AMD Quad FX platform
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The AMD Quad FX platform is an AMD platform targeted at enthusiasts.
The platform allows users to plug two Socket F Athlon 64 FX or 2-way Opteron processors (CPUs) into a single motherboard for a total of four physical cores [1]. This is a type of dual processor setup, where two CPUs are installed on a motherboard to increase computing power. The major difference between the platform and past dual processor systems like Xeon (pre Intel 5000X/P chipset) is that each processor has its own dedicated memory stores. 4x4 has HyperTransport capability targeted toward consumer platforms. [2][3]
Programs and operating systems that can take advantage of four cores should see performance increases with the platform.
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[edit] Configuration
In each socket resides an AMD Athlon 64 FX CPU. Each socket is connected using AMD's Direct Connect Architecture (dubbed as "Dual Socket Direct Connect Architecture by AMD"), providing a dedicated channel between the CPU cores and from each CPU out to the system memory. Due to the nature of the Direct Connect architecture, each CPU can access the other's dedicated memory store.
A four-core system has been exhibited as a demo at AMD headquarters on July 25, 2006. AMD has claimed that the systems which consist of a pair of CPUs will cost below US$1000 altogether with a suitable motherboard. The motherboards strongly resemble dual-socket Opteron 22xx series motherboards as they share the same socket and one bank of memory DIMMs per CPU, but the motherboards of the platform have support for regular unbuffered DDR2 RAM while the Opteron setup requires registered memory. The platform also has support for multiple graphics cards.
[edit] Competition
The major competition of the platform is from Intel, which launched its Conroe desktop microprocessors in late July 2006 and its multi-chip module quad-core processor codenamed "Kentsfield" in November 2006 as the Core 2 Extreme QX6700. [4]
[edit] Reception
Initial reviews of the platform have been largely unfavourable. Reviewers have noted that the platform requires significantly more power than a Core 2 Extreme QX6700 system[5], with performance being generally inferior [6][7]. In some cases, performance was seen to be even lower than the dual-core FX-62, which was largely blamed on Windows XP having a substandard Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) implementation, resulting in higher memory latency[8]. It was theorized that Windows Vista would show better performance due to improved NUMA support, but a recent review have shown that there were no performance gain for using NUMA [9].
[edit] Availability
The platform was launched in November 2006. Three new processors, the FX-70, FX-72 and FX-74 are released simultaneously with clock speeds of 2.6 GHz, 2.8 GHz and 3.0 GHz respectively, with FX-76 clocked at speed of 3.2 GHz coming up 2007, but being cancelled for upcoming microarchitecture Agena FX processors replacing the 90 nm fabrication process line of Athlon 64 FX series processor [10].
[edit] Chipsets
[edit] NVIDIA
NVIDIA has introduced a chipset for the platform, dubbed as "nForce 680a", provides 4 PCI-Express slots of x16-x8-x16-x8 configuration, and support up to 12 SATA2 hard disks. [11]
ASUSteK will produce the first motherboard that will support two Socket F (dubbed as socket L1FX by NVIDIA) processors each with its own dedicated memory banks, dubbed as "ASUS L1N64-SLI WS" (instead of the L1N64-SLI Deluxe that NVIDIA announced[citation needed]), based on NVIDIA nForce 680a chipset.
Reports suggested that ASUStek is the sole motherboard manufacturer for the chipset and left other motherboard manufacturers out, some of which stated that they will produce motherboards based on Intel chipsets instead. [12]
Reports shows that the L1N64-SLI WS motherboard can support a pair of 2200 series CPU in the Opteron family, and can be reconigized as "nForce 570 SLI" chipset revision A1 instead of "nForce 680a" chipset. [13]
[edit] ATI Technologies
In October 2006, sites leaked ATI chipset updates that ATI will also introduce a chipset connecting two AMD processors and four PCI-Express graphic cards, dubbed as "RD790", which provides PCI Express slots of x8-x8-x8-x8 configuration, and will be available first half of 2007. [14]
Source also revealed that a revamped "RD580" chipset, which is due first half of 2007, will allow 2 CPUs and at most 3 Graphic Cards to run on the same board. [14]
[edit] System Builders
Since the platform launched in November, AMD has announced a list of System Builders, which have announced PC systems for the platform, those includes:
- Vigor Gaming
- IBuyPower
- CyberPower
- MainGear
- Velocity Micro [15]
American-based system builder, Alienware, a subsidiary of Dell Computers have announced that there will be a system using the platform once the product released. Alienware has dubbed the platform "AMD Quad FX technology" [16] [17]. However, as of today, none of the expected product lineup have been officially announced.
Another system builder, VoodooPC, subsidary of Hewlett Packard, has demostrated an Omen PC, supporting the platform in CES 2007. With a similar system featuring Dual CPU configuration dubbed as the Omen a:221 SIlent DCC workstation, equipping two Opteron 200 or 800 series CPU dated back to 2006, and the "OMEN AMD Quad FX SLI" system was announced later in the year.
Several system integrators have also announced special Quad FX themed platforms, most notably Vigor Gaming's Force Recon QX4 "Quadfather" system. The Quadfather rig sports a stylish Thermaltake Armor chassis with a green and black tweaked version of the iconic cover art from the movie The Godfather.
[edit] Future updates
Sometime during 2007, users should be able to use two, future quad-core AMD processors using the chipset, providing a total of eight physical cores, dubbed as "4x4+" and "4x4++" [18]. While backward compatible AMD quad-cores will also support an update to HyperTransport which will benefit more from a new chipset released at the same time.
[edit] References
- ^ ExtremeTech on 4x4
- ^ Ars Technica report on K8L and 4x4
- ^ Goodin, Dan (2006-11-15). AMD, Intel: Who's Zooming Who?. Wired Magazine.
- ^ DigiTimes report on Core 2 Extreme QX6700
- ^ Anandtech Quad FX review: Power consumption
- ^ Anandtech Quad FX review: Summary
- ^ Hexus Quad FX review: Summary
- ^ Anandtech Quad FX review: More Sockets, but Lower Performance?
- ^ TechReport article
- ^ FudZilla report
- ^ The Inquirer report on "nForce 680a"
- ^ ASUS is the sole 4x4 chipset motherboard maker report
- ^ DailyTech report
- ^ a b Chile Hardware report on ATI chipset update
- ^ TechReport report
- ^ Alienware Production Information Gallery
- ^ Alienware "AMD Quad FX technology" fact sheet
- ^ AMD Technology Analyst Day Presentation 2006 (Slide 32)
[edit] Media Discussions
- AMD Press Release
- Tech Report on AMD 4x4 platform: Dual-CPU kits for '4x4' to sell for under a grand
- Cnet report
- Hardware Secrets report
- A+E Interactive report
- ExtremeTech report
| Desktop sockets: Super Socket 7 • Slot A • Socket A • Socket 754 • Socket 939 • Socket 940 Socket AM2 • Socket F • Socket AM2+ • Socket AM3 Mobile sockets: Socket 563 • Socket S1 Server sockets: Socket A • Socket 940 • Socket F |
