I reckon that performance parts will be an Intel speciality, and low power mainstream parts will be an AMD thing.

I say this because I just read an article on Hexus about the up and coming Barcelona quad-core that is soon to invade the server chip space, that says how AMD is really targeting the mainstream with their processors (1.9GHz with 68W TDP)

Just look at AMD's graphics cards as well, they just get eaten for breakfast by the 8800GTX and Ultras, some/most times the GTS cards too.

I do think AMD have slipped a bit.

However, you point out their new server chip. If it's anything like the Opterons it will become a modder's dream, cos they are phenomenal overclockers (I think you could get the cheapest chip and OC it to better than the top chip with standard cooling).

2.9 on air, was some of the OC's i read about. 2.7 appeared to be the lowest. I read about one machine on liquid, being 3.1Gig. Scan shipped a few.

Yeah, that was pretty insane, considering they started out around 1.4GHz or something similar, it was double the speed.

Hopefully this link is appropriate! Apologies if not.

http://www.custompc.co.uk/reviews/85364 ... 44_oc.html.

The codename for this particular chip on the AMD site, i think is the 1210. Whichever derivative it is, the 144 outstripped my Toledo 3800 X2. At one point i thought about buying one of the Opterons. I'm pretty certain that this chip was on Socket 939.

Heh, CPC is where I heard about the awesome Opterons, lol.

With that OC that opteron beats my 2.475GHz 4400+, though I haven't got round to properly pushing the chip yet, I want a new case and cooler first.

Freezer 64 or a Scythe Ninja. Rev B the latest. The F64 is still up there, cheaper too. AMD have got to get 45NM process out soon i think. Reading about Intel doing this



One step ahead all the time.. Or for the monent

Yeah, I've heard good things about those. Looking at the Zalman CPNS9500s because I'm looking at a moderately small case and they provide nice cooling potential for their height. Nothing really thought about deeply yet.

The use of new techniques and materials is what I always like to see - push it further!

I like to see progress one being my imagination. I tend to see games being like watching a Dvd movie. Anyway i am convinced that AMD's acquisition of ATI is not because of Intel linking with Nvidia, but because they want to create and release a Console.

Either two Phenoms will be dropped in, or they will use an OctCore, that is Eight? Linked with a Pc, have your party's. Sorry gone off on a tangent there. Anyway i think the techniques and skills that AMD Engineers will derive from ATI's, to me i think that is part of there roadmap.
The only way AMD can catch up like for like with Intel on Cpu technology, is for the next Gen Architecture to utterly kill Intel's QuadCores,X38 etc. I don't see them catching Nvidia any time soon either.

Hmm, from all the official press release stuff AMD stated that they acquired ATi to further the progress of bot CPUs and GPUs by combining knowledge of both to create better architecture. It's an interesting idea, and could yeild results, but it's more long term than short term.

As for nVidia and Intel, nVidia tried to broaden by moving to nForce with Intel, AMD's buyout wasn't because of that. If they could, they would have bought nVidia, probably, but nVidia is a lot bigger and more powerful than ATi. AMD and nVidia still have strong ties, I think.

As for AMD's next step, they've got 4x4, which is 2 dual cores on one board, I think, and they have said their quad core compatible with it, so 8 cores on one board. They need to bring out something new and cleaver to win, though. They were in the lead because of Athlon 64s having better architecture and then the best dual cores, but Intel soon saw to that.

They're calling that project "Fusion" now.

Yes, indeed, I look forward to the results, could be something pretty kickass.

Yeah AMD have to tread carefully with Nvidia concerning the N-Force Chipsets. But that i presume will change at some point.

Well it wouldn't be in either companies interests to fall out. nVidia make (arguably) the best mobo chips (certainly as far as AMD is concerned) and AMD produces some good chips, and they generate a lot of trade for each other with their partnership.

I think things are going to balance out a bit in mobo chipset land. Nvidia are typically very tight when it comes to opening up their technologies on other boards. They want the chip on board or nothing at all.

True, the Intel chipsets are pretty decent now, still haven't heard much about good AMD nForce alternatives.

Look up RD790. RD790 is roughly the same, or better than the NF680 chipset.

Really? That will be new, in the past the ATi chips sucked in comparison.

Got this as well - AMD 790FX chipset. Presuming that this is AMD's answer to X38. Anyway, if that was the case, where would that leave nVidia?? Go to Macs?

Nvidia have 780i in the meanwhile, but to be honest it sucks [a lot of power]. And just seems like a faster 680i.. hardly worth the upgrade.

Well it might not be worth the upgrade, but for a new comp it's probably a solid chipset.

I'm getting the impression that a lot of work is still to be done to it, and the spec is still under development. Sorry that I'm so rubbish at citing sources. Here's one: my brain.

So the 780i isn't released yet? If that's the case it's probably got a lot of improvements to go through, first.

Last paragraph of this following item. OC potential somewhere.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/09 ... 0_details/

Well that really is sounding good. I hope AMD can pull it back with this!