Details of AMD's Tri-Core - Overclock.net

joemaniaci · 10-06-07

Quote:

AMD has come out with the industries first native quad-core processor with Barcelona, but AMD has not been able to get the clock frequencies high enough on these quad-core processors to compete with Intel's 45nm quad-core Yorkfield processors on a clock for clock basis. From our understanding, some engineers inside AMD noticed that during die testing at the FAB, that there was an occational frequency mis-match among cores. When AMD does see a “problem core” or when the frequency mis-match among cores, they now have the triple core option to keep from scrapping or down-grading that die. Let's take a step backwards here: AMD tests each processor and when they do they test each of the four cores individually. By doing so, AMD has the ability to make sure that each core is working correctly and at what clock frequency. If AMD is trying to produce say, 2.6GHz Phenom processors, this is what happens. The processor is tested and, for example, it was found to have three cores running fine at 2.6GHz and one core that can do just 2.0GHz. AMD has the choice to fuse the processor at the silicon level (well before the integrated heat spreader is put on) as a 2.0GHz quad-core Phenom, or they could fuse it as a 2.6GHz triple-core Phenom if they wanted to lose the use of a core. AMD believed that a triple-core processor is a smart move for AMD as they can offer them at a competitive price point, while at the same time offering a processor with higher clock speeds than otherwise possible. Since the processors are 'fused' at the silicon level during production, our sources inside AMD say that attempts to 'unlock' the turned off core will be impossible from the outside by simply connecting pins or something like that.

Legit Reviews

jonny1989 · 10-06-07

WOW cool a tri core.Are they going to say they will sell them and then never release them like they have done with the Phemon x4/2s too?

Playing the AMD waiting game is like when your trying to use the restroom on a plane and there is a 10 yeard kid in there.He just locks the door and pisses all over everthing and then makes you wait 15mins while he trys to clean it up.Then when you do get in what you find sucks.

joemaniaci · 10-06-07

Basically, these are going to be phenom's where the fourth core wasn't good enough, so they are going to deactivate it from within, so it won't be possible to reactivate it.

GuardianOdin · 10-06-07

So the chances of getting a bad quad core are lowed, Sounds good to me.

SZayat · 10-06-07

This might be off topic but I really wonder how would the L3 cache improve performance or in other world in what percentage.

I know that Intel P4 Extreme Edition had a L3 cache.

da9pwnsu · 10-06-07

not bad, AMD. not bad at all. Thats a good way to save money, not waste a product, and provide another option for the market

thenailedone · 10-06-07

"Optimized for tri-core Processors" - Not likely...

iandh · 10-06-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuardianOdin

So the chances of getting a bad quad core are lowed, Sounds good to me.

Yep, this is a good side effect...

**ENTERPRISE** · 10-06-07

I think this is a very good idea. I really am looking forward to the benchmarks and comparisons.

RuSo · 10-06-07

the new sempron/celeron of amd/intel

cripple core? just deactivate some stuff and still sell it, hope performance is still pretty good, i allready knew this....

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Details of AMD's Tri-Core

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