AMD to Push Aside Intel With Bulldozer CPUs By Bruce Tyson

The way processors get code-named before their release is continuing with AMD's new plans. All these code names add to the confusion on the processor market. It's really hard to keep track of what the final names go with what code name. The AMD Bulldozer is the latest processor added to the roadmap.

You've probably heard this name before, but it's finally on the map for a 2011 release. Although we don't know too much concerning Bulldozer, we have some information on it that can help us get the sense of what the future holds. For sure, Bulldozer will be the focus of AMD's CPU strategy for the next few years.

Deployment strategy

Bulldozer's initial target will be the notebook and server market at the high end. The same hardware that's supposed to work with the new Opterons are supposed to be compatible with the new Bulldozers. With multiple dual core cores, Bulldozer's new architecture is creating a lot of buzz in the technology sector, but AMD has another product that's also supposed to be introduced soon. This is an APU that has a combined CPU and GPU.

AMD Accelerated Processing Units

Coming in 2011, the Llano APU is expected to be fitted with Phenom-II cores, not Bulldozer cores. Later on, however, expect to see APUs come out that feature Bulldozers as cores rather than Phenoms. The disappointing thing about AMD is that they are often lagging when bringing new technologies to market even though they are the first in engineering them. With Bulldozer, the tradition continues with Intel's 32nm chips due out before Bulldozer.

Evaluation

With all the new technologies gaining traction in 2010, the CPU market should be hot in 2011 with a high demand for new processing power. There are those who feel that Intel's advances in manufacturing technology are going to leave AMD at a greater disadvantage over time. Whether Bulldozer will be good enough to preserve its customer base is a question many are asking.

Many people think that the performance of AMD for the remainder of the year will be indicative of AMD's future as it ramps up for next year's APUs as well. If either competitor stumbles on the way to 2011, we could see the other come up with significant gains overall.

The name for AMD's new CPU is a bit more meaningful than your traditional code name: the company clearly wants to gain ground on Intel. Assuming the company delivers this technology as promised, they have a chance to do it.

Bruce Tyson is an IT consultant and posts regularly to the TIW Blog