Using the method of transverse comparison to see several major multi-core processors in the future

At the Taipei Computer Show, Intel unveiled 32nm processors, while AMD launched a truly core 12-processor product. So, we can see from AMD, the core of the CPU is still the current CPU technology development direction, according to my own estimate, may be 2010 years four cores of the CPU will be fully popularized.

12 core processors, who can estimate the full open program occupancy rate.

On Computex 2009, AMD actually showed the industry's first native 12-core processor code-named Magny-cours (Magny, F1-France circuit) operating system.

According to AMD, this code-named Magny-cours's Hao long processor using CPU native multi-core modular core architecture, so the development of a lot of difficulty, but also thanks to this, AMD can launch the product so quickly--planned in the first quarter of 2010.

In addition to having the first number of cores, this 12 core processor also has DCA 2.0 (second-generation direct-attached architecture), which means that the processor platform will have four channel memory, the HT bus from three to four, and the integration of second-generation virtualization Technology AMD-V 2.0 and second-generation energy-saving technology AMD-P 2.0.

This magny-cours Hao long processor will be officially named Opteron 6000 series, and its 12 core processor is actually two "Istanbul" encapsulated together to achieve. Unlike "Istanbul", this processor will enable the new Maranello (Maranello, Ferrari headquarters) platform, with socket G34 interface, compatible with the next generation of 16 core processors.

AMD plans to launch the 16 core successor Interlagos processor in 2011, which will be based on bulldozer (bulldozer) microarchitecture, using 32nm process manufacturing.

This week, Intel and AMD met in unison to talk about their Multi-Core server processor planning. At the same time, according to foreign media reports, IBM's dual-core POWER6 processor plans to launch this year to the mass market, and the company with Sony, Toshiba developed a second generation cell processor is also about to enter the sprint phase. Another message is that Sun's 16-core rock processor will be sent to Texas Instruments for the first test of silicon wafers. It is clear that multi-core processors will undoubtedly be the leader in the server area for the next two years, and we will look at several major multi-core processors in the future using a horizontal comparison approach.

Core frequency

At present, Intel has not given the exact frequency of Penryn, but according to Taiwan's motherboard manufacturers disclosed that Penryn will effectively upgrade the frequency limit to more than 3.0GHz, despite the current AMD 90nm process dual core Athlon FX, and Intel itself Pentium D Architecture has a small number of processor performance has reached 3.0GHz, but Intel mining 45nm process processor Overall performance better, therefore, we believe that 2007 3.0GHz above the dual core CPU products are expected to be released, officially into the 3GHz Double core showdown between the war.

AMD Barcelona Opteron is divided into 8200, 2200, 12,003 series, 8 for four or more roads, 2 for dual, 1 for single, core frequency from 1.9GHz to 2.6GHz.

The IBM dual core POWER6 processor will work at a frequency between 4-5ghz. But according to foreign media reports, test samples can run to 5.8GHz. For blades, the POWER6 processor works closer to 4GHz than 5GHz.

In addition, IBM in San Francisco IEEE International Solid State Circuit Conference (ISSCC) revealed that the second generation of cell processor core frequency will reach 6GHz.

The core frequency of the rock processor is not yet clear, but it is said that rock's performance can be 30 times times the equivalent of 1.2GHz UltraSparc III.

Energy

It is reported that 45nm Penryn Mobile power consumption 35W, desktop version of power 65W, server and EE version power 80W. AMD four core Opteron power consumption will have 68W, 95W and 125W three species, compared with the dual-core Opteron, and Quad FX is up to 250W. In fact, AMD Barcelona is less power-consuming than Intel's Clovertown because it can do 50W, 80W, and 120W.

IBM claims that the POWER6 chip consumes less than 100 watts and uses a "nap" low-power idle mode that allows the server's operating system to Power6 the processor's power with in idle state. Even when the operating system is busy, nap can reduce energy consumption by 10%. It is said that Power6 also allows customers to set the maximum server power consumption value. If the user sets the maximum value of 348W, the server will not consume more than 348 watts. Similarly, the second generation of cell processors will consume less than 100W.

Although the core frequency of the Sun's processor is not high, typically between 1GHz to 1.4GHz, but also because of this, so that these processors have very low energy consumption. For example, the first generation of Niagara Chips consumes only 70W at full speed. Sun has so far not mentioned the energy consumption of the rock processor, but in the light of Sun's usual style, although rock is 16 cores, the energy consumption should not be too outrageous.

Manufacturing process

Intel will release the Penryn dual core processor this year, the production process is 45nm, which is also the world's first 45nm processor using the process. This January, Intel announced the completion of a fully functional 152Mb SRAM chip development, marking it has mastered the 45nm technology. But in the complexity, the SRAM chip naturally can not be compared with the processor, so, 45nm technology can make Intel ride dust, but also to wait for the real 45nm chip Penryn out.

AMD is transitioning to the 65nm process, the first product is Barcelona Opteron. The product is the high hopes of AMD, concrete performance will become the key to AMD can turn over.

The POWER6 is made of 65 nanometer insulating silicon and 10 layer metal layer process. IBM's 65 nm process provides 0.65 micron SRAM units and 0.45 micron units to increase density. The storage array unit uses a lower voltage than the logical component to reduce power consumption.

The second generation of cell processors are also manufactured using the 65nm technology, which is also made from insulating silicon. In addition to the common-sense processor power supply circuit (VDD), the 65nm cell specifically designed a second power line (VCS) for SRAM processor L1, L2 cache cache to improve stability.

Sun's Rock processor is a successor to the Niagara, using a 65nm process. Niagara has a small fp-free core, while Rock will be entirely based on SPARC chips. Rock contains 16 SPARC cores, which will be available within 18 months.

Industry insiders predict that there will be four nuclear wrestling in the next two years, not just AMD and Intel, as IBM also plans to launch a four-core POWER6 processor. In fact, regardless of the single core, dual-core or multi-core, for users, but also should be purchased on demand, to avoid domestic information construction resources waste of chronic disease.