AMD Confirms Turbo Core Dynamic Acceleration Technology on Server Bulldozer Processors.
AMD Opteron “Bulldozer” Chips to Support Dynamic Speed Boost
[02/02/2011 04:33 PM]
by Anton Shilov In a bid to further increase performance of its forthcoming central processing units (CPUs) based on Bulldozer micro-architecture, Advanced Micro Devices plans to implement a dynamic clock-speed boost technology into its next-generation Opteron chips. The new tech is akin to Turbo Core feature of current Phenom II X6 microprocessors, but has a number of improvements.
Different applications apply different load onto central processing units. As a result, if one task squeezes all the juices from the chip severely, then another does not. Frequencies and thermal design powers of CPUs are set by manufacturers based on the worst-case scenario that stress the microprocessors in order to avoid possible problems. As a result, thermal design power (TDP) figures tend to be very conservative and applications that do not make use of all transistors of a chip do not perform as well as they could have.
Contemporary microprocessors can monitor their load easily, which is why they can trivially adjust clock-speeds downwards if power saving is needed. Moreover, AMD Phenom II X6 “Thuban” chips can boost clock-speeds of three cores by 500MHz when other three are inactive, whereas modern Intel Core i-series can increase clock-speeds depending on the number of active cores even more significantly when needed. The next-generation Bulldozer processors will greatly enhance the Turbo Core technology and will bring it to servers as well, AMD revealed.
AMD's new Turbo Core allows the processor to rise up from the base clock-speed up to the TDP level, automatically unlocking extra potential for the processor. AMD Turbo Core is continually monitoring the processor power consumption to determine the maximum processor state; Turbo Core is watching the power consumption to see how high it can move the clock speed up. Should the processor get too close to the power limit, it does automatically step back a bit to ensure that it is continuing to operate within the specified guidelines. This allows for significantly higher maximum clock speeds.
The Bulldozer implementation of Turbo Core provides up to 500MHz of additional clock speed available with all cores active, which means that even with 16 cores of Opteron "Magny Cours" active with server workloads, all cores can boost at the same time. Additionally, even higher boost states available with half of the cores active.
"[Naturally], power always does go up with frequency, but the most important thing to remember is that this is also a variable technology; it only increases frequency based on total demand from the application. The system runs at the base frequency unless there is a need for more performance from the application, so in environments that are 'bursty' you’ll vary frequency with AMD PowerNow! between base and the lowest power. If demand for performance is sustained, the processor runs between base and max, so that you are getting the most performance, but still not wasting power, explained John Fruehe, director of product marketing for server, embedded and FireStream products at AMD.
At launch processors based on Bulldozer micro-architecture will be marketed with a base and a maximum frequency, base will reflect the actual clock-speed on the processor and max will reflect the highest AMD Turbo Core state.
Source: Xbitlabs.com
Android Market finally hits the web
Author: Don LynnUp until now, the only way to access the Android Market was directly via your mobile device. That has all changed with the official launch of the Android Market on the web.
Source: Tweaktown
ViewSonic's Dual-Boot Windows 7/Android Tablet
Mobile World Congress is getting ready to kick off in Barcelona, Spain but you don’t have to be there to get all hot under the collar about the devices expect to appear on the show floor. ViewSonic is expected to display a dual-boot Android and Windows Phone 7 tablet and an Android phone that will support dual-SIMs.
The company gave us all a little sneaky-peek at the V350 smartphone, which boasts a 3.5-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen, Android 2.2, five megapixel camera and support for dual-SIMs. Nifty as that may be, its the dual-boot ViewPad that is catching our eye this morning.
Packing a 10-inch display and running on one of Intel’s Oak Trail CPUs, the ViewPad 10Pro is both an Android and a Windows device. ViewSonic is touting this one as a professional tablet, if that does anything for you, and says that when launched, it will be running Windows 7 Professional for business-related tasks and Android 2.2 for users’ more casual tasks. ViewSonic said in a release that it was offering dual-boot because many users are too attached to the familiarity of Windows to switch away from the OS completely, but they also want to get a feel for Android too.
Specswise, the ViewPad’s got that 10-inch, 1024x600 LED backlit capacitive multi-touch display; 3G; Wi-Fi; Bluetooth; and supports Flash 10.1. ViewSonic says we’ll get at least six hours out of battery but, as usual, we’ll have to wait and see about that one. No word on pricing or a release date, but sure, you can’t have it all, can you? We’ll keep our eyes peeled!
Survey Surprise: Online Content Doesn't Have to Be Free
By Rob SpiegelE-Commerce Times
Part of the ECT News Network
A hearty 65 percent of Internet users have paid to access or download online content, according to survey results released Thursday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The study focused on content such as music, articles and apps.
There were a number of surprises in the data. With the exception of software, which is a predominantly male interest, men and women bought content at roughly the same rate. The researchers also found it surprising that Internet users bought online content and subscription services at the same rate as physical products and travel.The big categories of purchased content were software and online music. In both categories, 33 percent of online users have made purchases. Typical users pay about US$10 per month for content. As for methods of purchase, the majority of users pay for subscriptions services (23 percent) versus downloads of individual files (16 percent).
The survey data came from telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,023 adults in a mix of age groups during the period of October 28, 2010, through November 1, 2010.
The print publishing industry has taken a significant hit due to the migration of readers online. The newspaper industry has been hit particularly hard, with major decades-old papers folding during 2010. There's good news online, however, with 18 percent of Internet users paying for online content from newspaper and magazine sites.
"Eighteen percent is well above noise level, so it's a positive thing," Jim Jansen, the author of the report and senior fellow at Pew Internet & American Life Project, told the E-Commerce Times. "Whether all the print outlets will be able to switch to an online model is another story."
The type of business model that supports online paid content is still the subject of experimentation.
"I think it's an issue of working out a price structure and subscription model that works for online consumers," said Jansen. "If there is a good model, people are receptive to paying for things. Music is a good example."
An Online Path Back From Disaster
While the Internet has dealt print publishing a mighty blow in recent years, the Internet may also be the salvation of content publishing."Nearly a fifth of users have paid for articles. That did jump out at me," Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT, told the E-Commerce Times. "While some online-only sites have been very successful -- like the "Huffington Post" -- most of their income is coming from advertising rather than premium subscriptions."
Those sites selling newspaper and magazine content tend to be print-based publishers that also have a Web presence.
"Most of the newspapers and magazines charging for content also have hard copies, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist and others," said King. "I do think it portends potentially good news for the magazine and newspaper industry. There has been a lot of concern about how online content has impacted traditional newspapers. These numbers are higher than I would have expected."
Advertising Chases New Models
With so many sites selling subscription services, the future of Internet advertising could be challenged. "I think a lot of different business models are going to develop," said the Pew's Jansen.The advertising model is still evolving online.
"Niche sites do well -- like car enthusiast sites. Advertising works well there. Other places where advertising works are at sites with high traffic," said Jansen. "I don't think the subscription model is a threat. There are just different advertising models for different verticals."
Trend Watching
The Pew study is the center's first survey of online content consumption. It may become an annual report."This is the first time we've asked these kinds of questions, and certainly there is a lot of interest in trend data," said Jansen. "It would be great to re-do in a year's time and see what the changes are. I would expect there would be some dramatic changes given the technology that's coming."
Source: Technewsworld
Windows 7 SP1 Released, Available for Download
9:20 PM - February 22, 2011 by Marcus Yam -source: Tom's Hardware US
It's been talked about since the very original release of Windows 7 and now it's finally here. That's right, if you've been holding off on Windows 7 until the first Service Pack, today is the day that you can finally step up.Now available for direct download from Microsoft are Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1. You can grab it from Microsoft at the links here, but if you're only updating one machine, then you are probably better off just running Windows Update.
The Hottest Apps of 2011, Week 9!
Looking for useful or fun programs? Here are some recommendations from the Tom's Guide community for the ninth week of 2011.
ZoomHot apps is a weekly rundown of the most popular apps according to our sister site, Tom's Guide. The following software are ranked from first to tenth by total downloads over the last week, making them community picks.Unless otherwise specified, all featured apps are free, and run on Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, and XP.
Capture Fox. Here's a Firefox add-on that turns the web browser into a screencast tool. Capture fox is great for recording video tutorials on websites, other Firefox add-ons, and even other programs. No updates for this beta app have been forthcoming since 2009 however, and it only works on Windows XP, Vista, and 7. New entry.
Horoscope. The astrology-driven app stays near the top of the list. This desktop gadget for Windows Vista and 7 provides regular updates on possible futures, based on what the user's Zodiac sign is. Remains at #2.
SkipScreen. A useful Firefox add-on designed for services like RapidShare and Megaupload, SkipScreen does as its named. It bypasses ad-filled web pages that file-sharing sites force their users to wait through. Great for surfers who are tired of seeing how a monthly fee leads to faster downloads. New entry.
WoW Explorer. Another desktop gadget for Windows Vista and 7, WoW Explorer keeps World of Warcraft players updated on the status of the different game servers they can log into and play their virtual character. Remains at #4.
FoxyTunes. At the very least, FoxyTunes lets you control music playback right from your web browser (Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox) or Yahoo Messenger. Supporting features include easy one-click access to lyrics, album covers, music videos, and artist bios. Users can also easily tell everyone else what they're listening to through Twitter or email. New entry.
UNetbootin. Need to create a flash drive or CD that can boot with a free OS or recovery environment like Ubuntu or Kaspersky's Rescue Disk? UNetbootin takes care of everything. A good internet connection is recommended for those who don't want to wait too long. Down from #5.
Evernote. This is the iPad client for the Evernote service. It lets users sync their notes and annotations—whether written or typed out—with an online database for easy access later on, and from other devices. Down from #6.
Omega Messenger. This app lets users manage multiple instant messaging accounts. Supported services include AIM, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, and even ICQ. Down from #7.
Angry Birds HD. The popular game is also available on the iPad. A bunch of colorful birds seek revenge on pigs who've stolen their eggs. Players launch the birds like catapult projectiles, so that the pig's fortresses come crashing down like a house of cards. Down from #8.
PstPassword. A utility designed to unlock Outlook PST (personal storage table) files, PstPassword is designed for forgetful users who've let their Outlook Password slip away. Down from #9.
Staff Picks: Paint.NET is a worthy free Photoshop replacement. Foxit PDF Reader takes up minimal system resources. BurnAware Free is a burning app that's fully compatible with Blu-Ray burners and Windows 7. And of course, who wouldn't want to download the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird?
AMD to Build 153,000sqft Data Center in Georgia
The building will provide about 153,000 sqft of space and include, initially only one building module in a 10 year plan.
AMD built a similar strategy for its fab in Luther Forest, which is now operated by the spun off GlobalFoundries: GlobalFoundries is expanding its fabs in a module strategy as well. The data center is substantially cheaper than AMD's billion dollar fabs of the past. According to the company, the initial construction cost is estimated to be about $25 to $30 million and part of a data center consolidation approach.
Including the IT equipment, the total cost is estimated to be in the $100 million neighborhood. There was no roadmap that details the future expansion of the site. However, AMD hopes that the new datacenter will be able to help AMD "leverage changes in the business environment in terms of cost."
Gartner Cuts PC Sales Forecast, Blames Tablets
Instead of the initial forecast of 417 million PCs, Gartner now estimates 2011 unit sales to be in the 388 million range. The primary reason is apparently a major slowdown in notebook sales. Instead of the 40% growth rates we have seen over the past few years, notebook shipments may only climb by about 10% this year, Gartner said. The reason for that slowdown, according to the market research firm, is that consumers could be delaying new notebook purchases and spend their money on media tablets instead. Gartner expects 54.8 million tablets to be sold this year, up from 19.5 million in 2010.
“We expect growing consumer enthusiasm for mobile PC alternatives, such as the iPad and other media tablets, to dramatically slow home mobile PC sales, especially in mature markets,” said George Shiffler, research director at Gartner. “We once thought that mobile PC growth would continue to be sustained by consumers buying second and third mobile PCs as personal devices. However, we now believe that consumers are not only likely to forgo additional mobile PC buys but are also likely to extend the lifetimes of the mobile PCs they retain as they adopt media tablets and other mobile PC alternatives as their primary mobile device."
There is the obvious question how this trend, if the estimate is somewhat accurate, will affect especially Intel as the company's growth heavily relied on notebook processor sales in the past. We get the sense that the company is still betting on notebook processors as a growth engine, but it is clear that the overall opportunity for increased chip shipments - which is the fundamental business approach of Intel - may be in smartphones and tablets these days.
AMD: DirectX Holding Back Game Performance
4:50 PM - March 18, 2011 by Kevin Parrish -source: Bit-Tech
AMD claims that game developers actually want the API to go away.
ZoomWith all the hype surrounding DirectX 11 and how it's changing the face of PC gaming in regards to mind-blowing eye candy, AMD's worldwide developer relations manager of its GPU division, Richard Huddy, claims that developers actually want the API to go away, that it's getting in the way of creating some truly amazing graphics. "I certainly hear this in my conversations with games developers," he told Bit-Tech in an interview. "And I guess it was actually the primary appeal of Larrabee to developers – not the hardware, which was hot and slow and unimpressive, but the software – being able to have total control over the machine, which is what the very best games developers want. By giving you access to the hardware at the very low level, you give games developers a chance to innovate, and that's going to put pressure on Microsoft – no doubt at all."
Outside a few current developers who have announced that PC game development will take priority over console versions, a good chunk of the gaming industry is developing titles for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 first and then porting them over to the PC thereafter. The result is that PC versions are only slightly superior to their console counterparts on a visual sense even though a high-end graphics card has at least ten times the horsepower of the Xbox 360's Xenos GPU and the PlayStation 3's GeForce 7-series architecture.
What this means is that-- although PC graphics are better than the console version-- developers can't tap into the PC's true potential because they can't program hardware directly at a low-level, forced to work through DirectX instead. But there are benefits to working with APIs including the ability to develop a game that will run on a wide range of hardware. Developers also get access to the latest shader technologies without having to work with low-level code.
But according to Huddy, the performance overhead of DirectX is a frustrating concern for developers. "Wrapping it up in a software layer gives you safety and security," he said. "But it unfortunately tends to rob you of quite a lot of the performance, and most importantly, it robs you of the opportunity to innovate."
He added that shaders, which were introduced back in 2002, were designed to allow developers to be more innovative, to create a more visual variety in games. But now many PC games have the same kind of look and feel because developers are using shaders "to converge visually."
"If we drop the API, then people really can render everything they can imagine, not what they can see – and we'll probably see more visual innovation in that kind of situation."
The interview goes on to define the performance overhead of DirectX, explaining that the actual amount depends on the type of game in development. Huddy also talks about the possible problems of developing for a multiple GPU architecture on a low-level if the API is ignored.
"The problem with the PC is that you ideally want a PC that doesn't crash too much, and if a games developer is over-enthusiastic about the way they program direct to the metal, they can produce all sorts of difficulties for us as a hardware company trying to keep the PC stable," he said.
The interview is definitely an awesome read, so head here to get the full scoop.
Half Of All Notebooks To Use gCPUs This Year
source: Tom's Hardware US
he introduction of Intel's Sandy Bridge and AMD's Fusion processor will dramatically increase the penetration of graphics-enabled CPUs (gCPUs), market research firm IHS iSuppli said today.
ZoomAccording to a new forecast, 50% of notebooks and 45% of desktops will use gCPUs in 2011, up from 39% and 36%, respectively. By 2014, 83% of notebooks will use gCPUs with integrated graphics processors, the share of desktop PCs will hit 76%, the firm said. "With GEMs [graphics enabled microprocessors] capable of generating the total graphic output of a PC, no additional graphics processor or add-in graphics card is needed," said said Peter Lin, principal analyst for compute platforms at IHS. "Computers today are serving up ever-richer multimedia experiences, so the graphics capabilities of PCs have become more important, driving the rising penetration of GEMs."The obvious question would be what the effect on discrete graphics cards may be, even if AMD is unlikely to torpedo the demand for its own products. IHS noted that "discrete graphics cards will remain the solution of choice for leading-edge graphics, providing high-end performance for applications such as games." GEMs, as far as their graphics capability is concerned, are likely to be targeted especially at mainstream and value PCs, IHS said.
Both AMD and Intel are positioning their gCPUs as a way to reduce the manufacturing cost of their chip solutions as well as a way to reduce the influence of third-party manufacturers within their platform environments as many users will perceive embedded graphics solutions as good enough for their purposes. While Intel is relying on a single general gCPU approach, AMD is expected to release five application platforms with five GEM microprocessor categories.
Via is also part of the game, but caters with its gCPU solutions to embedded and industrial applications, IHS iSuppli said.
