RSSQuad-Core Chips: Intel 2, AMD 0
By Ed Oswald | Published April 9, 2007, 2:53 PM
Intel on Monday debuted its fastest Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core processor yet, further distancing itself from rival AMD. The 2.93GHz QX6800 will be produced using the company's 65-nm process and carry a pricetag of $1,199 USD.
The Santa Clara, Calif. chipmaker says the processor would be ideal for the next-generation of PC games, which are now beginning to take full advantage of what multicore and multithread processors offer. Intel has partnered with several game developers to assist them in rewriting code.
Some of the first games that will be able to take advantage of the new processor include Crytek's Crisis, Gas Powered Games' Supreme Commander, Flagship's Hellgate London, and Microsoft's Flight Simulator X with Service Pack 1 applied.
"The performance and technology leadership we are delivering with our enthusiast quad-core processor lineup is a direct result of the reliability provided by Intel's manufacturing and engineering strength," Intel's Digital home chief Eric Kim said in a statement.
Several media software developers such as Adobe, Cakewalk, DivX, and Sony Creative Software among others have also reworked their software to take advantage of multi-core systems. For example, the QX6800 chip is some 65 percent faster in video encoding than the equivalent dual-core chip, Intel said.
The QX6800 is not the first quad-core Extreme model from Intel - the first one was shipped back in November and ran at speeds of 2.66GHz. Meanwhile, AMD's quad-core processor, the Opteron "Barcelona", is not expected to be available until mid-year.
Don't get me wrong, I like AMD products, but I also like Intel's plan to control a big chunk of the market.
They have to be given props, money in and money out on research, means faster and better products out and more money in.
AMD is in trouble if their product launch is not HUGE.
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|When AMD came out with the dual-core, it didn't kill Intel. Intel coming out with a quad-core won't kill AMD.
At least when AMD comes out with a quad-core, it will be affordable.
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|I'm an amd fan (not to be confused with fanboy), but I do believe AMD is in some trouble. The fact that they havent been able to push a single desktop chip that can beat the Core 2 Duo 6600 in performance and price is proof. Worse yet, Intel in a few months will be slamming them with 4 more chips at even BELOW the price of the 6600. If AMD doesn't do something now, they'll genuinely be in some problems. Intel is poised right now to do some damage to AMD, I think they've had enough with sharing the market and losing out on tech leaps. We have to look at the fact that Intel is, and has always been in a position to strike at AMD. They have more fab plants and simply more tech working on their side.
Optimistic Prediction: AMD will create some kind of desktop competition very soon. Something within or under the price range of Intel, sliding AMD back into gamers hearts and pockets...
Pessimistic Prediction: AMD will lose out and wade into desktop obscurity, like IBM and SUN, only able to compete through server and console markets with minimal to no real offerings to desktop users.
I agree that Intel can't kill AMD, but as I said, they're in a position to neuter AMD's desktop market prowess.
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|Financially... AMD is in very big doo doo. When reality starts sinking in, equity firms and especially IBM start salivating over a bargain. It's time for Hector Ruiz and his buddies to be sacked and replaced with high IQ people.
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|Intel Rushing out lots of products:2
Amd takeing there time to make it right the first time........well you know lol
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|"Amd takeing there time to make it right the first time........well you know lol"
Yes, we know... it means AMD loses. Its never about who builds the better mousetrap (assuming AMD is in fact better, which is debatable). Its all about who sells the most mousetraps. Look at AMD's stock from February 2006 until now -- its a disaster, and they just announced lower-than-expected revenues and a restructuring plan yesterday.
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|The title of this article is misleading. Intel has more than 2 quad-core models.
Core 2 Extreme QX6800
Core 2 Extreme QX6700
Core 2 Quad Q6600
Xeon X5355
Xeon E5345
Xeon E5335
Xeon E5320
Xeon E5310
Xeon X3220
Xeon X3210
Xeon L5320
Xeon L5310
Intel 12(3 desktop, 9 server), AMD 0
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|Will we ever reach the processing power that the Krell achieved, or will we simply vanish because the Id takes over and destroys us all? Will we get off this planet alive?
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|By xmas, I'm sure they'll have a chip twice this fast in place ready to go. I can wait. If not, the price of this QX6800 will be down to $700 street by then at least. NewEgg.com is selling it for $975 today if you're rich.
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|g0dd@mn it, for me all the processors are good and sh!t, you are acting like little babies when they want a toy they dont have they cry, itz like the linux fans over microsoft and apple fans over microsoft and sh!t......... just dont behave like little kids man, im out
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|Wow, look who is telling everyone not to act like little kids.
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|no sh!t...he should take his own advice
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|Quad-Core Chips: Intel 2, AMD 0
That headline is very misleading, in my opinion. How do you figure Intel 2 and AMD 0? This is the exact same chip from last November, but with a higher clock speed. It's just 2.93GHz now and 2.66GHz back in November. Intel still does not have a native quad core chip. This is just two dual core chips "glued" together. That hardly qualifies as Intel 2, AMD 0. More like Intel 1.2, AMD 0.
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|Intel has a plan, that is from what I can see, is to release all improvments they make into the market.
Which makes since if you think about it, because computers will just get faster and better overall by doing so. Otherwise you have to drop prices on your current products because "3.0ghz" isn't fast anymore to people. In other words if they didn't release new products their current products would get "old" anyways and they would have to drop the price. In my eyes releasing new products while might this customer b**** and moan because he just recently bought a dual-core machine.
In the end Intel continues to advanced the computer market, and their products have a high quality to them, I welcome AMD to match Intel in the market.
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|Oh, like this is suppose to scare AMD?
Come on! Intel's up a creek without a paddle, even if they release a eight-core processor before AMD ever releases a quad-core one.
It's not Intel's products that are the issue, it's their business ethics. Since they insisted on using unfair business practices to stay ahead in the processor market, their fate has already been sealed.
The average, everyday consumers don't really know about AMD, because all they see advertised is Intel.
When you have billions in capital to work with, that's what you can do. You can advertise your products until you are blue in the face, it doesn't mean your products are superior to the products of another company, and it doesn't mean you're in the lead.
Besides that, who's really in the lead is IBM. That's why the Cell processor is being utilized in all kinds of super computers, and in the XBox 360, PS3, and the Wii.
Intel needs to wake up and stop acting like they are winning the processor war, because they have already been defeated.
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|"Besides that, who's really in the lead is IBM. That's why the Cell processor is being utilized in all kinds of super computers, and in the XBox 360, PS3, and the Wii."
IBM Chips are great, but I'm preatty sure that SUN chips are way past all of them.
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|Good lord man, what the hell are you talking about? What a disjointed string of thought there - because Intel is the most sucessful, has the best advertising and sell the most products then it has already lost the processor war?
Wow, Donald Trump, I think you've found your man! Give this guy a contract, quick!
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|Your divine logic is seriously flawed.
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|"When you have billions in capital to work with, that's what you can do. You can advertise your products until you are blue in the face, it doesn't mean your products are superior to the products of another company, and it doesn't mean you're in the lead."
Advertising, that's called good business. Even if Intel had the worst chips on the market they would still turn a profit because everyone knows the name. When was the last time anyone saw a AMD commercial? And yes Intel does have the lead. At the moment AMD doesn't have anything that even comes close to Intel's Quad-Core in fact even the Core 2 Duo is kicking AMD's A$$.
So yeah, AMD should be scared. They need to get off their lazy a$$es and do something. They just need new management. Maybe masters of B.S. like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates.
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|"So yeah, AMD should be scared. They need to get off their lazy a$$es and do something. They just need new management. Maybe masters of B.S. like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. "
I don't think AMD is really worried all that much. Both with the R600 videocards, and their quad-cores coming out soon.
AMD isn't sitting on anything... They're working like crazy, on both fronts, the CPU, and the videocard market. We'll just have to wait and see if it's worth the wait. If it's anything like the Athlon chips, or the first release of their dual-core CPUs, then it will be.
As I recall, Intel has leading the pack with their P4s, and AMD destroyed them with the Athlon. Same thing with the Xeons, and Itaniums chips... when AMD released the Opterons, they were leading the way for three years. It took three years for Intel to finaly catch up... it's been less then a year that Intel has been leading with their core 2s, so let's give AMD the same amount of time, shall we? =) Let's play fair.
I think both companies are working hard, and we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
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|For anybody to say AMD is not scared of Intel (especially with Intels current performance lead) is insanity. If AMD is not scared, of their direct competitor with many times more resources then them...then there is a problem and AMD is a big problem and AMD will be in for more trouble.
That's like saying a college student shouldn't be scared of a RIAA lawsuit...no matter how right the college kid thinks he is, all that RIAA money is sure to shake him up, just a little bit!
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|I don't think it's insanity.
Microsoft is how many times bigger then Apple, but yet Apple isn't scared of MS.
Avid is huge compared to a company like Steinberg, yet they aren't worried.
Korg Vs. Yamaha
there are tons of examples of smaller companies competing againts larger one. It just take a little bit more time for the smaller guys to get their products out because they don't have the cash flow. AMD is in that position right now.
A lot of these type of comments were made of AMD years ago, and they are still around, and still keeping Intel on their toes. We'll just have to wait and see if they do it again.
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|"Microsoft is how many times bigger then Apple, but yet Apple isn't scared of MS."
Of course Apple is not afraid of M$, Apple's in the music business and M$ is in the computer business:-) LOL
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|Heh.. =)
But MS is in the music business too... sort of, kinda... with, well.. a small market share... of sorts.
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|We tested the pre-release QX6800 Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core in our labs and it is a screamer! It outpaced the X6800 Core 2 Duo extreme by nearly 21%! It even ran faster than the AMD FX-70 on nearly every game bench. It hasnt even realized its full potential because most apps aren't quad threaded yet... They will be soon though. Although, at $1200 street, its not really viable for a casual computer budget....yet!
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|And therein lies the crux — how you use your computer. For most who use it for web and desktop apps, Core 2 Duo chips will make Vista a really good experience, especially when x64 apps arrive. But if you're a gamer or you do heavy video editing, you could grow with a Quad-Core chip probably for a few years.
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|Shame it's a bit more than 21% dearer. ;)
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|AMD Isn't sitting still, and are working as hard and fast as they can...
But AMD's big thing is that they don't want to release a product like Barcelona unless it's completly done, and ready to rock. I mean, theres no point in releasing a crappy product when it comes to something like a quad-core. AMD wants to do it right, so they will. I, for one, am whilling to wait for Bacelona.
I hope both companies keep presure on one another, keeps the quality of the products going up, and the prices stay competative.
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|You also have to look at it this way if AMD fades into obscurity the product will suffer because there will be no one challenging them to improve, so hopefully this makes amd work harder in bringing up something to rival them
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|Well it all depends on what AMD/ATI has up their sleeves. If I were them I wouldn't say anything about any new tech until the last moment in hope to knock Intel off their high horse.
Don't get me wrong Intel is good, but AMD did beat Intel for a while and I think they're going to make a comeback.
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|im still amazed that the size of the gates on those chips are smaller than most cells. at some point you have to wonder just how small they can get before they run out of tricks. then again, optical processors are starting to gain development momentum. maybe in 10 years it really wont matter what kind of cpu you have. every computer will be its own supercomputer. hella good for business / gamers. hella bad for those monkeys writing encryption algorithms
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|i for one would not count AMD out just yet,
history has shown, that AMD chips are usually more efficient, and normally less power hungry (which in turn lowers thermal heat),
AMD may be slow of the mark, but profits and key business decisions is what counts, and efficiency is the biggest key,
the amount of Research that goes into these CPU's is immense, and being the first one there is a lot more expensive, then being second, when it comes to development,
obviously AMD can't wait to long, but there is no guideline saying that AMD have to be there with Intel at the same time,
if AMD can keep producing CPU's that are normally more efficient then Intel's, then i don't mind the wait, and I'm sure it allows AMD to clear most of there back log of old CPU's aswell,
it's a bit like the company NOKIA, they make so many mobiles, so quickly, there R&D budget is massive, and Intel is the same, there pushing the Market to fast, and at some point, there gonna hit a very big brick wall, and customers by this point would already be used to there fast pace (turn around of pushing the envelope) which could cause a lot of PR problems,
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|i still think sooner or later they'll be out of "cute tricks" when it comes to manufacturing processes and they'll have to turn to optical tech or itanium style designs where they drop the old instruction sets in order to support newer faster leaner tech.
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|Bring on the quantum encryption? ;)
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|Profits and good business decisions seem to elude AMD at the moment. They are in trouble and if Barcelona is not a significant improvement over the Core 2 Duo chips, they will be in extreme trouble. Look at their financial results. The fire sale prices on the AM2 chips means that they are more interested in clearing inventory (and getting some revenue in) than in maintaining margins. This usually happens when a company is in a severe cash crunch and at the moment, AMD is bleeding heavily. For the sake of competition and the consumer let us hope that Barcelona is a significant improvement over C2D.
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