feature for Bulldozer, but there will be some improvements from what you see in “Thuban”. There are some enhancements to give it more “turbo”. This will be the first introduction of the TurboCore technology in the server processors. We expect that this will translate into a big boost in performance when using single threaded applications, and there should be some interesting capabilities for heavier workloads as well," said John Fruehe, the director of product marketing for server/workstation products at AMD.

AMD's previous-generation and current generation Opteron microprocessors support CoolCore and/or CoolSpeed technologies that optimize power consumption and performance. The former can disable parts of the chip that are not used to trim power usage, whereas the latter can allow reducing p-states of microprocessors for certain periods of time so that to keep CPU operating even when thermal limits are reached.

Many of Intel Xeon processors for dual-processor and multi-processor machines are equipped with Intel TurboBoost technology, which allows to disable some cores that are not necessary under present workload and increase clock-speeds of remaining cores.

AMD's latest desktop processors with six-cores code-named Thuban and officially known as AMD Phenom II X6 also feature TurboCore technology that dynamically disables unused cores and raises the clock-speed of the remaining, which greatly helps to speed up applications that cannot take advantage of multiple cores.

It remains to be seen which differences will bring the second-generation TurboCore technology to Bulldozer processors for desktops and servers.

Tags: AMD, Bulldozer, Thuban, Interlagos, Zambezi