Quad-core Press Briefing First Quarter Update AMD Worldwide Server/Workstation Marketing C O N F I D E N T I A L
Outstanding Dual-core Performance Toady Average of scores places AMD ahead by 2% Average of scores places AMD ahead by 14% Processor Frequency Cache Processor Frequency Cache AMD Opteron Processor 2220 2.8GHz 2 MB AMD Opteron Processor 8220 2.8GHz 2 MB Xeon 5160 3GHz 4 MB Xeon 7140 3.4GHz 16 MB Performance depends on the resource requirements of individual benchmarks overall we are ahead by 2-14% based on the average score 2 Q1 2007 Published benchmarks as of 22/03/07
Quad-Core AMD Opteron Processor Performance Projections Estimated 42% gain over Xeon 5355 Estimated 9% gain over Xeon 5355 Native quad-core design and enhanced processor features translates into superior performance across floating point and database applications 3 Q1 2007
AMD Quad-Core Processor Architecture A Closer Look at Barcelona Comprehensive Upgrades for SSE128 Can quadruple floating-point capabilities New Highly Efficient Cache Structure with Shared L3 Cache Balance of dedicated and shared cache for optimum quad-core performance Virtualization Enhancements New Nested Paging feature designed for near native performance on virtualization applications Advanced Power Management Provides granular power management resulting in improved power efficiency CPU Core Enhancements To benefit applications by improving overall efficiency and performance of cores DRAM Controller Enhancements To improve overall memory performance with native quad-core processing 4 Q1 2007
Native Quad-Core Benefit: Faster Data Sharing Situation: Core 1 needs data in Core 3 cache How Does it Get There? Native Quad-Core AMD Opteron Quad-Core Clovertown Core 1 L2 Core 2 Core 3 Core 4 100011 L2 L2 L2 L3 Core 1 Core 2 Core 3 Core 4 100011 L2 L2 Front-Side Bus Front-Side Bus System Request Queue Crossbar Hyper Transport Memory Controller Memory Controller Northbridge 1. Core 1 probes Core 3 cache, data is copied directly back to Core 1 This happens at processor frequency Result: Improved Quad-Core Performance 1. Core 1 sends a request to the memory controller, which probes Core 3 cache 2. Core 3 sends data back to the memory controller, which forwards it to Core 1 This happens at front-side bus frequency Result: Reduced Quad-Core Performance 5 Q1 2007
Improving Processor Power Management with Enhanced AMD PowerNow! Technology GOOD Current AMD Opteron Dual-core processors GREAT Barcelona IDLE 75%MHz IDLE 35% MHz IDLE 75%MHz IDLE 35% CORE 0 CORE 1 MHz CORE 0 CORE 1 IDLE 10%MHz IDLE 1% CORE 2 CORE 3 MHz MHz and voltage is locked to highest utilized core s p-state MHz is independently adjusted separately per core. Voltage is locked to highest utilized core s p-state Native Quad-Core technology enables enhanced power management across all four cores 6 Q1 2007
Reducing power through logic design Increased the amount of clock gating in the design Automatically shuts down areas of logic when not in use to further reduce processor power consumption Increased Coarse Gaters shuts down entire block of logic at a time Increased Fine Gaters Shuts down pieces of logic when appropriate Reducing power consumption is high priority in AMD processor designs 7 Q1 2007 Example only: does not reflect actual areas of clock gating
AMD Virtualization Enhancements: Nested Paging Enabling More Efficient Memory Switching Dual Core Quad Core Application Virtual Machine Shadow s Application Virtual Machine Application Virtual Machine Nested s Hypervisor Application Virtual Machine Hypervisor Host Host Guest OS Guest OS Host Requires more software intervention from the hypervisor Memory look ups done in hardware which can be faster than software management Direct Connect Architecture with AMD s s integrated memory controller are designed for significant virtualization advantages 8 Q1 2007
AMD Opteron Platform Longevity Helping drive more efficiency/stability for your business DDR2 support Quad-Core (Barcelona) Quad-Core Enhancements (Shanghai) AMD Opteron Processor Dual-Core AMD Opteron Processor 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Socket 939/940 -Introduced in April 2003 -Continued support through 2007 Socket AM2/F (1207) -Introduced in 2006 -Continued support into 2009 9 Q1 2007
Quad-Core Upgradeability Customers with existing Rev F (socket 1207) systems should be able to upgrade to quad core Socket F(1207) systemboard (must adhere to AMD design guidelines) Updated BIOS with quad-core support Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors Existing thermal solution (heatsink/fans) + + + = AMD Opteron Quad-Core Platform 10 Q1 2007
Summary Barcelona delivers: Up to 40% performance improvement over the competition The same power/thermals as dual-core AMD Opteron processors Seamless upgrade from dualcore to quad-core Consistent platform and transitions 11 Q1 2007 Native Quad-core design The Smarter Choice!
Thank You! Trademark Attribution 2007 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved. AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Opteron, AMD Virtualization and AMD PowerNow! technology and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. HyperTransport is a licensed trademark of the HyperTransport Technology Consortium. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. 12 Q1 2007