AMD will launch the new processor achitecture Bulldozer this Summer and along with it a new series of chipsets. Many have been wondering what makes the new 9 series different from the 8 series, and according to the information we’ve dug up one of the differences is a more efficient power management.
The Bulldozer architecture will introduce a new way of thinking when it comes to energy efficiency and AMD has been working hard on creating an all together more efficient architecture. The goal was to increase performance in every component, every transistor, per watt and per square millimeter.
Bulldozer kommer will support dynamic frequency scaling, simply second generation Turbo Core technoogy that will optimize performance lower power consumption more efficienctly.
AMD has also made sure to implement citcuits that acts like gates in the processor. When CPU cores are resting idly by a gate can close the current and that way minimize the use of energy. This is a new technology for AMD, while Intel has been using it since the introduction of Nehalem.
The new power saving functions that are found in Bulldozer will require to some extent support from chipsets and here the new 9 series will enter. According to sources to NordicHardware the AMD 9 series chipset will be better suited to use the new power saving features of Bulldozer. Exactly how much of a difference they make, and of they affect both power and performance, is unclear, but even if the two chipset families looks similar on a distance there will be more to separate them when going head to head.
Most likely AMD will focuse ona single chipset for the launch of Bulldozer and the AMD FX processor family. It has three chipsets in development, but most likely only the flagship AMD 990FX will be available on launch day.
