Three Kumas already on a price comparison site   Posted on 27/08/2008 at 15:10 by Nicolas - source: Hardware-Infos

	The Austrian price comparison site Geizhals has listed since Monday evening three Phenom X2s. In addition, in the detailed description we find the following information: Dual-Core "Kuma" • TDP: 45W • Fertigung: 65nm • Hypertransport: 1600MHz • Memory Controller: kA • Stepping: kA • MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4a, Enhanced 3DNow!, NX bit, AMD64, Cool'n'Quiet. In short, the Kuma which is based like the Phenom X4 and X3 on the « Star » core and was initially expected out in the third quarter of 2007 won’t be too much longer. In terms of performances, we shouldn’t expect miracles as our test of the Phenom 9600 (2.3 GHz) with two activated cores showed at the end of 2007. Now we will just have to wait and see for their prices...

Intel: 6 Small Form Factor Core 2 Duos   Posted on 25/08/2008 at 20:14 by Nicolas

	In addition to the Core 2 QX9300 and Q9100, Intel has recently launched six other mobile CPUs, the Core 2 Duo "S" (for small) in a size similar to those used in the MacBook Air. In BGA format, they only measure 22x22mm and are therefore 60% smaller than the classic Core 2 Duo Mobile. While Apple and Lenovo will be amongst the first to integrate them to their products, the arrival of a relatively large number of new models may result in a progressive standardization of this type of processor for large manufacturers on the high end.

Sempron 1GHz/8W starting in Oct   Posted on 25/08/2008 at 16:10 by Nicolas - source: WindowsForDevices

	AMD should soon launch new low power Semprons the "Bobcat". At least two models are expected out: the Sempron 200U (1GHz/TDP of 8W) and 210U (1.5 GHz/TDP of 15W). Note that while the first only has DDR2-400 support, the second supports DDR2-800 and in both cases with a maximum of 2 GB on a single DIMM or SODIMM slot. These processors should be found on the Ibase B885 motherboard shown above which will be available in large quantities starting in October. However, we do not yet know if they will be used in large volumes for Nettops (Eee PC clones) or if this is more of a "niche market". Combined with an M690E Northbridge (21mm x 21mm) itself aided by an SB600 (23mm x 23mm), it could be an interesting alternative to VIA’s Nano and Intel’s Atom whose low volumes apparently aren’t enough to satisfy demand. Now we will just have to wait and see for the prices...

Roadmap AMD: 12 cores in 2010   Posted on 22/08/2008 at 12:28 by Marc

	Hardspell has gotten its hands on the 2008-2009-2010 roadmap for the Opteron. As planned, we can expect the 45nm version of the Barcelona (named the Shanghai) at the end of the year. Like on the desktop, the L3 cache of this quad core CPU will go from 2 to 6 MB in addition to the innovations that already came with the Phenom such as HyperTransport 3 and DDR2-800. The next version, the six core Istanbul, is not expected before the second half of 2009. You may recall that Intel will also launch a six core processor at the end of 2008 on the same market called the Dunnington which is derived from Penryn architecture. This processor will function on current platforms. Otherwise, two new models still in 45nm are planned for 2010. The Magny-cours and Sao Paulo are respectively equipped with 12 and 6 cores and will use a new platform that will notably function with DDR3. Finally, we do not yet know if the Magny-cours will be composed of a single die or if it will be an assembly of two Sao Paulos.

IDF 2008: mobile quadcores   Posted on 20/08/2008 at 18:36 by Damien

	Intel has officially launched 2 new CPUs in San Francisco which are the company’s first mobile quadcores. These are the Core 2 Extreme QX9300 and Core 2 Quad Q9100 which are of course based on two Penryn dies and destined for the Centrino 2 (Montevina). The QX9300 is set at 2.53 GHz while the Q9100 is at 2.26 GHz. Both use a FSB 1066 and stick to a thermal envelope of 45 watts. These are of course destined to "desktop replacement" type laptops.