¶ … AMD Processors
AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.) is a Sunnyvale, California-based semiconductor manufacturer. The Company designs, manufactures and markets digital integrated circuits that are used in desktop and mobile PCs, workstations, servers, communications equipment and consumer electronics. Over the years, AMD has emerged as the only credible competitor to Intel Corp -- and has shipped more than 240 million PC processors worldwide since it was founded in 1969. This Report investigates the current product offerings by AMD, discusses their compatibility, and compares the performance of AMD processors with Intel Processors.
Current AMD Product Offerings
AMD is currently involved in the design, manufacture and marketing of Desktop, Mobile, Server, and Workstation processors.
Desktop Processors: AMD offers the full range of processors -- from the high-end 64-bit to the low-priced "budget" processor for the desktop PCs.
AMD Athlon 64: It is currently the Company's most advanced (8th generation) processor for desktop PCs and is advertised by AMD as "simply the best PC processor in the world." ("AMD Athlon 64": Processor Overview) The current top of the line processor is named AMD Athlon 64 FX while the rest of Athlon 64 processors are identified by a 4-digit model number that reflect the processor performance. The reason for the top-notch performance of the processor is its 64-bit configuration that enables it to run longer, more complex instructions than a 32-bit chip, improving the performance of data-intensive tasks such as audio and video encoding, advanced engineering design applications, and the next-generation computer games. The latest FX processors run on dual channels and can move up to 6.4GB of data per second as compared to the mainstream Athlon 64, which runs on a single-channel, can move up to 3.2 GB per second. Another feature of the chip is its Enhanced Virus Protection which is designed to trap the "buffer overrun" types of virus. AMD has designed its 64-bit processor to also run 32-bit applications just as efficiently with a seamless transition to 64-bit applications when required. Although very few 64-bit applications are available in the market at present, AMD believes that 64-bit computing would be the wave of the future and the Athlon 64 would be at the forefront of the computing revolution. (Ibid.)
AMD Sempron: Sempron is the recently released 'budget' processor by AMD that replaces the Duron processor -- the low cost chip that is still marketed in some 'emerging markets' such as China and Latin America. Sempron chips are based both on the 7th generation Athlon XP core and the 8th generation Athlon 64 core, but none of the chips have the 64-bit capabilities of the Athlon 64. (Krazit & Mainelli, para # 2) The Sempron processor is similar to Intel's Celeron, i.e., a processor with less Cache memory than the company's more expensive (in case of Intel, the Pentium 4) processor. The Sempron chips based on the Athlon XP core have half the Cache memory of the Athlon XP. The chip based on Athlon 64 core retains some of its features such as the Virus Protection but does not have the capability to run 64-bit applications. Sempron is far less expensive than the Athlon-64 ($40~$126) and is aimed at the home users who need enhanced capability for video, music downloads and gaming at an affordable price but have little use for 64-bit applications.
AMD Athlon XP: This is the older (7th generation) AMD Athlon processor, which the company aims to phase out with its new (8th generation) 64-bit processors. The currently available XP processor is 3200+, which runs at 2.2 GHz, has two levels of cache memory (L1 cache size= 128 KB; L2 cache = 526 KB). The processors incorporate the 3D Now and MMX multimedia capability. The XP rating 3200+ of the model indicates that the Athlon XP processor approximates the performance of a Pentium 4 processor of 3.2 GHz clock-speed (although running at a lower speed of 2.2 GHz).
Mobile Processors: The mobile processors produced by AMD are available in approximately the same categories as the desktop processors described above. For example, the top-end Mobile AMD Athlon 64 processor is capable of running both 32-bit as well as 64-bit applications and is being used for mobile computing and notebooks; the Mobile Sempron processor is the new 'budget' processor especially designed for mobile PCs for home and business everyday use. The Sempron Mobile processors for full size mobile PCs (Models # 3200+, 2800+ and 2600+) and for thin and light Mobile PCs (Models # 2800+ and 2600+). Besides, the Athlon XP-M processors are also being produced by the company. They incorporate the AMD PowerNow technology, which provides extended...
Alternatives and Solutions Clearly, Apple is a successful, multidimensional and global corporation. Sales have more than doubled between 2005 and 2009 domestically and more than tripled internationally. The company has adequate income to fund R&D, but could reduce cost of sales considerably and funnel those funds into future projects and/or advertising. Solutions for their issues may be broken down into four general areas: Reduction of COG through outsourcing, Improving Market Share
On this specific aspect of design guidelines, Apple pioneered the development of graphical interface guidelines with the launch of the Macintosh in the 1980s which was promptly followed by Microsoft's Windows development team. While both operating system development teams have taken their own approaches to interpreting and fine-tuning the graphical standards as first defined by Apple, the depth of ergonomics and usability test to the application level is more
HSPA+ is expected to be commercially available in 2008 through [the introduction] of incremental investments and backward and forward compatible handsets. HSPA+ doubles the data capacity and increases voice capacity by three times enabling operators to offer mobile broadband at even lower cost" (Release 7 HSPA+, 2007, p. 3). Likewise, Housami (2008) reports that, "HSPA+ is a manifestation of the evolved HSPA philosophy where the existing HSPA implementation is
Configuration of Microsoft Windows in more complex networking environments required an extensive amount of add-in software and programming to ensure all systems could work. Finally the levels of security inherent in the Microsoft Windows operating system continue to be problematic (Bradley, 2009). The Linux and UNIX operating systems are comparable in terms of kernel and memory architectures (MacKinnon, 1999)(Predd, Cass, 2005). There are variations in the pricing models used for
The first of these was co-designed with Sony, and established the modern layout for laptop computers that has remained popular ever since. In 1994, Apple revamped its Macintosh line with the introduction of the Power Macintosh, which was based on the PowerPC line of processors developed by IBM, Motorola and Apple. Apple's operating system software was adjusted so that most software written for the older processors could run in emulation
A survey questionnaire design is employed to gather data to be used in the lazy user model test, with details on the sample population in which the questionnaire is to be administered. An innovative method to increase response rate is offered, followed by a data analysis plan. Finally, a conclusion and recommendation will complete this research project. 2. Literature Review 2.1 Information Technology and the Internet The Information Age has changed our
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now