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Encyclopedia > Quad FX

The AMD Quad FX platform is an AMD platform targeted at enthusiasts. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. ... In computing, a platform describes some sort of framework, either in hardware or software, which allows software to run. ...


The platform allows users to plug two dual-core Socket F central processing units (CPUs) into a single motherboard for a total of four physical cores [1]. This is similar to a dual processor setup, where two CPUs are installed on a motherboard to increase computing power. The major difference between the platform and past dual processor systems like Xeon (pre Intel 5000X/P chipset) is that each core has its own dedicated memory stores. 4x4 is a HyperTransport capability targeted toward consumer platforms. [2][3] Socket F is a new CPU socket designed by AMD for its Opteron line of CPUs. ... CPU redirects here. ... In computer architecture, dual processor can refer to two different types of multiprocessing: A computer with two CPUs A dual-core CPU: two processors inside a single CPU core This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A motherboard, also known as a mainboard, system board, or logic boards on Apple Computers, and sometimes abbreviated as mobo (generally credited to the magazine Maximum PC) is the central or primary circuit board making up a complex electronic system, such as a modern computer. ... Xeon logo as of 2006. ... HyperTransport logo HyperTransport (HT), formerly known as Lightning Data Transport (LDT), is a bidirectional serial/parallel high-bandwidth, low-latency computer bus that was introduced on April 2, 2001 [1]. The HyperTransport Technology Consortium is in charge of promoting and developing HyperTransport technology. ...


Programs and operating systems that can take advantage of four cores should see performance increases with the platform. An operating system (OS) is a computer program that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer. ...

Contents

Configuration

In each socket resides an AMD Athlon 64 FX CPU. Each socket is connected using AMD's Direct Connect Architecture (dubbed as "Dual Socket Direct Connect Architecture by AMD), providing a dedicated channel between the CPU cores and from each CPU out to the system memory. Due to the nature of the Direct Connect architecture, each CPU can access the other's dedicated memory store. The Athlon 64 FX is an AMD K8 series processor targeted at enthusiasts. ... The Direct Connect Architecture is the I/O architecture of the Athlon64 and Opteron microprocessors from AMD. It consists of the combination of three elements: The microprocessor is directly connected to DRAM memory through an integrated memory controller. ...


A four-core system has been exhibited as a demo at AMD headquarters on July 25, 2006. AMD has claimed that the systems which consist of a pair of CPUs will cost below US$1000 altogether with a suitable motherboard. The motherboards strongly resemble dual-socket Opteron 22xx series motherboards as they share the same socket and one bank of memory DIMMs per CPU, but the motherboards of the platform have support for regular unbuffered DDR2 RAM while the Opteron setup requires registered memory. The platform also has support for multiple graphics cards. July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI), a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... The AMD Opteron (codenamed SledgeHammer during development) was the first of AMDs eighth-generation x86 processors based on the K8 or Hammer core, and the first processor to implement the AMD64 (formerly x86-64) instruction set architecture. ... Two types of DIMMs: a 168-pin SDRAM module (top) and a 184-pin DDR SDRAM module (bottom). ... Registered (sometimes called buffered) memory modules have additional components between the SDRAM modules and the systems memory controller. ... VPU redirects here. ...


Competition

The major competition of the platform is from Intel, which launched its Conroe desktop microprocessors in late July 2006 and its multi-chip module quad-core Kentsfield in November 2006 as the Core 2 Extreme QX6700. [4] Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC, SEHK: 4335), founded in 1968 as Integrated Electronics Corporation, is an American multinational corporation that is best known for designing and manufacturing microprocessors and specialized integrated circuits. ... Core 2 Duo brand logo Core 2 Extreme brand logo Core 2 is an eighth-generation x86 architecture microprocessor produced by Intel and based on the Intel Core microarchitecture. ... 2006 (MMVI), a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... ... Core 2 Duo brand logo This article is about Intel processors branded as Intel Core 2. ...


Availability

The platform was launched in November 2006. Three new processors, the FX-70, FX-72 and FX-74 are released simultaneously with clock speeds of 2.6 GHz, 2.8 GHz and 3.0 GHz respectively, with FX-76 clocked at speed of 3.2 GHz coming up next year. [citation needed]


Chipsets

NVIDIA

NVIDIA has introduced a chipset for the platform, dubbed as "nForce 680a", provides 4 PCI-Express slots of x16-x8-x16-x8 configuration, and support up to 12 SATA2 hard disks. [5] NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) (Pronunciation: IPA: ) is a major supplier of graphics processors (graphics processing units, GPUs), graphics cards, and media and communications devices for PCs and game consoles such as the original Xbox and the PlayStation 3. ... The nForce 600 chipset will be released in the first half of November, probably coinciding with the GeForce 8 series launch on November 8, 2006. ... First generation (1. ... Typical hard drives of the mid-1990s. ...


ASUSteK will produce the first motherboard that will support two Socket F (dubbed as socket L1FX by NVIDIA) processors each with its own dedicated memory banks, dubbed as "ASUS L1N64-SLI WS" (instead of the L1N64-SLI Deluxe that NVIDIA announced [citation needed]), based on NVIDIA nForce 680a chipset. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Socket F is a new CPU socket designed by AMD for its Opteron line of CPUs. ... The nForce 600 chipset will be released in the first half of November, probably coinciding with the GeForce 8 series launch on November 8, 2006. ...


Reports suggested that ASUStek is the sole motherboard manufacturer for the chipset and left other motherboard manufacturers out, some of which stated that they will produce motherboards based on Intel chipsets instead. [6]


ATI Technologies

In October, 2006, sites leaked ATI chipset updates that ATI will also introduce a chipset connecting two AMD processors and four PCI-Express graphic cards, dubbed as "RD790", which provides PCI-Express slots of x8-x8-x8-x8 configuration, and will be available first half of 2007. [7] ATI Technologies U.L.C., founded in 1985, is a major designer of graphics processing units and video display cards and a wholly owned subsidiary of AMD, as of October 2006. ... RD700 series is a chipset series made by ATI and is targeted to launch between the end of 2007 to the first half of 2008. ...


Source also revealed that a revamped "RD580" chipset, which is due first half of 2007, will allow 2 CPUs and 3 Graphic Cards to run on the same board. [7] RD580 is a computer chipset designed by ATI Technologies. ...


System Builders

Since the platform launched in November, AMD has announced a list of System Builders, which have announced PC systems for the platform, those includes:

  • Vigor Gaming
  • IBuyPower
  • CyberPower
  • MainGear
  • Velocity Micro [8]

American-based system builder, Alienware, a subsidiary of Dell Computers have announced that there will be a system using the platform once the product released. Alienware has dubbed the platform "AMD Quad FX technology" [9] [10]. However, as of today, none of the expected product lineup have been officially announced. Alienware Corporation is an American computer hardware company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dell Computer Corporation. ... Dell, Inc. ...


Future updates

Sometime during 2007, users should be able to use two, future quad-core AMD processors using the chipset, providing a total of eight physical cores, dubbed as "4x4+" and "4x4++" [11]. While backward compatible AMD quad-cores will also support an update to HyperTransport which will benefit more from a new chipset released at the same time. HyperTransport logo HyperTransport (HT), formerly known as Lightning Data Transport (LDT), is a bidirectional serial/parallel high-bandwidth, low-latency computer bus that was introduced on April 2, 2001 [1]. The HyperTransport Technology Consortium is in charge of promoting and developing HyperTransport technology. ...


References

  1. ^ ExtremeTech on 4x4
  2. ^ *Ars Technica report on K8L and 4x4
  3. ^ Goodin, Dan (2006-11-15). AMD, Intel: Who's Zooming Who?. Wired Magazine.
  4. ^ DigiTimes report on Core 2 Extreme QX6700
  5. ^ The Inquirer report on "nForce 680a"
  6. ^ ASUS is the sole 4x4 chipset motherboard maker report
  7. ^ a b Chile Hardware report on ATI chipset update
  8. ^ TechReport report
  9. ^ Alienware Production Information Gallery
  10. ^ Alienware "AMD Quad FX technology" fact sheet
  11. ^ AMD Technology Analyst Day Presentation 2006 (Slide 32)

Wired is a full-color monthly magazine and on-line periodical published in San Francisco, California since March 1993. ... The nForce 600 chipset will be released in the first half of November, probably coinciding with the GeForce 8 series launch on November 8, 2006. ...

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