Brian's Brain

Following up on recent-past dual-core coverage, samples of AMD's dual-core desktop PC CPUs, the Athlon 64 X2 series, are now shipping. My test system only showed up yesterday, due to a shipping snafu, but until my evaluation results arrive you can content yourself with AnandTech's solid-as-usual data.

Make particularly note of the multitasking analyses, which'll be of particular relevence to most users, and the results on multi-threaded applications (note, AnandTech's testing focused exclusively on 32-bit operating systems and software). Put the raw performance data in perspective by also keeping in mind the comparative pricing of the various AMD and Intel product proliferations. Specifically, Intel's to-date public statements have expressed a strong dedication to rapidly ramrod the Pentium D into the mainstream with aggressive ASPs. Look, too, at AMD's impressive power consumption results, and at the inconsistent performance comparisons between Intel's HyperThreading-inclusive Pentium EE and HT–disabled Pentium D product spins.

Finally, consider that AMD's Athlon 64 X2s run at slower core clock rates than their Intel dual-core counterparts, don't offer HyperThreading, and interface to slower DDR SDRAM speed bins. I've said it before and I'll say it again; AMD designs great CPUs. Now if they could just make more of them....

Athlon 64 X2 production is slated for next month. Here's the pricing and L2 cache specs:

• AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ (2.4 GHz) = $1,001 each; 1 MByte L2 cache per core
• AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ (2.4 GHz) = $803 each; 512 KByte L2 cache per core
• AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (2.2 GHz) = $581 each; 1 MByte L2 cache per core
• AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (2.2 GHz) = $537 each; 512 KByte L2 cache per core

Other vital stats:

• Each core has its own 64 KByte of L1 instruction and 64 KByte of L1 data cache (256 KByte total L1 per processor)
• CPU to memory controller clock rates: same as CPU core frequencies
• Memory controller: shared integrated 128-bit wide memory controller
• Types of memory: PC1600, PC2100, PC2700 and PC3200 DDR SDRAM
• HyperTransport links: 1
• HyperTransport spec: 2 GHz (2x 1000 MHz / DDR)
• Effective data bandwidth: 14.4 GBytes/sec (8 GBytes/sec x1 HyperTransport link + 6.4 GBytes/sec memory bandwidth)
• Packaging: 939-pin organic micro-PGA
• Wafer fab location: AMD's Fab 30 in Dresden, Germany
• Process technology: 90 nm (.09-micron) SOI (Silicon on Insulator)
• Approximate transistor count: 233.2 million
• Approximate die size: 199 mm²
• Nominal Voltage: 1.35-1.40V
• Max thermal power consumption: 110W
• Max ambient case temperature: 65 degrees C
• Max I_CC (processor current): 80A

And here's some relevent links for your next-level research:

• AMD processor pricing web page
• An article on optimizing with Microsoft and gcc compilers
• Programming and technical documentation
• AMD64 software ecosystem website
• AMD64 device driver information
• AMD's multi-core web page
• The AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor's place was held by the codename "Toledo" on the company's processor roadmap

Followup: and here are some more reviews:

• ExtremeTech
• The Tech Report, using Windows XP Professional x64 Edition