AMD
plans to launch its third-generation Opteron platform in 2009 with the
Sandtiger octal-core processor. Beneath Sandtiger is AMD's M-SPACE modular
approach towards CPUs. M-SPACE allows AMD to mix and match CPU features for
specific tasks.
Sandtiger's eight cores consist of eight AMD Bulldozers. Bulldozer is the
name AMD has given to one of the CPU cores for its M-SPACE architecture. AMD
claims dramatic performance-per-watt improvements in HPC applications with
Bulldozer cores. Unlike Barcelona and Shanghai, which have evolved from AMD's K8
architecture,
Bulldozer is a completely new design developed from the ground
up. AMD installs eight Bulldozer CPU cores in Sandtiger with a memory
control. AMD optimizes the design for servers and raises the
performance-per-watt bar for single and multithreaded applications, according to
AMD.
In addition to Bulldozer, AMD has the Bobcat CPU core for Fusion processors
designed for mobile, ultra-mobile and consumer electronics applications. Bobcat
is also a completely new design and has greater power scaling capabilities.
Bobcat-based processor designs can consume as low as one watt of power. AMD has
not announced any details of Bobcat-powered Fusion processors yet. Expect AMD to
introduce Fusion designs based on Bulldozer and Bobcat beginning in 2009.
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