AMD's Bulldozer: More Design Details Surface
AMD has released new documents outlining the architecture for its upcoming Bulldozer release.
AMD's Bulldozer is one of the most highly-anticipated CPU architectures in recent memory. For those who are eager for more info on this new processor design, some new slides outlining Zambezi for the Socket AM3+ platform recently surfaced.

Breaking down the eight-core "Bulldozer" die, we find four modules that are each composed of two cores. Each module packs 2 MB L2 cache for a total of 8 MB. The is also an integrated Northbridge that contains 8 MB of L3 cache, two 72-bit DDR3 memory channels and four 16-bit receive/16-bit transmit HyperTransport links.



From the slides, we also see how Turbo Core will behave in Bulldozer. When the CPU's workload is within the TDP headroom, there is no core boost activity. When there is TDP headroom in given a workload, the Turbo Core kicks in and increases clock speed across the board. Conversely, when there is a lightly threaded workload, half the modules go into C6 sleep state, and the remaining cores get clocked up higher for better performance.

See the full deck of slides at Computerbase.
We all remember intel back in the days before the Athlon came and started the competition that we today are enjoying.
If these things are mediocre chips released in homeopathic doses, AMD is in trouble.
We all remember intel back in the days before the Athlon came and started the competition that we today are enjoying.
acadia11, nothing can be like Apple.
Those current (ampere) boosts seem pretty intense, I wonder how much negative impact will that have on the thermals.
i wouldnt get a bulldozer till revision 2 anyway, just because there will be flaws.
this is a low end enthusiast speaking, someone who will upgrade for power but not spend 1k+ on a cpu alone.
even if the chip sucks, compared to intel, intel has nothing on amd gpu... a bulldozer with a gpu, and i mean a 68xx model or better could be the choice laptop of next years back to school, and make the chip a very viable option for more budget setups.
this could be really nice, id love to see a decent 7xxx in it, that way it can crossfire, and make crossfire a viable low end option for people.
If intel packs more FPU's this new AMD chip could be just a grenade. But AMD has always been light on the math side right? Or was it the other way around? I dunno, I buy intel lol.
Just release it already!
One can dream though.
Uau, you know so much! Thanks for the info, I'll just forget about it entirely and go buy Intel.