[McG]

Advanced Micro Devices plans to dramatically expand the family of processors with more than two processing engines next year, when it ramps up production of chips using 45nm process technology. In fact, the company has no plans to develop more single-core processors for desktops. Apart from code-named Deneb and Deneb FX processors for high-end and premium class processors, AMD plans to release code-named Propus, Heka, Rana and Regor chips for mainstream and entry-level processors. All the chips are intended for AMD’s new socket AM3 platforms, therefore, have some advantages over predecessors in addition to 45nm process technology as well as micro-architectural improvements.

AMD’s Propus is a quad-core processor with dual-channel DDR2/DDR3 memory controller and without L3 cache, Heka is a triple-core chip with shared L3 cache and DDR2/DDR3 memory support, Rana is a triple-core central processing unit with DDR2/DDR3 memory controller without L3 cache, whereas Regor is a dual-core processor with 1MB L2 cache per core and DDR2/DDR3 support. It is noteworthy that AMD will continue to offer AM2+ microprocessors for entry-level market segment throughout 2009, however, based on previous transitions to new process technologies as well as infrastructure, it may be expected that by the end of 2009 the world’s second largest maker of x86 processors will hardly offer any single-core desktop chips.

More advanced triple-core and quad-core processors will allow AMD to increase its average selling prices (ASPs) and profit margins, therefore, it is crucial for Advanced Micro Devices to ramp up production of the new processor family made using 45nm silicon-on-insulator process technology as quickly as possible.

Izvor: X-Bit Labs