Industry Sources Claim AMD Changed Naming Scheme For 45nm

By Gavin Steacy
published

According to industry sources, AMD has decided to modify the naming scheme for their 45nm desktop processors. While AMD is keeping the Phenom X3 and Phenom X4 branding, the model numbers have changed from four digits to five digits in length.

This new numbering system has caused some confusion, but 1xx00 for lower end and 20xx0 for higher end Phenoms is a somewhat logical step up from the four-digit, Phenom 9 series numbering system. Perhaps AMD could drop the redundant zero at the end of each model number to make it easier to say these rather long names.

According to sources, AMD intends to start shipping DDR2 variants of Deneb this year as you can see from the table below.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
NameFreq.HT 3.0 Freq.MemoryTotal CacheTDPRelease Date
Phenom X4 20x003.0GHz4.0GHz*DDR3-13338MB125WQ2 2009
Phenom X4 205503.0GHz4.0GHz*DDR28MB125WQ4 2008
Phenom X4 20x002.8GHz4.0GHz*DDR3-13338MBTBDQ1 2009
Phenom X4 203502.8GHz4.0GHz*DDR28MB125WQ4 2008
Phenom X4 20x002.6GHz4.0GHz*DDR3-13338MB95WQ1 2009
Phenom X4 16x002.8GHz4.0GHz*DDR3-13332MB95WQ1 2009
Phenom X4 16x002.6GHz4.0GHz*DDR3-13333MB95WQ1 2009
Row 7 - Cell 0 Row 7 - Cell 1 Row 7 - Cell 2 Row 7 - Cell 3 Row 7 - Cell 4 Row 7 - Cell 5 Row 7 - Cell 6
Phenom X3 14x002.6GHz4.0GHz*DDR3-13337.5MB95WQ2 2009
Phenom X3 12x002.8GHz4.0GHz*DDR3-13331.5MB95WQ2 2009
Phenom X3 12x002.6GHz4.0GHz*DDR3-13331.5MB95WQ2 2009

*There are obviously errors in this rumored roadmap as HyperTransport 3.0 has a maximum clockspeed of 2.6GHz, and even the newly released HyperTransport 3.1 only runs at a maximum of 3.2GHz. It is possible that 4.0GT/s is meant instead, equating to a 2.0GHz HT 3.0 clockspeed across the board.

Sources mentioned that AMD intends to end shipments of the Phenom X4 20550 and 20350 in Q2 2009. Perhaps AMD are releasing chips with memory controllers which they know function correctly just to get their foot in the door, and are continuing to refine their DDR3 memory controllers in the meantime. It is also possible that AMD have axed the dual memory controller configuration for AM3 CPUs altogether, and these dedicated DDR2-compatible processors are the only means for AM2+ users to upgrade to the 45nm Phenoms without a motherboard and RAM change.

In any case, industry sources said that during H1 2009, Deneb will switch to AM3 and DDR3 compatibility, and Propus will show up in Q1 as Phenom X4 16x00. In addition to ceasing DDR2 Deneb shipments, Q2 2009 will also bring a new range of Phenom X3 processors for the lower end of the spectrum.

Considering this roadmap has obvious flaws, and it did not come from AMD, the information included in it must still be considered speculation for the time being.

AMD didn’t comment on this news story.

Gavin Steacy
21 Comments Comment from the forums
  • starhoof
    i just wonder, when are they going to produce faster clocked phenoms?
    they would sure increase their sales if they were faster clocked...
    Reply
  • chaohsiangchen
    No triple core 45nm with DDR2 IMC?
    Reply
  • Pei-chen
    Give me a 2.0GHz BE for $120 and I'll OC it to 3.6GHZ. Hopefully the 45nm can match Q6600 clock for clock because I just cancelled a Q6600 order from Newegg to wait for the 45nm or price-dropped Q9x50.
    Reply
  • wavebossa
    Starhoofi just wonder, when are they going to produce faster clocked phenoms?they would sure increase their sales if they were faster clocked...
    Umm, you do realize that 3.0GHz is a faster clocked phenom by 400mhz right? And you do realize that this table tells you when they come out.

    The answer to your question can be found by actually reading the article.
    Reply
  • kitsilencer
    Nothing earthshattering here. But it's a step in the right direction.
    Reply
  • gwolfman
    Phenom X4 20x00 2.8GHz 4.0GHz* DDR3-1333 8MB TBD Q1 2009
    I read "TBD" and read/thought "TLB" erratum. LOL
    Reply
  • Hm. Maybe they could have used the X prefix for the numbers like ATI did when they first started going 'Over 9000!!!!!' ? I must admit, trying to pronounce 20550 without it sounding like 2550 is practically impossible. Maybe twenty-fifty-five-zero? Either way, I'll be picking up at least one of those, slotting it into an M3A79-T Deluxe, and making yet another all-AMD build. Will end up figuring on an AM3 build sometime in '09, likely, and pass on the M3A79 build to someone else in the family like I plan for my current build.
    Reply
  • wavebossa
    ^^ To be honest, I thought the X preceding the model number was the only obvious choice. 5 numbers is too much.
    Reply
  • doomsdaydave11
    8MB cache... definately a step up from
    Reply
  • hellwig
    I was kinda hoping AM3 would have dual-memory support, but I think the timing is off. When AMD released AM2, DDR2 was brand new and really expensive. By the time AMD releases AM3, DDR3 will be over a year old and much cheaper comparatively. I suppose AMD rightfully doesn't see any need for supporting DDR2 (especially since Intel has already stopped official support of it). I guess this means AM3 processors will also not work with AM2+/AM2 sockets. Looks like AMD got a little over-ambitious.

    What is also concerning is that they will still be making 125W processors on a 45nm architecture. Is there a problem with Phenom that they can't get the temps down?
    Reply