AMD, Intel six-core processors to arrive starting March

[Jos]

AMD has made no secret of their plans to release at least one six-core desktop processor in 2010, codenamed Thuban. Intel on the other hand hasn't been as forthcoming, but thanks to numerous leaks, and even some early benchmark results, we do know the company has a 32nm six-core chip up its sleeve, which is dubbed Gulftown and will be branded as Core i7 980X.

DigiTimes has come up with a little more information regarding their respective launch schedules and products. Citing anonymous sources at motherboard makers, the site reports that Intel will kick off the hexacore deluge with its Core i7 980X at the end of March. It is expected to be priced at around $1,000, as usual for their flagship parts, featuring 3.3 - 3.6HGz clock speeds and a whopping 12MB of L3 cache.

This will be followed by three AMD Phenom II X6 1000T processors in May which are expected to be compatible with existing AM2+ and AM3 motherboards. DigiTimes specifically lists the Phenom II X6 1075T, 1055T and 1035T, all 45nm process chips, and says they will be preceded by compatible 890FX (RD890) and 890GX(RS880D) chipsets in April.

Further details about AMD's upcoming Phenom II X6 processors are a little scant, but rumors suggest they will house 3MB of L2 and 6MB of L3 cache. In terms of performance, they should compete for a completely different market, perhaps taking on Intel's Lynnfield Core i5 and i7 CPUs. The company is also expected to announce a new quad-core chip, the Phenom II X4 960T, alongside its hexacores.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/37766-amd-intel-six-core-processors-to-arrive-starting-march.html

 

[Archean]

Thats great; I think if AMD can successfully compete against the Core i5s and Core i7s (8xx series) that will be fantastic; and as I've heard few rumors that these chips aren't exactly flying off the shelves (probably due to current pricing); any form of decent competition may force Intel to lower prices and bring them to bit more reasonable levels as well.

 

[mailpup]

...if AMD can successfully compete against the Core i5s and Core i7s...

If that would be the case, I'd just as soon get AMD and not be concerned whether or not Intel lowered their prices to compete.

 

[Archean]

A very compelling argument at that

 

[Guest]

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I agree. AMD's price and product also needs our support for quality competition.

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[Puiu]

I'm going to remain silent until some official benchmarks arrive.

 

[Guest]

Gulftown will be hypertreaded yielding 12 effective CPU's. The question is will AMD's hexcores follow with some sort of 'hypertreading' to compete? AMD will need to work hard to regain equity with Chipzilla since their also 32nm vs. AMD's 45 nm. Most of us want competition to bring prices back into the reality zone, IMHO $500 should be the upper limit of CPU pricing. Chipzilla needs to lower prices and take advantage of volume marketing not leaving a majority of consumers to only dream of ever getting their hi-end CPU's. Mass etailers like Newegg will then be shipping i7 980x faster than a gatling gun spraying bullets.

 

[Archean]

Fair point; but in reality we don't live in such ideal world. Beside big corporation's are being run with one single objective i.e. 'profits'. Hence the importance of competition, and fierce one at that is what I'd like. Which unfortunately, is not the case at this moment.

 

[Guest]

It's good to see AMD needing six cores to achieve to what lower end intel 4 cores can already ...

But it will be the benchmarks that show the real winners here.