I've noticed a lot of ppl are freaking out for AMD...but in my opinion, the up and coming Altair FX (K8L) should be up to match Conroe. And according to articles I've real, Altair FX will run on a 4x4 setup via a HyperTransport 3.0 bus by Q3 2007. So, 8-core 65nm K8L setups VS 4-core 45nm Conroe setups...I think AMD looks alright. However, 4x4 will most likely be for those with fat wallets only...

Here's some K8L articles from the Inquirer (yeah, I know, but they've been right b4 hehe):

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36003

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36004

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36017

I really don't think that AMD has been lazy for these past several years, I think the more truthful answer is that they simply do not have the engineering and monetary resources that Intel has. AMD had some very aggressive concepts that all came together at the right time in the K8, and it just so happened that Intel was at the bottom of their slide. Intel has invested a lot of money in the Core design, as well as their process tech, and we can see the results of that with the C2D (and surrounding architecture).

It has only been recently that AMD has opened up new design teams to work on future products, plus they are still trying to expand as fast as possible with their Fabs, but they do not have the warchest of money that Intel has to be as aggressive as its competitor in these areas. So, that AMD has lasted as long as it has is a testament to some good business decisions made by the people in charge and on down the line. But nobody is able to pull of miracle after miracle in this business, and Intel simply has too many smart folks, too much money, and finally are stepping up to the plate and showing what potential they have.

It will be interesting to see how fast Intel will transition to 45 nm. Its a pretty hefty jump still, but if they are willing to spend the money and man-hours to get it ramped up, it really will put the hurt on AMD. Rev. H better be damn good if AMD wants to keep up!

Disclaimer: Slightly Off Topic

Maybe it's just me haven't really had any cofee today, I mean nothing wrong with progress of course, especially if it means lower cost and higher perf, but I'm still using my AXP 130nm -with a 6800GS- at home and it's more than enough for anything I do including playing the latest blockbusters..

If you have a moment can you honestly tell me how often and why do you upgrade your hardware guys?

Especially the CPU because I mean I can understand the need of a new GPU for new effects, sluggish frame rate, etc but unless you're raytracing or encoding video why would you need a 3Ghz A64/X2/Core2/... for?

AMD will make it. Just wait and see. :)

You have to remember Core tech is just a stop gap (yet a very good one). Intel had a dirty duck in the P4 so they took the P-M and put it on the desk top. Just like the P4 the core tech (P-M) will only go so far since it was intended to be a laptop chip. What I am wondering is what AMD & Intel have going for the next round (3 - 4 years from now) of chips. Since the issues now are power and doing more with less.

Should have been a reply to Mysty....

Ok I got bored by the usual AMD v Intel nonsense but I read all the replies anyway. On a totally different note, is there any indication of the compatibility of 45nm CPUs with current C2D chipsets? I remember Intel is planning on introducing new 'bearlake' chipsets in Q307 as well which normally wouldn't be a good sign for the compatiblity but at the same the 45nm chips aren't a new architecture just a shrink with possible tweaks. So...anyone?

The core is 5 months in a successful transition for Intel. Let's see where we are three years from now.

It wasn't that AMD lost to Intel, it's that AMD pounded intel and caused significant market share loss for them, and it took Intel so long to respond.

AMD isn't as far behind now as Intel was from 2002-2006.

Where is Hello Kitty? I miss him.

What was AMD doing in the time when Intel was down on its head?

They are goners and its their own fault.

I can very easily use 10 USB ports.

Edit: oops, replied out of thread. I need to post more often.

Maybe AMD should just skip 45nm and go directly to 32nm. :)

17#
But honestly who will require 10 USB2 ports?
Hmm...well let me see....
I have connected on USB:
1.Saitek Evo joystick
2.Logitech web cam
3.Logitech G7 dock station
4.Cyber Sniper game pad
5.USB key (not always)
6.E-Dimensional headset

Doesnt look like 10 would be out of the ordinary...in fact it would be convenient for some.

k8L would rule FTW.. ;)

It is still to premature to say whatever 45nm is going to much better then 65nm.

I still remember all the PR hype that Intel place with Prescott and fanboys said that 65nm is going make the P4 go like 5Ghz+ and own the K8 by brute force.

We know how that went.

Intel is getting to be playing it safe for this time around. 45nm will first be use to shrink down the existing C2D design as a beta test. Intel will then adept to their next generation design a.k.a Nehalem.

The more memory in my Eventual Quad Core, the better.

If i was AMD i would be worried right now. Hopefully K8L will give C2D some good compeition. Intel is on fire.

6MB for dualcores, 12MB for quadcores. And the quadcores will be singledie chips. All L1 caches linked etc.

Anyway, besides the speed thats always nice. I just hope this will lower the power consumption even more. I know 54W TDP for dualcore (4Ghz is too high I think). I hope quadcores gets down to around that.

But im looking more forward to Core 3 in 2008.

Intel's move to 45 nm is going to pose a much greater challenge to AMD than when Intel moved to 65 nm. Why? Because when Intel moved to 65 nm, they were still stuck on Netburst -- the process shrink merely helped to offset the deficiencies of their architecture relative to the K8. Now Intel has an architecture that is superior to the K8. Add to that a process shrink and look out.

Quad core Conroe at 4.0Ghz *DROOL*