Replies to post #16939 on Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[sgolds]

chr p, me too! I asked that question in more detail here -

http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=1710270

So far, no answers (or speculations) posted. I just don't understand the entire 2005 lineup - why must AMD revise every processor just ahead of their expected K9 and 65nm/300mm rollout? Obviously, AMD knows they need to make the changes. Why a revised K8 on 90nm?

There may be a simple answer to this. Perhaps they need to try out certain ideas ahead of 65nm, or to perfect certain techniques for K9, or both. Maybe they know they will need certain changes for the anticipated speed requirements.

The whole thing seems strange.

[UpNDown]

chr p, on interim K8 chips for 2005

I'm just confused. Why's the next improvement of this product line planned for 2H05?

My take on this is that they will not be making any significant design changes when first going to 90 nm for K8, it will be just a shrink. These will be the first 90 nm K8 chips, for 2004.

But the K8 must have had a design freeze several years ago. With a lot of experience gained on working systems over the last year, they should be able to redesign some parts to yield significant improvements in IPC, cache coherency, possibly different memory controllers and the like. These would be the 2005 K8s -- working process (90 nm) but changed design.

K9 is to be introduced in 2005 as well and will probably start on 90 nm. And dual-core AMD64 (K8 or K9, who knows?) are also due to show up eventually -- I think they gave a year, but I forget what it was.

At this point, AMD is confident in the persuasiveness of their architecture, so they don't want to risk too much change at one time, fearing a manufacturing stumble. They see their primary risk factor as being able to produce the volumes the market will clamour for.