Replies to post #12628 on Intel Corp (INTC)

[wbmw]

Semi, Re: The third item is new, and at first glance rather odd. Why would AMD list within the product line of a single socket the same speed grade twice?

It's not a typo; the 4000+ that is supposed to come out in Q2 '05 has a dash in front of the 4000+, as does the 4200+ promised in Q3 '05.

The only explanation I can come up with is that the 4000+ that will be introduced at the end of the year will be a 130nm processor, while the 4000+ that will be introduced six months after that will be a 90nm processor.

I don't like this logic. It seems possible that the 4000+ product coming out in Q4 is 90nm, and the one coming out in Q2 2005 is dual core. Keep in mind that AMD has already taped out dual core chips. Based on first silicon, they may be optimistic on pulling in the launch date on dual core products (was mid-2005, which suggests Q2 or Q3, but a solid Q2 is slightly more optimistic).

I would be very surprised if AMD completely drops the ball on 90nm. They are nearly half a year later than Intel as it is, and Intel was late with a relatively complex process (130nm base + strained si + lowK + comms integration + process shrink). I find it hard to believe that AMD could be more than a year later with a relatively simpler process (130nm SOI black diamond base + process shrink).