AMD Preps 2x256KB L2 Cache Athlon 64

[Kougar]

AMD: Ditching more cache for less, since 2006


DailyTech has managed to get a hold of an AMD engineering chip labeled "Athlon 64 X2 3600+ for AM2." According to CPU-Z, the processor is a 2.0GHz CPU, the same as the Athlon 64 Windsor 3800+. However, half of the L2 cache has been disabled effectively making this AMD's first dual-core processor with a total of 512KB of L2 cache.

AMD recently discontinued all of its 2x1MB L2 cache processors less than two weeks after the processors were announced. (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2858) This may be an indicator that low-bin Athlon 64 X2 processors will instead transition to 2x256KB cache configurations, instead of the 2x512KB parts that were previously the low-bin. However, since the CPU is only an engineering sample, it’s not easy to determine if AMD will even publically announce the CPU, or if it will simply become an OEM-only component for high quantity system builders like the original Socket 939 Semprons.

CPU-Z shows the Athlon 64 X2 3600+ to still sport the Windsor CPU core, the same CPU core that was used for the 2x1MB and is still used for the 2x512KB AM2 processors.

HKEPC has also come across the 3600+, claiming it will ship in Q4'06 (http://www.hkepc.com/bbs/news.php?tid=622263&starttime=0&endtime=0) for a price of $139 to $159. Given that AMD is expected to announce major CPU price cuts near the end of July, the $139 price tag fits in with the rest of AMD's pricing. (http://dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2800) Intel's lowest-bin Conroe, the 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo processor, is expected to ship with a price of around $183. (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2531) In contrast, the 3.0GHz Presler NetBurst processor is expected to hover around $133 at the same time HKEPC claims the X2 3600+ may ship.

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3099 (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3099)

[werty316]

With the AM2 just released AMD needs to push their CPUs as much as possible as to lessen the blow that Intel will bring come July 24. Its great AMD might have a more budget cost dualcore and if its a great overclock AMD might have a winner here.
As the article mentioned though I don't think it has a chance against Intel's lowest E6300 chip clocked at 1.86GHz especially if it the E6300 is good overclocking chip and it probably will be. I will always have faith in AMD.

[Kougar]

Well, it all comes down to how much the decreased cache hurts both Intel/AMD's bottom tier. It should be pretty interesting as I suspect it will hurt both chips fairly well, although I'm betting this AMD X2 3600+ will come out the worse for it, since it's no better than two Semprons joined at the hip.

At least in Intel's case either core of Conroe can fully utilize the entire cut-in-half L2 cache. AMD's current design can't do this, which is why it is no better than two Semprons spliced onto a single package.

Nice to see that they are trying though, unlike graphics cards I think the more CPU choices the better...

[werty316]

I completely agree with you. AMD is gonna try their best and they know they will face the wrath of the Core 2 Duo; since they are actually doing something like price cuts and the possibility of news chips, this will help more than if they did't do anything.

I added another source to your post:
In an attempt to compete against Intel's plan to offer dual-core processors at competitive prices, AMD will add the Socket-AM2 Athlon 64 X2 3600+, a 2GHz Athlon 64 X2 CPU that contains 512KB level-two (L2) cache, in the fourth quarter of 2006, with the new part to be priced in the US$139-160 range, according to sources at Taiwan motherboard makers.

Although it has the same core speed as the 3800+ series, the AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ features only 256KB per core in L2 cache, compared with 512KB L2 cache per core for the 3800+, according to the sources. The new Socket-AM2 Athlon 64 X2 3600 is intended to target the retail market, indicated the sources.
Source (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20060628A7034.html)