Formally branded the Phenom II X6, AMD gained’t be launching those processors till a while someday. However these days AMD is disclosing some elementary information about the portions. We’re additionally blending in our wisdom of interior AMD roadmaps to color a transparent image of AMD’s 6-core technique.
The extra cores on the identical TDP characteristic that Intel delivers with the 980X, AMD may be promising with Phenom II X6. The adaptation is that those are nonetheless 45nm portions. Whilst we’ll have to check them to make certain, AMD these days signifies that all the Phenom II X6 lineup will likely be rated at 95W or 125W TDPs. It’s all production tips that make it imaginable (just right activity GlobalFoundries). In idea you must be capable to purchase a Phenom II X6 and feature it function in the similar energy envelope as a Phenom II X4 965.
With the Thuban cores AMD is introducing its model of Intel’s Turbo Spice up generation referred to as Turbo Core. AMD has but to put into effect energy gating on its processors, so Turbo Core works just a little otherwise than Intel’s Turbo.
Turbo Core kicks in when 3 or extra cores (on a 6-core section) are idle. When this occurs, the frequency of the ones 3 cores is diminished to 800MHz, the voltage to all the chip is larger, and the rest 3 cores are turboed up by way of up to 500MHz. It doesn’t get to any extent further granular than this. You probably have 3 or extra cores idle, then the rest turbo up. In some other scenario the CPU runs at its customary clocks.
The CPU handles all tracking and does the clock/voltage control itself. The transfer to turbo up cores it seems that occurs rapid sufficient to care for Home windows shifting threads round from core to core.
Turbo core is prompted by way of a deterministic machine this is in response to load call for and present working prerequisites (now not temperature).
Cool’n’Quiet is lively all through the turbo procedure. What in truth occurs is that after CnQ appears to be like to look if a collection of cores must be downclocked, it additionally has the power to extend the frequency of alternative cores.
This isn’t just about as sublime of an answer as Intel’s turbo. The idle cores are by no means in truth close off, and voltage to all cores is larger to achieve the upper clock velocity. Alternatively if it really works as marketed and not using a drawbacks (e.g. underclocking 3 cores while you in truth nonetheless want them) then it’s undoubtedly higher than not anything for the Phenom II lineup. AMD can even have quad-core CPUs with turbo core improve in response to the brand new Thuban cores.
The nice information? All Socket-AM3 and AM2+ motherboards will paintings with those new Phenom II X6 CPUs with not anything greater than a BIOS replace. The forums do must improve the TDPs the chips are rated for in fact.
Pricing and function are each unknowns at this level.
