quad-core

Advanced Micro Devices said the long-delayed quad-core "Barcelona" Opteron processor is available in servers from computer vendors such as Hewlett-Packard.

Barcelona had been delayed repeatedly due to production glitches and bugs. AMD is now shipping a "B3" version that includes the bug fix in silicon.

"Customers can get the quad-core AMD Opteron processor today in systems from HP, as well as other system providers," the chipmaker said in a release Tuesday night. The HP ProLiant G5 servers are the first of many systems that are expected to be available in the coming weeks from … Read more

AMD's processor business has been in the dumps for well over a year. But a resumption of quad-core shipments and a reduction in its workforce, though painful, may signal a turnaround.

Before we get to the good news, let's first consider a draconian scenario for Advanced Micro Devices. As the chipmaker was announcing Monday that it would lay off 1,650 employees later this year, the stock was hovering just above $6, down from the mid-$20s a year ago and about $40 two years ago. If things do not improve, the company may split in two, according … Read more

AMD has lost the CPU benchmark war to Intel--for now. But there's another--possibly more important--fight brewing in GPUs. Here, AMD is in the thick of it.

First the bad news. The Phenom X4 processor reviews that followed the Thursday announcement made it clear that AMD will not catch Intel anytime soon. Though some reviews were couched in vaguely optimistic language such as "AMD is back in the game," the bottom-line benchmarks don't lie.

"This $235 CPU (X4 9850) comes in only $10 less than Intel's comparable quad-core chip, but with noticeably slower performance on … Read more

As had been expected, AMD on Wednesday announced updates to its Phenom processor line, including four new high-end quad-core chips it claims "can improve performance for gaming and multi-threaded applications," according to a company release. Among those new chips is the Phenom X4 9850, which CNET has already reviewed.

The chipmaker also announced that it is shipping its triple-core Phenom processors, a first for the PC market, as Brooke Crothers of CNET's Blogger Network details in a related blog post.

The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company further announced what it calls "the world's first energy-efficient desktop … Read more

AMD announced Thursday that it is shipping triple-core processors, a first for the PC market. AMD also updated the quad-core Phenom lineup and reaffirmed that quad-core Opteron chips for servers will be available later in the second quarter.

The AMD Phenom X3 8400 (2.1GHz) and 8600 (2.3GHZ) triple-core processors are the first processors that use three cores. This is expected to allow AMD to target price-performance points that two- and four-core processors can't easily match. "The value proposition is simple. Three cores versus two cores. You make the choice," said Pat Moorhead, VP of Advanced … Read more

Intel's Q series of mainstream 45-nanometer desktop quad-core processors are finally starting to trickle out. These chips were announced back in the beginning of January amid reports of delays.

The Q9550, Q9450, and Q9300 Core 2 Quad processors are now available in systems from PC suppliers such as Alienware and Velocity Micro. Retail availability is still limited, however. Resellers such as Buy.com and Computers4sure list the Q9550 and Q9450 as "sold out" or "out of stock."

"We are really seeing high demand on these parts, and we are filling orders as fast as … Read more

Dell is getting set to offer AMD's Phenom processors for the first time in systems, following Hewlett-Packard, giving the chipmaker a boost in its multi-core chip battle with Intel.

AMD is expected to make an announcement related to Phenom in the near future.

In the second quarter, Dell will offer both triple-core and quad-core Phenom processors in its OptiPlex 740 business system, the computer company said. This would be the first instance of Dell using AMD processors with more than two cores. Dell is also slated to use the quad-core "Barcelona" Opteron processor in servers in the … Read more

Intel will roll out its first wave of mainstream 45-nanometer "Montevina" Centrino 2 mobile processors by June then follow this up in September with additional chips including the first quad-core mobile processor.

Montevina--which Intel recently branded Centrino 2--will offer the option of integrated Wi-Fi and WiMax wireless technologies. The platform will also have a new Cantiga chipset with better integrated graphics, among other features.

Though some Montevina processor specifics are out there already, scheduling and other details have now been confirmed by sources close to Intel. In short, schedules posted on the site Vr-Zone, among other sites, … Read more

AMD's quad-core Barcelona chip for servers is ready to launch--really launch this time.

AMD is shipping the quad-core Barcelona Opteron to channel and distribution partners this week, according to an AMD representative on Thursday. System vendors such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard are readying systems for shipment in the second quarter.

(Correction: AMD is shipping samples of the Barcelona processor to channel and distribution partners not production versions of the chip.)

AMD is shipping the B3 version of the processor that fixes a TLB bug. Large vendors such as Dell, HP, and IBM have been waiting for this version of … Read more