AMD to keep dual-core processors in current 90nm power envelope

Chicago (IL) - AMD provided first bits on power usage of its upcoming dual-core Opterons last October. System builders now received confirmation that the new processors will stay within the power consumption range of current 90 nm processors

The manufacturer's guidelines indicate that dual-core processors will maintain the 95 watt power envelope of its current CPUs built in 90nm. A reader pointed us to an internal AMD document that lists the thermal design power (TDP) of "x75" and "x80" dual-core Opterons with clock speeds of 2.20 and 2.40 GHz at 95 watts. This is the same value the company provides for single-core Opterons.

In direct comparison to the power and current values of Intel's dual-core Smithfield processors, AMD may get its best opportunity in quite some time to convincingly promote a superior processor architecture. Analysts however feel it is too early to draw any conclusions yet. &quot;We are still looking at least half a year until those processor come out,&quot; said Dean McCarron, analyst with Mercury Research. Even then, he was not too concerned about the 130 watts, a dual-core Smithfield may consume. &quot;These are worst case scenarios. It does not mean that the chip will draw that much all the time, but in fact consume much less most of the time.&quot; — In direct comparison to the power and current values of Intel's dual-core Smithfield processors, AMD may get its best opportunity in quite some time to convincingly promote a superior processor architecture. Analysts however feel it is too early to draw any conclusions yet. "We are still looking at least half a year until those processor come out," said Dean McCarron, analyst with Mercury Research. Even then, he was not too concerned about the 130 watts, a dual-core Smithfield may consume. "These are worst case scenarios. It does not mean that the chip will draw that much all the time, but in fact consume much less most of the time."

Intel also could also dynamically change the frequency of the processor, if the performance is not required. "We could see a lot of throttling coming our way, where processors run at much lower speeds than their spec," McCarron said. This could be compared to 500-horsepower car that offers snappy response "for example when passing another car uphill."

Current indications however suggest that AMD's strategy to offer more performance per clock rate, which also translates in less power consumption per performance unit, could be paying off with the upcoming dual cores. While it is certainly too early to suggest that the potential of Intel's current desktop processor architecture could be exhausted in terms of power consumption, the company already announced that it will me moving its less power hungry Pentium-M will be moving towards the desktop. Analysts such as McCarron expect this to happen by 2006 or 2007.

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Wolfgang Gruener is an experienced professional in digital strategy and content, specializing in web strategy, content architecture, user experience, and applying AI in content operations within the insurtech industry. His previous roles include Director, Digital Strategy and Content Experience at American Eagle, Managing Editor at TG Daily, and contributing to publications like Tom's Guide and Tom's Hardware.