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X-Bit lab claim that the new AMD processor can compete successfully with Intel processors working at the same clock speed in a large number of applications and win the competition.

AMD promises to introduce its new quad-core processors with K10 micro-architecture in the end of August – beginning of September this year. The first processors on this new micro-architecture will be server Opteron chips based on a core codenamed Barcelona. Unfortunately, AMD engineers failed to hit mass production quantities with the current revision of high-frequency chips. Looks like the main obstacle on the way to higher working frequencies was the fact that four cores running at high speed consume much more power than the platform TDP actually allows. With every new revision and transition to finer production technologies the power consumption will keep lowering and the working frequencies will keep growing. So far, AMD has to immediately start selling processors in order to improve its financial situation, so the first one to start selling will be the quad-core server processor model working at 2.0GHz.

All the information on the new AMD processors hasn’t been released yet that is why we may still experience some surprises. However, we have enough knowledge to make the main conclusions about the new micro-architecture. Due to numerous core improvements new AMD processor promises to deliver a significant performance boost compared with the predecessor, especially in applications with intensive floating-point calculations. This CPU can compete successfully with Intel processors working at the same clock speed in a large number of applications and win the competition. New applications designed taking into account unique processor features, such as effective unaligned load and support of large 1GB pages, may also get an additional performance improvement.

However, the new CPU also has some weak spots compared with the Intel competitors. Here I have to point out caching and prefetch systems that may have a negative effect on performance in some applications. But the greatest issue in the fight for highest performance will most probably be the working frequency that is expected to be not high enough at first.

We would like to wish AMD to conquer new frequencies very soon and will continue keeping an eye on the competition between the two companies aimed at winning our, computer users’ hearts.

Source: xbit labs