AMD Set to Launch New Chips After April ’06
 

Advanced Micro Devices is reported to unveil its central processing units (CPUs) in the second quarter of the year 2006, after April, claims a new research note from DRAMeXchange, an analyst firm. But according to the report, the ramp of DDR2-supporting chips will be quick as the chipmaker plans to release DDR2 supporting chips for different market segments, including desktops and laptops at approximately the same timeframe.

The research note claims that AMD will only commercially launch its DDR2-supporting CPUs after April 2006 and the share of its DDR2-supported microprocessors will be 25% of all desktop and mobile CPU shipments in Q2 2005. Since AMD should ship a large proportion of its DDR2-supported CPUs to PC OEMs, limited positive impact should be posed on DDR2 demand at spot market, suggests the note.

AMD desktop and mobile processors that have built-in DDR2 SDRAM controller for mobile and desktop computers will require new infrastructure, namely sockets and mainboards. The majority of processors AMD produces are desktop processors, so, 25% share mainly consists of desktop components, which should mean that the chips will be relatively affordable, if the report is correct. According to AMD, it will launch DDR2-supporting processors, including high-end AMD Athlon 64 FX and entry-level AMD Sempron chips, for different market segments in the next 12 months.

Earlier AMD transited to new infrastructures at much slower pace. For instance, sources familiar with AMD’s plans estimated that there were going to be only a little bit more than 50 thousand of 939-pin AMD Athlon 64 and AMD Athlon 64 FX processors available in the second quarter of 2004, amid 700 thousand of units in PGA754 packaging shipping during the same quarter.

For desktop and uni-processor workstations AMD supposedly readies the so-called Socket M2, which will have 940-pins, but will not be compatible with existing Socket 940 infrastructure. DigiTimes web-site claims that the Socket M2 will be used for AMD Sempron, AMD Athlon 64, AMD Athlon 64 FX and AMD Opteron 100-series processors and will substitute existing Socket 754, Socket 939 and Socket 940 desktop and workstation infrastructure. For AMD Opteron processors for 2P and MP servers AMD reportedly prepares a 1207-pin Socket F that will be utilized instead of Socket 940. For mobile computers AMD is expected to offer Socket S1 with 638-pins, which will replace existing Socket 754 for laptops.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/dis...214062233.html