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AMD Readies Opteron "Dublin" and "Macau" Processors for Launch in 2013 - Slide.

AMD to Move Production of Computer Chips to Bulk Process Technologies

[08/03/2011 07:04 PM]
by Anton Shilov

After many years of relying on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) process technology, Advanced Micro Devices plans to start using bulk process technology for its state-of-the-art Opteron processors code-named Dublin and Macau in 2013, according to a slide that resembles those from AMD's roadmaps.

AMD's forthcoming Bulldozer micro-architecture based Opteron "Interlagos" and "Valencia" microprocessors are set to be made using 32nm silicon-on-insulator process technology at Globalfoundries. The code-named Terramar and Sepang chips, which will feature enhanced Bulldozer micro-architecture (also known as Piledriver) and will have up to 20 and 10 cores, respectively, will also be made using the same manufacturing technology in 2012. But the central processing units (CPUs) for servers that will succeed them in 2013 - Dublin and Macau - will be made using 28nm fabrication process with high-k metal gate, according to a slide published by CPU World web-site that resembles those from AMD's documents.

Terramar and Dublin will use the same G2012 server platform code-named Porto, whereas Sepang and Macau will utilize C2012 server platform known under Luxembourg code-name. AMD G2012 infrastructure will support quad-channel DDR3 memory as well as PCI Express 3.0 controller. The C2012 infrastructure will sport triple-channel memory controller and will also support PCIe 3.0.

It is noteworthy that Dublin and Macau are currently not supposed to increase core count to over 10 for one die or 20 for one MCM module. Potentially, this means that the next-generation Bulldozer micro-architecture will sport a significant amount of enhancements that will allow the new chips to tangibly increase performance without boosting the number of x86 cores. According to AMD's longer-term sketch roadmap, the Opteron processors in 2013 will not start to integrate stream processors to accelerate certain tasks. 

Given the fact that at present both Dublin and Macau are in development, AMD can easily change its opinion regarding any technical specifications or design decisions.

AMD did not comment on the news-story.

Tags: AMD, Macau, Dublin, Bulldozer, Terramar, Sepang, 32nm, 28nm, Piledriver

Tweet Comments currently: 12
Discussion started: 08/03/11 07:59:39 PM
Latest comment: 08/06/11 04:39:27 AM
Expand all threads | Collapse all threads 45nm SOI -> 32nm SOI -> 28nm Non-SOI

Not going to happen

45nm SOI -> 32nm SOI -> 22nm FD-SOI

more likely

+ expand thread (8 answers) - collapse thread  sounds about right because I read somewhere that CPUs don't use half nodes (28nm is one) Nope. 28nm Non-SOI is a way to go for AMD.
AMD can't afford to have exclusive tech process for itself alone.
SOI Fab utilization is the biggest problem which AMD is facing now, 32nm and Brazos being made on TSMC will exaggerate it, and it will turn AMD in red very soon.
Thanks to Doug Grose, which was fired for that, this year WSA removes util tax off AMD. Next year will be quite different. Llano and Bulldozer, then Trinity and "Piledriver?" are all on 32nm SOI HKMG they can afford it
and it's GlobalFoundries for APUs the Llano ones and the Trinity ones....not TSMC Look at the slide again. Dublin and Macau will be made using 28nm. AMD has chosen the path - many cores/low freq/low perf per a core. Bulk process is quite good for that path. Will this path be succesive we'll see soon. Again, 2013 Plans for Next-Gen Bulldozer is 22nm

2014 is Server APU not 2013

 The 28 nm Non-SOI is only make sense, if they integrate the GCN architecture CUs inside the CPU. They can make CPU-cores in Non-SOI easily, the only downside is the clock speed, which is may not go up to 3 GHz. On the other side ... making CUs on a SOI node is very-very hard. GCN (?? i need to google it --- Graphic Core Next)

omg. DO NOT DISINFORM US, IT'S NOT ARCHITECTURE but just plain old AMDs marketing gimmick As old Fusion they propagate since 2007 is pretty worn'n'torn nowadays

 it'll happen rethink it twice. they already have 28nm line for gpu if they'll test any production in GloFo, and in 2013 they'll need something to fullfill 28nm lineup. They'll probably wont ramp up 22nm so soon as they let us wait more than 30 month (FULL YEAR LONGER) just for 32nm processors hit the stores after first 45nm in Dec2008 (920/940be)Take AMD's roadmaps with a huge helping of salt. A chimp predicting the weather is more accurate than AMD with their estimates.+ expand thread (1 answer) - collapse thread  This is pretty realistic estimate considering how GloFo now works, and how long they'll need to finish that new 22nm factory. It's budgeting projection, not a cocky one as it was usual in the past.GLOBALFOUNDRIES Fab 8, Module 1 in Luther Forest, Saratoga County, NY:
- "Initial production is expected to ramp at the 28nm technology node and move to volume manufacturing on the 22nm node." (GLOBALFOUNDRIES, July 24, 2009)

fab8update.com June 15, 2011:
- risk production in mid-2012
- volume production in early 2013