AMD Bumps Up Socket AM2 Launch Date 234
Thrill-Ki1l writes "According to DailyTech AMD has moved up the launch date for their new socket AM2 processors. The manufacturers of the new AM2 chipsets and motherboards have their hardware ready to ship early so AMD decided to launch the chips 2 weeks early. The new launch date is May 23rd."
condolences (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:condolences (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:condolences (Score:5, Funny)
Really, the jokes on the people who by this new socket. I hear that eventually it well be replaced with something even newer! I'm waiting until 2019, when there will be no more computer upgrades (society will collapse July 17th, 2019, ending all new product development short of the flint arrowhead)
AMD's AM2 processor seems to be DRM-free (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm also happy to see that AMD has not put DRM into its AMD Live! [amd.com] technology, which competes with Intel's DRM-ridden Viiv. I'm sure AMD is taking a lot of heat from the entertainment cartel [downhillbattle.com] for not handcuffing users, and I hope they'll continue to keep their products DRM-free.
And let's not forget that AMD has been supportive of LinuxBIOS [linuxbios.org] by actively ensuring that their motherboards can run it [fsf.org].
Re:AMD's AM2 processor seems to be DRM-free (Score:4, Funny)
Re:AMD's AM2 processor seems to be DRM-free (Score:2)
Re:condolences (Score:5, Funny)
It was the flint arrowheads that gave you away.
Re:condolences (Score:2, Funny)
Do you know the time? If it's going to be 00:00 GMT then I'm fucked.
LK
Re:condolences (Score:2)
Re:condolences (Score:2)
Re:condolences (Score:3, Informative)
Re:condolences (Score:2)
Why, exactly? (Score:4, Insightful)
You would hope anyone building a system would have done their research and would have known that new chips were coming.
Putting aside that new chips are always coming up, why would this matter?
Only reason I can think of is that you're suggesting that you might want to put a faster cpu in later on. Is that it? If so...is that a really common thing to do? Because it seems kinda....well, dumb to me. You unplug your existing cpu and stick it in a box. Then buy another one that's only a few percent faster. Then unplug that 3 months later...and stick it in a box. Seems like a waste of money to me.
Every time I've done an upgrade, it's been a whole system upgrade. And then, I only do it every 5 years or so. Is there really a need to stay on the bleeding edge all the time that I'm missing?
Re:Why, exactly? (Score:2)
Re:Why, exactly? (Score:2)
the motherboard and disk access will still be slow as hell. but sometimes even a 10% gain in the right place makes you feel a lot better
Re:Why, exactly? (Score:4, Insightful)
As far as I can tell, AM2 will be a merge of the desktop sockets, which means you'll eventually have a fairly large range of performances.
If AM2 reclaims the same kind of staying power that socket A had, this also means you get the capacity to do cascade upgrades once you have a few systems. Stick a new CPU in your desktop? You dont stick the old one in a box, you move it to the server, which gets faster... and your old server CPU can be moved to the media frontend, which also gets faster... etc.
"Every time I've done an upgrade, it's been a whole system upgrade. And then, I only do it every 5 years or so. Is there really a need to stay on the bleeding edge all the time that I'm missing?"
Mmm, if that's how you do it, you probably wont benefit, no. In fact, it's far better to _never_ stay on the bleeding edge; bleeding edgers always get hosed by the price/performance ratio, and someone spending half of what you spend every 2.5 years will probably have a higher average performance over time on his systems, and twice as many systems. And again, once you reach the number of systems and component standardization needed for rolling upgrades, that's when you really start getting the payoff...
Re:Why, exactly? (Score:2)
Well, it depends on how and when you upgrade. Consider Socket 939 for example. You can buy a base syste
Re:Why, exactly? (Score:2, Informative)
I kinda like my 939. if i wanna upgrade from 3000+ to 4800+, i can. that's a huge improvement still available.
Re:condolences (Score:4, Insightful)
1)I can't really imagine anytime soon when I will need more power than I have with this system.
2) The price was good.
3)You can overclock the shit out of them.
4)I can scan for viruses, rip a cd, and play a top end game concurrently without a glitch or slow down.
5)It is a stable mature technology(socket 939). I previously made the mistake of purchasing the first edition of a new intel socket, and regretted it for years.
Let the new sockets, chips and boards work out their chinks before you buy, I say.
Re:condolences (Score:2, Funny)
If you ran linux you wouldn't have to worry about the virus scanner.
I guess you would'nt have to worry about the game either...
Re:condolences (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:condolences (Score:5, Insightful)
It's not like the 939 performance has dropped, only that the bleeding edge has cut another swath. Let them go, and enjoy the savings!
Bob-
Re:condolences (Score:2)
Re:condolences (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:condolences (Score:3, Interesting)
As long as I catch DDR1 prices at its lowest point (to reach 2GiB RAM total), my Opteron 165 @ 2.49 GHz system should cut it for a while.
Re:condolences (Score:4, Insightful)
Though I really feel for anyone who has a Socket 423 Pentium IV system. Very short lived standard (1.3-2.0Ghz), expensive rambus memory, 100Mhz bus ("quad pumped" to 400Mhz), and really odd CPU coolers that screw into the motherboard that are virtually impossible to get replacements for.
Re:condolences (Score:2)
Actually, I feel sorry for the people who built 754 systems back in the day. It seemed that AMD moved onto Socket 939 pretty quickly after that one.
Amen to that. I'm stuck with two S754 systems. I sooooo wish I'd paid a few extra dollars to get 939....
Re:condolences (Score:2, Informative)
AMD's Socket 754 to Outlast Socket 939 [dailytech.com]
Re:condolences (Score:2)
I bought a S754 system almost 2y ago. You can still buy new processors for my very own mobo today, great ones too, in the form of the latest and greatest Turion processors [silentpcreview.com]. A year later I bought the almost exact same system for my parents.
Do you know any current mobo for which you think you'll be able to buy a compatible CPU in 2 year's time ?
Also it was incredibly cheap, the CPU works with passive solid-state cooling and is still running like a champ. It was th
Re:condolences (Score:3)
That old link? (Score:3, Interesting)
Why don't we wait 6 months and then start trash talking, when we have actual products.
One of two things has happened
1. AMD has become complacent and has no strategy of really updating a now old product this year. In this scenario they were lulled asleep.
2. Intel has stunk so bad that AMD has been holding some cards close t
Re:Save condolences for intel fanboys (Score:2)
I'm sure my 2P 285 setup is faster than the Intel 80486
And even though MCW sports a better pipe [than Netburst] and more cache [than Opteron] it still has an FSB. That makes 2P and beyond still an AMD favourite.
I mean it's really hard to describe the speed of a box where both processors have access to their own memory. Coupled with
Re:Save condolences for intel fanboys (Score:2)
Re:condolences (Score:3, Funny)
Geez, how could you not be happy with that system? Must be kinda noisy, though.
summary (Score:5, Insightful)
Is it really worth it? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:5, Interesting)
I'd rather see FB-DIMMs, personally. But the move to DDR2 was going to happen at some point. Better now (when it's not necessary and people can still choose a great processor and DDR combo) then later (when DDR is more expensive and they were hurting for the change).
I seem to remember that was going to be something else with this socket upgrade (in the form of processor features) that was more interesting or offered better performance increases than the memory change. I don't remember if it was SSE4 (is that out yet?), a better branch predictor, AMD's Vanderpool (can't remember the name), or what.
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:2, Funny)
A maximum of 192 GB of RAM... Is that enough for windows Vista?
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:2)
FB-DIMM increases the latancy of ram, effectively adding multiple memory controlers off the die. So far as amd have been preaching (and done a good job of showing in practice with the a64 core) off die memory controlers are a bottleneck.
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:2)
Yes, if you care about the price of memory in your new machine. The price of DDR2 is generally expected to drop below DDR1 during this year, as manufacturers convert DDR1 production lines to DDR2. The performance won't change by more than a couple percent though (because the higher bandwidth of DDR2 is almost exactly cancelled out by its worse latency).
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:2)
Well, it's certainly easier than my old dream of being an astronaut...
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:3, Informative)
Early indications are that Intel's architechtural improvements with Conroe will give them a significant edge over AM2 chips, even though AMD still has an on-die memory controller and Intel doesn't.
"Also, the latency on the memory will likely also increase which might cancel all gains made from the increased speed."
They'll be using 667 and 800 mhz clock speeds
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:2)
Even if that's true, Intel usually holds a pretty big lead in moving to smaller processes, so bigger caches aren't likely to leave their arsenal.
"we really need to read more than ONE a
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:3, Insightful)
A few months ago I've read a review of AMD Opteron vs. Intel Xeon dual cores. For one socket, both systems had similar memory bandwidth and while the AMD was faster, the difference was not dramatic. For two sockets (4 cores total), the Xeons still had to make do with the same memory bandwidth be
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:3, Interesting)
The 2.6GHz Opterons stomped on the 3.0GHz Xeon MPs by around 30-40%.
Article [anandtech.com]
Woodcrest (Conroe based server part) will have the same bandwidth restrictions that hurt Xeon in the above test. Expect to see the usual suspects test four socket Woodcrest with cache intensive benchmarks.
However they're not a large part of the market really.
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:2)
The trick to realize is the DDR1 spec can't [cheaply] clock over the 400 mark without resorting to people just over clocking their memory.
That and DDR2 parts are expected to be cheaper to produce in volume quantities.
Tom
Re:Is it really worth it? (Score:2)
RAM prices are volatile enough, and crash a period after the market leader changes its memory type, such that it is dirt cheap to fill old boxes up with maximum RAM.
It's teh cheapest upgrade, and conicidentally, also the most performance enhancing. Users really appreciate it, and it does extend the lifetime of the product again.
However
Too many sockets!!! (Score:3, Interesting)
AMD at the moment offers no upgrade path because their Semprons & Athlons are different sockets, you can't turn a budget AMD box into something more powerfull without replacing the motherboard.
Intel allow people to start with a Celeron and easily upgrade to a P4 or Pentium D if more CPU power is required, I find the upgrade option far better value.
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
Not once has it made sense to upgrade the processor. Every time it would've provided only a small gain compared to the expense and hassle. I've upgraded the RAM, hard drives, and video card several times - but by the time I felt I needed a better processor, it made more sense to replace the entire motherboard and go with a new generation (or build a new box entirely).
To each his own, of course. But in the future I'm going to worry about the upgrade paths a motherboard offers for the RAM, drives, or video - and not the CPU, because I know I'll never bother.
Then again, so far I've mostly had AMD boxes, so maybe there is some truth to what you say.
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
Just recently for work I had to test some software that needed a beefier CPU but I didn't want to put it on my server, all I had to do was upgrade the Celeron to a Pentium D.
If I had gone
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
Yeah, I know what you mean. I always tell people to get a "Sigglewatter 2468" because it's just so much easier to say over the phone than "Bagglerister 42".
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
I dunno. I bought a pair of Opteron 240s and a Tyan S2885 motherboard soon after they were released. It cost a pretty penny, and the performance is still good compared to what's on the market now. If I wait
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:3, Interesting)
Usually you'd be right that it makes no sense to upgrade the CPU in leu of building a completely new system around it, HOWEVER one CPU upgrade that does make a significant difference for a lot of people these days is going from single to dual core -- if your motherboard supports it (via bios upgrade or not).
I just upgraded from a uni AMD64 3000+ -- that I built with my MSI Neo4 Platinum system a little over a year ago -- to a dualcore AMD64 X2 3800+ (b
Seconded! (Score:2)
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
I seem to remember that AM2 was going to be their new socket for everything for a while on. Both budget and performance processors are going to use it (I think).
As another reply pointed out, this particular gripe only affects a tiny portion of the user base. I've been
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
No, there were very good reasons! Socket 940 sacrificed signal return pins (power and ground) for memory ECC pins. ECC made the memory vastly more reliable. However, losing the return pins hurt electrical signal integrity, requiring that higher-latency registered memory modules be used. The ECC capability made AMD a lot of sales in the finance, medical, and industrial markets, wh
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
I don't disagree with your point, but your arguments seem rigged to favor AMD. Why would you count Intel's mobile sockets (Pentium M) in your comparison? Very few people, even among Slashdot readers, upgrade their notebook CPUs. Why not include AMD's other budget desktop socket (Socket A), since it's in the same time frame?
Also, the Pentium 4/D architecture (introduced April 2001
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
Because a good number of people want to use "mobile" processors in their desktops. Either for overclocking, or for low-power computers. Both particularly popular among Slashdot readers.
It wasn't uncommon with Socket A, and is much more common now with Socket 754.
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
Most people haven't the knowledge to do it themselves, and a good number of us who do built it ourselves are too cheap to be continuously upgrading, so that by the time we spring for a worthwhile upgrade, we also need new slot styles, memory stick design, CPU, maybe even PS or HD.
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:5, Informative)
The 'old' 468-pin is just that--the OLD socket. Meaning, it's a completely different chip altogether.
AMD has had some issues with sockets lately, I will grant you that. But Intel has been behind the 8-ball for a while now. AMD is now the innovator, and they are just playing catchup.
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:2)
Re:Too many sockets!!! (BAD MODS) (Score:2)
Complete, 100% Bullshit. "Insert Forkazoo's post here"
Unequivocally WRONG. Entirely ignorant Intel fanboyism.
There are socket 754 Sempron 64s [newegg.com], Athlon 64s [newegg.com], Mobile Athlon 64s [newegg.com], and Turion 64s [newegg.com].
Besides, with Socket 939 CPUs starting at $300 or so, the motherboard is only 1/3rd the cost,
Re:Too many sockets!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
Intel may use 775 for everything nowadays (except for Core Solo/Duo btw) but the required chipset changes. To be safe on the Intel camp today you need >=i945 northbridge. But that didn't help all the 915G users like me back in the day.
Might be safe to point out that unlike Intel at least AMD has multiple vendors of chipsets. So while AMD is going through transitions (hint: So will Intel be when they rea
For those who don't know about it... (Score:4, Informative)
fake? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:fake? (Score:3, Insightful)
939... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:939... (Score:3, Funny)
And 64k was supposed to be more than anyone would ever need.
Re:939... (Score:2)
So really, if you went out and got a decked out FX-60 or 4800+ based box today, it would still be useful 5 years from now.
But if you really must be on the bleeding edge, yeah, I'd hold off for AM2 instead of buying 939.
Tom
do they feel threatened by intel? (Score:2)
i hope to get a processor wars soon (and hopefully, motherboard, chipset, memory, etc.) so everything will go faster and better while price drops.
Way to go Apple! (Score:2)
Re:Way to go Apple! (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Way to go Apple! (Score:4, Informative)
Intel still hasn't figured out the whole "let's go MP" part yet either. While they are doing things like L2 sharing to speed up proccesses in the same dual-core part (which is a mixed blessing though) they are still using the single-FSB to do MP.
Tom
Re:Way to go Apple! (Score:3, Interesting)
Are you sure its not just UNIX fans' imagination that Mac zealots have become pro-UNIX? It seems to me that Mac zealots like whatever Apple makes, they don't care much about the underlying technology as long as the user experience is good. I seriously doubt that long-time Mac users are getting excited abou
But how much more money will it cost? (Score:3)
I was looking forward to get it when it came out, but if higher price tag came along with it because of earlier release date, I would just wait.
Re:But how much more money will it cost? (Score:2)
It's not like they're giving a limited amount of people a "special preview". They shifted the release date earlier.
If anything, now you wont have to wait as long for prices to drop. Since it'll be out earlier, the prices will drop ea
What about power use? (Score:3, Insightful)
Memory Capacity? (Score:4, Interesting)
Sidenote: Yes, I am aware of the iWill DK88 [iwill.net] (16 DIMMs DDR) - anybody have any experience with it (especially with Linux)?
AMD socking it to Intel (Score:2, Interesting)
It doesn't help either that HP/Intel's Itaniums aren't taking off and the AMD Opterons are doing well. Plus, as others have mentioned, AMD seems to backing Linux pretty tough. And I was looking @ alot of embedded devices and I see more AMD based ones than Intel.
It's interesting how far AMD has come in the last 10+ years.
Le Yawn (Score:2)
Old news. Old old new.
-Charlie
Re:Why bother? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Why bother? (Score:2)
Re:Wow! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Aye Lads... (Score:2)
Re:Upgrade Horror (Score:2)
1. You don't have to upgrade
2. PCIe better than AGP
3. DDR2 [will be] better than DDR1
4. See point #1.
Tom
Re:Upgrade Horror (Score:3, Insightful)
First off, the only way DDR2 will suck is if they never hit 800Mhz speeds. Since there is a lot of pressure on this I'm sure the memory manufacturers will keep at it.
Second, PCI-E replaces AGP [which was around for a long time]. PCI-E is the new standard for a lot of high bandwidth parts including things like network controllers. So while I can imagine in 5 years time we will start hearing about a new bus coming out, PCI-E will still be around. Christ we still have PCI on mothe
Re:Upgrade Horror (Score:2)
Oh ok.
Well just FYI, you can play most of the latest fancy games on 754-pin Semprons so long as you have plenty'o'ram and a decent GPU.
Besides, do you need to play the latest and greatest FPS-clone at 1600x1200x75fps to have a good time? People like you, will never be happy. So long as you keep buying AMD parts though I'm happy.
I'm telling you straight up, if you're this worried go get yourself the following.
1. FX-60 processor
2. 2GiB of the fastest lowest latency
Re:Upgrade Horror (Score:2)
How is this any different than Socket 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, Super 7, etc...
The world won't come to an end.
The trick as I said [and you ignored] is buy what you need now. Don't buy the cheap shit and hope to upgrade. So save up a grand or two and buy a decent box that will live a while.
If you're planning on buying the cheapest 939 now and save up for a faster on then you're wasting a lot of money.
Tom