Bulldozer and Bobcat processors from AMD
for new wave of computers
AMD has revealed new details on its two next-generation
x86 processor core implementations, including AMD's approach
to multi-threaded computing and sub one-watt capable low-power
design.
In an announcement at HOT CHIPS 22, a 3-day conference
AMD has unveiled the two designs named "Bulldozer"
and "Bobcat".
Bulldozer is made using 32nm semiconductor fab node. Bulldozer
is multithreaded, compact, high core -count design with
new x86 instruction support (SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, and XOP
including 4-operand FMAC). Power management techniques used
are of latest type.
Bobcat is Sub-one-watt capable processor with microarchitecture
optimized for low power with features such as Out-of-order
instruction, core power gating and a synthesizeable design
that can moved across different semiconductor manufacturing
technologies.
AMD says these processor cores were designed from the ground-up
to address specific customer requirements and compute workloads.
The new cores are central to AMD's future roadmap, including
the AMD Fusion Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) products
and AMD's new high-performance server and client CPUs.
"In my opinion, Bulldozer and Bobcat are not only
two of the greatest technical achievements in AMD's rich
history, but two of the most important for the industry
as well," said Chekib Akrout, senior vice president
and general manager, AMD Technology Development. "With
CPUs and APUs built from these core implementations, we
expect our customers to deliver a new wave of innovative
PC form factors and high-performance computing experiences."
At HOT CHIPS 22, Brad Burgess, AMD Fellow and chief architect
of Bobcat, and Mike Butler, AMD Fellow and chief architect
of Bulldozer, will each present in the "New Processor
Architectures" session.
"Attacking both high-performance and low-power markets
simultaneously with two brand new architectures is an impressive
accomplishment that serves notice to the industry that innovation
is alive and well inside AMD," observed Nathan Brookwood,
research fellow at Insight 64.
