THG (P)reviews "Core 2 Quadro" - aka Kentsfield!

[SuperFly03]

-word

I am not a fan of marketing bs. 4x4 is some non-tech executives idea of a strategic decsion in order to "buy time" until they can get K8L out the door. The problem is AMD is like mom and pop trying to take on Wal-Mart. Intel has the resources to do it all inhouse and has some damn good people on their payroll (not to down play AMD).

Just look at the amount of work Intel does per processor and how quickly it moves processing techniques, AMD has a hard road ahead and always had. They will survive but I agree K8L better bring something good to the table. Also, C2Q is at least in testing stages and due in a month and 4x4 is what 2 months away? and K8L isn't due until 2H 2007?

Timing is everything.

Edit: I am cynical towards all marketing and bs stuff Intel and AMD alike, so don't think I am anti-AMD or pro-Intel, just enjoy cutting through BS .

 

[0zzy]

Its consuming so much power, how can this be good. It will produce so much heat that it will be like a furnace in the case.

I think it might be a good idea to wait for 4x4 and then compare the two. If they are both power hungry, then i would just get a conroe.

 

[SuperFly03]

Well i was writing out the math to say the same point then I looked at the last post below the submit button and low and behold you beat me to it....

In any case I don't really like dual CPU configurations because of the sheer real estate that is needed. 2 CPU sockets, 2 Heatsinks, 2 sets of memory (depending). It really seems like a whole lot of effort that could be better focused somewhere else imo.

Edit: --Jack

yeah there are a few people who really shouldn't be allowed to post on THG because it just pisses people off. We need more quality people who are more knowledgable then I. Wusy is overworked, but thats for another thread.

 

[0zzy]

Its consuming so much power, how can this be good. It will produce so much heat that it will be like a furnace in the case.

I think it might be a good idea to wait for 4x4 and then compare the two. If they are both power hungry, then i would just get a conroe.

Are you kidding --- it's less than the current P4's, and less than the FX-62. The TDP Tom's quoted is 130 Watts, but stated it drew much less than that under load. Overall, for an enthusiast level part no big deal.... why, because most enthusiast are less concerned about power dissipation and more concerned about raw computing power in general.

For AMD to match this they will definitely need their 65 watt EE type processors, as 2x65=130 just as 2x65=130 for Core 2 Duo-->quad core.

I believe Intel will likely lower the TDP for Kentsfield to less than 120 myself, but that will need to wait a few weeks as the details will likely come at the Fall IDF.

Jack

I guess this statement kinda freaked me out -> In idle mode, the system required 167 W - this is the same amount of power that a Core 2 Extreme demands at full load.

I still think Intel should and would try to bring down the power.

 

[Herr_Fritz]

[rant]
I had to reply to this thread, because of so many others. So often, recently, I have seen threads deteriorate into petty bickering over something completely unrelated to the original intent of the thread. It is quite refreshing to see a discussion exceed 3 pages without flames igniting, and the topic staying relevant. Thanks to all who have given their thoughts and opinions here, you really have made my day.
[/rant]

Anyway, back to the topic, I am really excited to see what happens from here until the end of next year. I think that Intel and AMD are entering a war that will ultimately do something very good for the consumer. Great competition is great for the prices 😀.

I wonder, will the 4x4 mobos support AMDs quad cores next year? Will someone make a viable Intel 2 socket mobo to support two kentsfields? Heh, as I write this I wonder if these would really be worth the money. Me thinks prolly not, but they would give us access to eight cores.

Anybody have any info on Intel's 45nm plans? How soon could we expect an 8 core chip from that tech? Is it even feasible?

 

[joefriday]

And let's not forget they were able to clock the cpu up to 3+ GHz on the stock vcore. That means that the stock vcore is very over-conservative, and a good undervolt should bring down the power consumption to the lower 100 watt levels, me thinks.

 

[clue69less]

I wonder, will the 4x4 mobos support AMDs quad cores next year? Will someone make a viable Intel 2 socket mobo to support two kentsfields? Heh, as I write this I wonder if these would really be worth the money. Me thinks prolly not, but they would give us access to eight cores.

I personally am in no rush to jump on a 8-core PC at this point in time. I'm not doing anything that could use all of that power and it's sort of like dating a girl's soccer team and having a bunch of them sitting on the bench talking about how well they are going to head next time they are in the game.

 

[qcmadness]

Yeah, if you read through the article though it was clear that speed step wasn't functioning in this current bios microcode update. I understand how that can be worrisome to an extent but also make sure we understand what is being measured, it is not CPU power it is total system power, so this is the draw of not only the CPU, but the memory, graphics card, and hard drives.

Jack

EIST would not work well with Kentsfield since the idle frequency would be 1.5x of the system bus.

 

[0zzy]

Its consuming so much power, how can this be good. It will produce so much heat that it will be like a furnace in the case.

I think it might be a good idea to wait for 4x4 and then compare the two. If they are both power hungry, then i would just get a conroe.

Are you kidding --- it's less than the current P4's, and less than the FX-62. The TDP Tom's quoted is 130 Watts, but stated it drew much less than that under load. Overall, for an enthusiast level part no big deal.... why, because most enthusiast are less concerned about power dissipation and more concerned about raw computing power in general.

For AMD to match this they will definitely need their 65 watt EE type processors, as 2x65=130 just as 2x65=130 for Core 2 Duo-->quad core.

I believe Intel will likely lower the TDP for Kentsfield to less than 120 myself, but that will need to wait a few weeks as the details will likely come at the Fall IDF.

Jack

I guess this statement kinda freaked me out -> In idle mode, the system required 167 W - this is the same amount of power that a Core 2 Extreme demands at full load.

I still think Intel should and would try to bring down the power.

Yeah, if you read through the article though it was clear that speed step wasn't functioning in this current bios microcode update. I understand how that can be worrisome to an extent but also make sure we understand what is being measured, it is not CPU power it is total system power, so this is the draw of not only the CPU, but the memory, graphics card, and hard drives.

Jack

I know. The memory, vic and hdd are common in their comparison, so that didn't bother me. what bothered me was that at full load it could take 100w more than Core 2 Extreme.

Speed step will only help when the system is idle. The full load is what worries me. If I am playing a game for 10 hours straight, will it over heat?

 

[clue69less]

THG noted that the top-of-the-line will be ~$1000 - the price of the X6800 now. Does this mean the price of the X6800 will drop? We can all hope... 😀

I just noticed that Newegg has dropped the 6800 to $999. This could have happened a while ago as I have not really watched it closely.

$999 sounds SO much more affordable than $1124. Well, not really!

 

[LordPope]

Dell bought 2 millions Athlons

and is shifting 1/3 rd of its ITEM line to AMD

AMD momentum is not slowing down anytime soon...they too busy counting money

 

[clue69less]

Dell bought 2 millions Athlons

and is shifting 1/3 rd of its ITEM line to AMD

AMD momentum is not slowing down anytime soon...they too busy counting money

True, it does take a hella long time to count a big pile of pennies...

 

[The_Abyss]

Dell bought 2 millions Athlons

and is shifting 1/3 rd of its ITEM line to AMD

AMD momentum is not slowing down anytime soon...they too busy counting money

Why don't you just start an AMD fanboy crap thread and post your fud in that rather than continually derail other decent threads.

 

[LordPope]

K8L better be bloody fast at a good price and they better hurry up, things aint lookin good

DELL just bought 2 million + Athlon
COVERTING 1/3 RD of its line to AMD

Intel is cutting jobs like by the 10's of thousands....

tell me....what kind of availability do you expect KENSFIELD to show...

 

[clue69less]

Lower would always be better no doubt, but it is not a show stopper in my opinion. Now if gaming is your only gig, the quad core (or even 4x4) will definitely be a pass this goround as the data shows --- it is not any great bang for the buck and your then better staying dual core however if you are encoding, or multitasking --- then it is worth the look.

Yes indeed. I've got some 3D work upcoming that will fully tax the AMD boxes I'm currently using. I salivated so heavily reading the KentQuad review that I am now dehydrated. I bet I could halve the time required to do some of the modeling fits...

Water, need water...

("In today's news, a local man was found dead, all dried up like a prune sitting in front of his home computer...")

 

[LordPope]

if the facts bothers you then stick your head in the sand....

 

[clue69less]

if the facts bothers you then stick your head in the sand....

Why, you lonely down there all alone?

 

[The_Abyss]

if the facts bothers you then stick your head in the sand....

It doesn't bother me in the slightest. You posting the same crap everywhere whether it is relevant or not reveals your insecurity about the subject matter you are posting though, and just annoys more normal people.

 

[NMDante]

K8L better be bloody fast at a good price and they better hurry up, things aint lookin good

DELL just bought 2 million + Athlon
COVERTING 1/3 RD of its line to AMD

Intel is cutting jobs like by the 10's of thousands....

tell me....what kind of availability do you expect KENSFIELD to show...

What does this have to do with a working Kentsfield sample?

Dell is gearing up for AMD desktops, laptops, and servers. AND...what?

Layoffs happen. Whoopie.

Availability of Kentsfield will probably be better than 5200+, 5000+, or 4X4, I am guessing.

 

[icbluscrn]

Its consuming so much power, how can this be good. It will produce so much heat that it will be like a furnace in the case.

I think it might be a good idea to wait for 4x4 and then compare the two. If they are both power hungry, then i would just get a conroe.

Dude your funny that sound alot like

D805 consumes so much power, that it will be like a furnace inside your case. E6300 is definetly the obvious choice. The power consumption justifies the extra money, as u will have to spend money on a cooling system if u decide to OC the D805.

from

from here

 

[HDDFreak]

Imagine if Intel could get all four cores to work in series. 4x3ghz cores, 12GHZ! Wow, imagine the performance in single threaded apps. But yeah, go quad core. BTW, THG, could I perhaps take that kentsfield of your hands?

 

[Slobogob]

Imagine if Intel could get all four cores to work in series. 4x3ghz cores, 12GHZ! Wow, imagine the performance in single threaded apps. But yeah, go quad core. BTW, THG, could I perhaps take that kentsfield of your hands?

That would be similar to a Processor with a long pipeline... kinda like... eh...

the P4. And we all know how great that was.

 

[atarione]

with all these cores I would like to see them have the ability to power off when they are not needed...no sense really in having 4x cores sitting about doing nuthing at idle.

 

[gOJDO]

There has been found a monkey-face male human body with small penis, masacred by razor blades!
Baron, please respond with one of your sock puppets. We are worry about you!

 

[cxl]

DELL just bought 2 million + Athlon
COVERTING 1/3 RD of its line to AMD

(flame mode on)
Well, given DELL's stupid decisions and performance over couple of past years, this does not surprise me a lot.
(flame mode off)

tell me....what kind of availability do you expect KENSFIELD to show...

Given the fact that it is just 2 regular Core2 CPUs, I think they can easily adjust Core2 Duo / Core2 Quadro shipment ratios as they need.

As I remember concerns about Core2 availability and compare them with reality, I would not be too concerned. At least not that much compared to AMD's "native" approach availability.