Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[blauboad]

If the frequency ramp is going along as well as it should be, 256k cache models could replace the 3000+ and 3200+ models, freeing up the 1meg models for Opteron and top-model Athlon. Not sure what they would do with the inevitable sub-3000+ 256k cache chips, though... except maybe sandbag for the upcoming socket 754 Duron/XP line. They would have to be confident in their process. The die size savings might make it viable to dump the old XP cores altogether in that case, which I think is the plan.

Are you saying that lower cache is less of a performance hit on FX than single channel?

And I'm not sure whether the 3.2Ghz P4 is absolute standard that AMD has to measure themselves against. I see no reason for them not to release chips that are slower--they will have a market. Getting AMD64 in as many boxes as possible while raising ASPs ought to be AMD's goal for 2004, not biting their nails about P4 3.2g.

As far as manufacturing numbers, didn't some additional capacity come online, or is scheduled to come on-line at Dresden? I recall reading about an add-on the fab there. Might help to understand the numbers, or not.