AMD reveals Piledriver details to developers

X-bit Labs noticed AMD has released a document that describes Piledriver architecture details to software developers:

Advanced Micro Devices has released a document that is supposed to assist software developers to optimize their programs for AMD�s microprocessors based on Bulldozer micro-architecture and forthcoming chips. Among other things, AMD describes peculiarities of Piledriver micro-architecture as well as chips on its base, including Trinity, Vishera, Terramar and Sepang. The document also mentions Steamroller and Excavator micro-architectures

AMD has a rather strong and clear roadmap for the period of the following three years with the aim to increase performance-per-watt of its high-performance cores by approximately 10% - 15% every year. In practice, this transforms into 33% - 52% speed boost of Excavator micro-architecture compared to Bulldozer. Technologically, AMD wants to improve IPC (instructions per clock) performance and reduce power consumption at the same time, which transforms into higher clock-speeds.

AMD reveals Piledriver details to developers - More news at DV Hardware

AMD Piledriver just 10 percent faster than Bulldozer?

A leaked slide claimed to originate from AMD claims Bulldozer will be succeeded by Piledriver. Dubbed FX Next, this next-gen chip is claimed to offer a 10 percent increase in x86 performance compared to Bulldozer.

What's new in Piledriver? According to the slide, a 10% increase in x86 performance. Version 3.0 of Turbo Core is also on the menu, as are a couple of new instructions. FX Next will reportedly use the same AM3+ socket as the first wave of Bulldozer CPUs, so you should be able to pop it into existing motherboards.

The AMD slide suggests that FX Next will use the same 9-series chipsets that have been around since May. Those chipsets are actually just rebranded versions of AMD's old 8-series gear, which has been gracing motherboards for a year and a half now. That means no native USB 3.0 support and a slower 6Gbps SATA controller than competing Intel platforms. The 990FX does offer gobs of PCI Express 2.0 connectivity, but that's gonna look dated if PCIe 3.0 hardware starts popping up next year.

Source: TechReport

AMD Piledriver just 10 percent faster than Bulldozer? - More news at DV Hardware