Today?s launch of the Athlon 64 FX-55 and 4000+ processor models 13 months after AMD?s initial deployment of these designs is, on the one hand, a triumphant vindication for the Athlon 64 product line.  AMD today is back in the black for three quarters running, is in the process of completing its 90nm transition, and has slowly but steadily transitioned the Athlon 64 core from an ultra-high end part to a volume-oriented microprocessor.  Currently, the Socket 754 Athlon 64 2800+ sells for $131 OEM at Monarch Computer while in-stock 90nm 3200+?s are $215.  That?s a far cry from at launch, when the Socket 754 3200+ chip was selling for $400, and the 2.2 GHz FX-51 was around $800.  Well, at least one part dropped.

 
The Athlon 64 die for both the 4000+ and FX-55 parts.

Today we?ll be reviewing the FX-55 and Athlon 64 4000+ parts from AMD, examining performance, and discussing the future of Sunnyvale?s flagship product line. 

Athlon 64 FX-55:  At the Edge of Possibility.

When AMD launched the Athlon 64 series 13 months ago it was an accepted fact that the CPU wouldn?t gain substantial headroom until Sunnyvale completed its shift to a 90nm process.  Back then, however, it was expected that 90nm would be a foregone conclusion by the time new high-end parts launched in the fall, and AMD internal roadmaps we saw from June of 2003 predicted a 90nm 2.4 GHz part shipping by now, not a .13 micron chip. 

As we?ve discussed here and here, however, the industry-wide transition to 90nm has been marked by problems, delays, and cancellations, and AMD is no exception to this rule.  As a result, rather than attempt to push a 90nm 2.6 GHz CPU out the door, Sunnyvale has elected to use their aging 130nm process to attempt the same feat.  Since the FX series is so high-end, yields are less of an issue at this price point, but there are obvious factors that point to where this chip is breaking the mold AMD set for it.   The chart below gives details:

As the chart makes clear, AMD is stretching their own technology (and raising their guidelines in the process) in order to push the technology harder.  The situation may actually look worse on paper than in real life however; AMD?s max thermal power has always simply been the most power the CPU could theoretically use, and hasn?t accurately reflected real-world scenarios.  All of the Opteron CPU?s, for example, from the 140 to the 150, use the same Tmax. 

Other than these changes to the core, the FX-55 remains a standard .13 micron Athlon 64 part.  Athlon 64 4000+, however, is another story.

next >

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• Athlon 64 4000+ (1 of 8)
• AMD vs. Intel: Is Santa Clara on the Ropes? (2 of 8)
• Test Configuration (3 of 8)
• Synthetic Tests (4 of 8)
• Office Performance / Multimedia Encoding (5 of 8)
• 3D Modeling / Rendering. (6 of 8)
• Gaming (7 of 8)
• Conclusion: Athlon 64 FX-55 King of the x86 Hill: But Who Can Afford? (8 of 8)