AMD goes to Shanghai, searching for Dragons!

Tony Austin
Monday, 17 November 2008 10:12

Opinion and Analysis

"Fiorano," the first AMD platform to combine AMD server processors and chipsets, is on schedule for mid-2009 introduction based on the planned release of the AMD SR5690 chipset.

Fiorano is expected to support  Shanghai and the upcoming six-core "Istanbul" processor in later in 2009, and significant improvements in I/O and virtualization performance, power efficiency, RAS, and manageability are expected.

Then there's AMD's next-generation server platform, "Maranello," which remains on track for introduction in the first half of 2010. This is a DDR3-based server platform which is expected to offer a new socket infrastructure to support upcoming 8-core "Sao-Paulo" and 12-core "Magny-Cours" processors.

However, as reported by Tom's Hardware, "instead of unveiling a processor that could stand up against Intel’s power miserly Atom, which is at the heart of every netbook worth mentioning, AMD turned its attention to the slightly more upscale ultraportable market."

"AMD introduced two new ultraportable notebook platforms, Congo and Yukon. AMD materials describe Congo as based upon the dual-core Conesus CPU with the RS780M and SB710 chipset; and Yukon is based upon a single-core CPU with the RS690E and SB600 chipset."

"Both platforms aim to provide more capability and power to users who are dissatisfied with the limited experience offered by mini-notebooks.”

Well that was a tour de force of product codenames and release dates, wasn't it!

Here are some timeline charts provided by AMD at the financial analysts day that should make it all simpler to follow. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger image (in another window).

Server roadmap

Balanced client platforms

Client roadmap

 
The big question is, will AMD be able to stick to their demanding product rollout schedule, without any embarrassing or even disastrous setbacks, will the products all perform as claimed, and what will Intel be releasing over the same period?

One thing's for sure, no matter who leapfrogs whom in the processor stakes... We'll always be keen to install more powerful, demanding applications. The race to be faster and cheaper and use less power will never end, to our great benefit. Competition like this is good for us all.