Lower power, virtualization, new CPUs

The one key aspect that all of AMD’s new Athlon 64 AM2 processors share in comparison to their 939-based cousins is significantly lower power consumption. All of AMD’s Athlon 64 X2 processors have a new, lower maximum power specification of 89 watts, that’s down 21 watts from Socket 939 Athlon 64 X2 processors. Single-core Athlon 64 processors have a lower max power spec of just 62 watts (down from 89).

If that’s not enough power savings for you, AMD’s also introducing a new energy efficient lineup of CPUs that’s completely separate from the aforementioned CPUs. Last week AMD announced energy efficient Athlon 64 X2, Athlon 64, and Sempron processors. The energy efficient Athlon 64 X2 processors (4800+, 4600+, 4400+, 4200+, 4000+, and 3800+ ) require just 65-watts max of juice, while the energy efficient Athlon 64 X2 3800+, Athlon 64 3500+, and Sempron CPUs 3400+, 3200+, and 3000+ peak at just 35 watts.

Keep in mind that all these power figures come under full load, when the system is taxed hard, typical power consumption can be significantly lower.

The AM2 testbed all setup

DDR2 support

While the memory controller inside all of the new AM2 processors supports DDR2 memory, only the Athlon 64 X2 and Athlon 64 FX line provide official support for faster 800MHz DDR2 modules; DDR2 support is limited to 667MHz for the AM2 Athlon 64 and Sempron AM2 processors.

Virtualization

For the first time, AMD is offering virtualization in all of their new AM2 processors. With virtualization, multiple operating systems can be run “virtually” from a single machine. This technology is particularly important in the server space, where one machine could host Windows, Linux, and Novell to run as a web server, database server, domain controller, etc all from one box, all running on different operating systems. Each virtual server would be completely independent and secured from the others.

New processors

In addition to converting much of their existing lineup to Socket AM2, AMD’s also introducing two brand new processors that will be exclusive to AM2: the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ and the Athlon 64 FX-62.

The Athlon 64 FX-62 fuses the clock speed of the Athlon 64 FX-57 with the dual-core heritage of the Athlon 64 FX-60. Clocked at 2.8GHz, the Athlon 64 FX-62 is AMD’s fastest dual-core desktop processor yet, essentially giving you two FX-57 processors on one die.

Like previous FX processors, the FX-62 contains 2MB of L2 cache total (1MB cache per core) with 256KB total L1 cache (64K - L1 instruction + 64K - L1 data cache per core). The chip sports a 230mm2 die size and contains 227.4 million transistors. Despite the higher clock speed, max power is the same as FX-60 at 125W.

The Athlon 64 X2 5000+ runs at 2.6GHz and ships with 1MB of L2 cache total (512KB per core). With less cache onboard, the 5000+ measures just 183mm2 with 153.8 million transistors. Max thermal power peaks at 89W, which is the same power figure as a single-core Athlon 64 processor from a year ago.