The Register has put together an overview of what AMD discussed yesterday about the K12 processor and Project Skybridge. The most impressive feat is Project SkyBridge; with the license AMD now has to develop ARMv8 architecture they will be creating pin compatible ARM and x86 SoCs, so you can choose which you want to drop in your server and can easily change your mind any time in the future. The more traditional 64-bit x86 processors will be "Puma+" cores while the ARM SoCs will be 64-bit A57s, and will not only be fully HSA compliant but will be able to run Android. They also delve into AMD's upcoming strategy to remain a valid contender in the silicon ring, read on to get a glimpse into Papermaster's brain.
"AMD has announced that it will create pin-compatible 64-bit x86 and ARM SoCs in an effort it's calling "Project SkyBridge", and that it has licensed the ARMv8 architecture and will design its own home-grown ARM-based processors."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
- The Upcoming Windows 8.1 Apocalypse @ Slashdot
- Bill Gates: Sell off Bing? Nah. Xbox? Maybe… @ The Register
- Lenovo outs first consumer Chromebooks including Yoga-like N20p model @ The Inquirer
- Projects and Products for Maker Moms: 10 to Build and 10 to Buy @ MAKE:Blog
AMD sure likes using colorful
AMD sure likes using colorful circles to describe “innovation” maybe they think since they suckered so many with mantle they will use same formula to describe more irrelevant AMD tech.
Someone should tell AMD that pulling a set of keys out of pocket and jingle it around would probably be just as effect in getting their fan base attention …
These pin compatible custom
These pin compatible custom ARM, and x86 parts will be in more embedded and server products, where not having to replace the expensive mulitsocket motherboard if the user wants to switch to and from Arm and x86 for different server loads will save money. SeaMicro’s(AMD) Freedom Fabric technology will connect these x86 and Arm SKUs.
AMD is going to also rework their x86 microarchitecture to better compete with Intel’s single threaded lead, and with GlobalFoundries getting access to Samusng’s(with help from IBM) better 14nm fab process things may be looking up. The real money is in the server market, and mobile, with profits from these markets subsidizing the gaming SKUs if AMD can begin to show a steady profit.
With Intel in control of the highend x86 market, expect x86 high end CPU prices to remain high. AMD is competiting very well in the GPU market, so its just a matter of stay alive for AMD and continue to produce new APU and CPU designs. As long as the PC market continues to shrink and the tablet market begins to saturate with product, there will be less money for new product development.
Intel’s has got a bigger problem than AMD an ARM only in the low end mobile market. Intel will have more competition for the high performence server market now that IBM is going to be licensing out its Power8/Power line of high power server CPU designs(the power IP/ISA is not to be confused with powerPC). With IBM planing on getting out of the fab Business(except its research Fabs) it has been partenering with Samsung and GlobalFoundries in order to secure a supply of power based parts for IBM’s power based CPU parts, as well as offering an ARM holdings type of IP access to the power IP/ISA. Nvidia has been partnering with IBM on GPU accelerator integration into the Power8/power product line, and if Nvidia could get access/license to the power microarchitecture they could make a super “Denver” SOC SKU. AMD better be looking to add Power8 to Its SeaMicro line of server products, along with the Xeon(SeaMicro uses Intel server chips too), and AMD’s own Opteron(Arm and x86) line of server SKUs.