Report: AMD Phenom II chips echo Intel's i7

940 versus 940. That may be the confusing Intel-AMD processor model-number juxtaposing that consumers can look forward to next year.

A Chinese Web site has posted details of Advanced Micro Devices' upcoming Phenom II desktop processors, of which at least two are due to be launched at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.

The post on HKEPC lists more than a dozen new models due to be launched during the next eight months. AMD is now moving its chips to 45-nanometer process technology from an older 65-nanometer process. Generally, smaller geometries result in faster and more power-efficient processors.

Processors listed include the quad-core Phenom II X4 920 and Phenom II X4 940 due in January, rated at 2.8GHz and 3.0GHz, respectively.

Interestingly (and maybe not coincidentally), AMD's high-end Phenom II X4 920 and 940 model numbers match those of Intel's Core i7-920 (2.66GHz) and i7-940 (2.93GHz).

Both the AMD and Intel models are 45nm quad-core desktop processors with large caches. High-end Phenom II processors come with 8MB of cache memory. Typically, the more cache memory, the better the performance.

Other processors listed include the Phenom II X4 810 and 805, both due in February, rated at 2.6GHz and 2.5GHz, respectively, according to HKEPC. These have 6MB of cache memory.

HKEPC also lists triple-core Phenom II X3 processors and Athlon X4 processors.

The site also posted a table showing new naming scheme for the processors.

AMD will bring out its first generation of 45nm processors just as Intel is beginning commercial shipments of its second-generation 45nm product, the Core i7, which Intel officially introduced on November 17.

[chuchucuhi]

Well not exactly a new tactic by AMD, it seemed to work in the past and as far as implemnting relatively inexpensive to do, look Ma no R&D required. I hope their performance can match the i7 once you take away the marketing. To the future!

[Signal-Support-System-Spc]

What AMD should do is build only the 920 and 940 and sell them for $200 and $240 respectively. Such inevitable volume would allow them to dominate '09 and with the funds allow them to finish work on their six and eight core proc's.

[miadams1]

To the last comment, No one wins in a price war and at 2 bucks a share AMD would not last long.

[solu1978]

I have always been a AMD fan but i have to admit that intel is doing a far better job than AMD .

[AppleSuxLeo]

Due to be released in 2012 Bwahahahah !

[coryschulz]

I used to be an AMD fan during the ghz wars, but Intel is really taking the initiative these days at expanding their technology and playing with new architectures. I own an iMac now, so obviously I use Intel.

[3rdalbum]

I can't wait to see some benchmarks. It would be great if the new Phenoms were faster than Core 2 Quads, but cheaper than Core i7s.

[Imalittleteapot]

Probably won't beat the Core i7 but if you can get the AMD cheap enough then maybe get the AMD and put the extra money in either RAM or the Video card+PSU and you could end up with a faster system overall. If you can't get it cheap enough though then obviously nobody can say until the benchmarks come out for sure.

[gdmaclew]

AMD needs to advertise a la Intel Inside.
When have you seen the AMD logo after an ad from HP or Dell like you do from Intel?
I have never seen any reference to AMD in any advertisement.

[sparrowhyperion]

I agree that AMD should be advertising.. Heavily... This reminds me of the old brand wars back in the 80s. I remember the Atari ST systems. I owned a few of them and they were truly better than anything out there, including the PCs and Macs of the day. Unfortunately, Atari had the same policy on advertising, namely, none. I have been using AMD ever since I built my first PC back in 1988; but with the lack of ads, and the heated competition, I may be forced to use Intel next time, even though I don't like the company or it's products.

[tipoo_]

true, the only time i saw an AMD commercial was on a trip to India!!

[Zaunto]

It would be great if I could pop a Phenom into my Socket AM2 Board and it just work. Short of the second coming of Hay-Soose, I don't see that happening. I've always been an AMD fan and supporter. I hope these new Phenoms do better than the first generation. AMD certainly has the funding now to develop.

[mikeburek]

Hay-Soose!?! Do I look Puerto Riccan to you? He said "Hey, Zeus." Like, I'm gonna hit you with a thunderbolt, Zeus.

(Insert many f-words as you read)

[pithenumber]

there supposed to be compatible with my socket AM2+

[xcopy]

I hope really AMD succeeds with these new chips. I'd like to put AMD in my next PC if possible.

Intel has been offering some very decent products lately, but IMO it's 100% attributable to the threat of AMD looming over their shoulder.

If AMD were to fail, we'd still be paying $1,000 for a 700 MHz P4 (circa 1999).

[mikeburek]

Yes, I really support the competition. I have been buying AMD since the K5 days. Back then, you needed every bit of speed possible. But price was a big factor for me. Usually the AMDs were the same or better than a price comparable Intel.

But now, the processors are so fast and the only time I max out a core is when Windows crashes, or the AV program thinks I wanted to scan everything right now. So even if AMD is a bit slower, it's like me comparing cars based on their top speed of 150 vs 160.

While my MoBo & CPU combo for $80 probably isn't going to be noticed in anyone's pocketbook, at least I can say I'm supporting AMD right now.

[pithenumber]

AMD forever
Athlon X2 5400+ @ 3.2GHz, Radeon HD 4870 X2, beats the crap out of similar price systems at gaming

[tipoo_]

i'm geusing that Phenom II will acheive clock for clock parity with the 2nd gen core 2's, but not Core i7. this is based on the reviews for Shanghai (the server part), which Deneb (the desktop part) will share an architecture with. they are still very competitive in the server segment though thanks to lower power consumption and competitive performance, hopefully they can earn some cash there, as servers were always AMD's cash cow.

[ferretboy88]

I'm sure Intel is not going to sit on their hands. They will release new updated processors before these even hit the stores.

[MicroController]

It looks like Intel and its mass marketing campaign has misinformed everyone again. The core i7 architecture is very very similar to AMD's architecture. See link below.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Intel-i7-nehalem-cpu,2041.html

This time Intel has copied AMD's architecture, and in my opinion AMD is trying to use Intels marketing to its advantage by naming its products so similar to that of Intel's.

[pithenumber]

AMD's been doing what Intel considers new ever since the Athlon 64's

[DeWynter]

Well while the CSI is almost identical to Hyper transport the IMC is actually an Intel Idea from 2001, The Timma project was to marry Rambus to an IMC, but due to the cost of rambus memory it was shelved. Intel never again touched the IMC idea again till they ran out of bandwidth for memory. But saying the architecture is copied is completly off base as the I7 is an extension of the core 2, which is not similar to the Phenome at all. The only similar thaings are the connection methods.

[MicroController]

"But saying the architecture is copied is completly off base as the I7 is an extension of the core 2, which is not similar to the Phenome at all."

From your comments, you seem to be confused as to what the word architecture means. And how is it that the i7 is an "extension" of core 2 architecture, when their 'architectures' are clearly very different.

Look at Intel's own link here. In the first paragraph they clearly state "Designed from the ground up.."
http://www.intel.com/technology/architecture-silicon/next-gen/index.htm

Don?t intentionally mislead people, get your facts right.