AMD recently announced that it planned to release two versions of Barcelona (quad-core processor). They want to release an ultra-energy efficient version running at 1.9 Ghz per core, and consuming ONLY 68 Watts. I mean…quad core…68 Watts…doesn’t quite fit in. Hehe. They also want to release a good performance-per-price version running at 2.0 Ghz, but consuming 95 watts (Hey, that’s still less that some P4s!)
Now, my analysis.
AMD has a habit of hitting Intel where it hits…power efficiency, and it’s done so yet again, with ease. A quad-core running at 65 watts is no mean feat. Hats off to them. But I still think that Barcelona will get pipped by Tigerton (Intel’s latest quad core). Tigerton, as the name suggests, will put as much power into the current architecture as possible. That might be the point where AMD might get their asses whipped raw. Nevertheless, there’s a good market for low-cost servers, which is where AMD excels.