Although microprocessors based on AMD’s next-generation high-performance micro-architecture code-named “Zen” are more than a year away, some details regarding the forthcoming chips and “Zen” in general are beginning to surface. The most recent rumours about the new architecture add some technical details and point to release schedule of the new …
Read More »Qualcomm fits-in ARM Cortex-A72, 4K support into mainstream SoCs
Qualcomm, the world’s largest supplier of mobile application processors, has introduced its new lineup of mobile system-on-chips for mainstream smartphones, tablets and other devices. The new Snapdragon 600-series application processors feature ARM’s latest Cortex-A72 cores, support 4K video capture and playback, advanced storage technologies, a number of other high-end features …
Read More »ARM Cortex-A57 and Intel Silvermont – most efficient mobile cores, says study
At present there are about half of a dozen different general-purpose processing cores for various low-power system-on-chip solutions. There are high-performance, low-power, big and small cores. But when all of these metrics are taken into account, ARM and Intel have the edge over their rivals. Massive popularization of mobile and …
Read More »Intel could delay ‘Skylake-S’ processors to October – document
Intel Corp. has set a very broad product introduction window for its code-named “Skylake-S” microprocessors that it allows the chipmaker to release its new microprocessors as late as in October, which means rather limited availability of such desktop chips this calendar year. An excerpt presumably from an Intel’s document for …
Read More »Samsung kicks off production of 14nm Exynos system-on-chips
Samsung Electronics has announced that it had begun mass production of a new Exynos 7 system-on-chip for mobile and multimedia devices using 14nm FinFET process technology. The news Exynos 7 Octa processor will likely power the company’s upcoming mobile devices, including flagship smartphones. Samsung started to mass produce chips using …
Read More »AMD to launch A8-7650K ‘Kaveri’ APU this week
Advanced Micro Devices plans to release a new accelerated processing unit (APU) based on the code-named “Kaveri” design. The new chip will be a relatively affordable solution with unlocked multiplier that is designed for overclockers in budget. The new AMD A8-7650K accelerated processing units has four “Steamroller” cores (two dual-core …
Read More »Intel to unveil Skylake processors for desktops in August – report
As reported, Intel Corp. will delay its code-named “Skylake” microprocessors for desktops and the new chips will not hit the market in mid-2015, as planned. According to a new media report, the “Skylake-S” chips will hit the market only in August. DigiTimes reports that Intel intends to release its new …
Read More »Intel reaffirms plans to release Core M ‘Skylake’ chips this year
Intel Corp. reiterated plans to release a new generation of Core M microprocessors based on the code-named “Skylake” micro-architecture this year. The new chips will have improved performance and lower power consumption than existing Core M central processing units, which should enable more competitive designs. “As we move into the …
Read More »Nvidia refocuses Tegra business: targets gaming and automotive markets
For many years Nvidia has tried to enter the market of system-on-chips for media tablets and smartphones with its Tegra application processors. Even though the company has managed to win a number of contracts, in the recent years competitors like Intel, Qualcomm and MediaTek left Nvidia almost no chances to …
Read More »Analysts: It makes no sense to buy AMD, it seems right to invest in it
Rumours about takeover of Advanced Micro Devices surface pretty frequently and given the current financial woes of the company, it was only a matter of time before they emerge once again. But while it is unlikely that AMD will be purchased by any other company, it is possible that the …
Read More »Intel: Our lead over the rest of the industry is extending
Intel Corp. had to delay its code-named “Broadwell” microprocessors by about a year because of yield issues with its 14nm manufacturing technology. The move has affected plans of PC makers and will have an impact on PC business this year. However, Intel’s dominant positions will hardly be threatened since the …
Read More »TSMC to invest $15.9 billion in expansion of manufacturing capacities
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has announced that it will invest NT$500 billion ($15.9 billion) in expansion of its manufacturing capacities in central Taiwan. The company did not outline details of the upgrade plan, but it looks like the company is getting ready to significantly increase its abilities to produce semiconductors …
Read More »Intel: First full-custom Xeon CPUs are due next year
The needs of modern cloud datacenters require developers of microprocessors to implement certain custom functionality into their products. As reported, Intel Corp. has incorporated multiple special-purpose technologies into its latest Xeon platform and offers optimized versions of CPUs to select customers. However, the company still does not offer chips that …
Read More »Allwinner A64: a $5 64-bit quad-core chip for 4K tablets and CE
Allwinner, a Chinese maker of application processors for mobile devices and consumer electronics, recently introduced the world’s cheapest 64-bit application processor. The system-on-chip, which costs just $5, will power high-performance tablets and CE devices with 4K ultra-high-definition displays. The Allwinner A64 SoC integrates four ARM Cortex-A53 general-purpose cores, an unknown …
Read More »Intel vows to ship 10nm chips in early 2017, retracts its promise
While Intel Corp. has confirmed development of 10nm fabrication process as well as appropriate microprocessors, the company has never revealed exactly when it plans to introduce chips that will succeed its next-generation code-named “Skylake” CPUs. A couple of weeks ago a representative for Intel finally said that its first 10nm …
Read More »Samsung to produce chips for Nvidia, Qualcomm – analyst
Samsung Electronics is expected to significantly improve its contract semiconductor manufacturing business this year thanks to early start of production using 14nm FinFET fabrication process. While Apple, the largest customer of Samsung, now orders chips not only to Samsung, but to TSMC as well, it continues to work with the …
Read More »Specifications of Intel’s ‘Skylake’ 100-series chipsets unveiled
A web-site has published specifications of Intel Corp.’s 100-series core-logic sets designed for the code-named “Skylake” microprocessors due in the third quarter of the year. The new platforms will receive a significant upgrade of PCI Express lanes, which will improve their storage and multi-GPU capabilities. The family of “Skylake”-supporting Intel …
Read More »ARM introduces new-generation Cortex-A72, second-gen 64-bit core
ARM Holdings, a leading developer of mobile processors and solutions, on Tuesday introduced its second-generation high-performance 64-bit core based on the ARMv8-A architecture. While ARM has not revealed a lot of details about its new core, it said that it significantly increases performance compared to existing offerings and is the …
Read More »Intel retains position of top tablet SoC supplier
Intel Corp. maintained its position of the top supplier of application processors (APs) for non-Apple tablets in the third quarter of 2014, according to a new report from Strategy Analytics. Thanks to the fact that Intel’s roadmap includes various low-cost chips for mobile devices as well as solutions from Rockchip and …
Read More »Intel to offer unlocked ‘Skylake’ processors for overclockers in Q3 2015
Although Intel Corp. did not plan to offer central processing units featuring “Skylake” microarchitecture for overclockers along with the first wave of such chips, the company has changed its plans and will release unlocked versions of its “Skylake” CPUs in the third quarter of 2015. As reported last week, Intel …
Read More »Intel to offer unlocked ‘Broadwell’ processors with 65W TDP
Intel Corp.’s code-named “Broadwell” central processing units have already reduced power consumption of high-performance mobile processors to unprecedented levels. In the coming months the company's 14nm process technology and the “Broadwell” micro-architecture will apply their magic to chips aimed at overclockers and enthusiasts. Historically, Intel’s advanced microprocessors with overclocking capabilities …
Read More »Specs of AMD ‘Kaveri Refresh’ revealed: no performance boost coming
Advanced Micro Devices is expected to introduce new versions of code-named “Kaveri” accelerated processing units (APUs) with a bit higher performance in the first half of the year. In fact, the company is already shipping samples of its “Kaveri Refresh” products also known as “Godovari” to clients, which is why …
Read More »AMD to unify platforms for high-end FX chips, mainstream APUs
At present Advanced Micro Devices, just like Intel Corp., has two desktop platforms: socket FM2+ for mainstream accelerated processing units and socket AM3+ for high-end FX central processing units. When AMD introduces its new chips in 2016, the company will unify the two platforms, a media report claims. AMD’s forthcoming …
Read More »AMD preps ‘Bristol Ridge’ APUs: ‘Carrizo’ for desktops
Although Advanced Micro Devices does not have plans to bring the code-named “Carrizo” accelerated processing units to the market of traditional desktop computers, it is expected that a similar chip will actually make it into desktops. Unfortunately, this will happen only next year and it is unlikely that it will …
Read More »Intel to delay Skylake processors for desktops to third quarter
Just a week ago Intel Corp. said that it would not postpone introduction of its code-named “Skylake” microprocessors in a bid to sell-off the remaining inventory of current-generation chips. However, a source with knowledge of Intel’s plans revealed on Friday that the world’s largest chipmaker will delay commercial launch of its …
Read More »AMD to lower R&D spending on computing and graphics products
Advanced Micro Devices said this week that in the light of changing market environment and dropping revenues it will reprioritize its research and development (R&D) investments. The company will lower spending on creation of computing and graphics (CG) products and will boost funding of enterprise, embedded and semi-custom (EESC) projects. …
Read More »AMD: x86 will remain the central server micro-architecture
Even though Advanced Micro Devices and a number of other chip designers expect ARM architecture to gain a significant part of the server market in the coming years, even AMD itself admits that the good-old x86 will remain the architecture of choice for the vast majority of servers in the …
Read More »AMD: We are actively designing 14nm FinFET chips
Advanced Micro Devices on Tuesday confirmed for the first time that it is actively designing several chips that will be made using 14nm FinFET process technology. The announcement from AMD indicates that the company will manufacture its new chips either at GlobalFoundries or Samsung Electronics, not at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing …
Read More »AMD: We will release new APU, GPU products starting in the Q2 2015
Advanced Micro Devices said on Tuesday that it will release new products that will help it to regain share on the markets of central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) starting in the second quarter 2015 and going into the second half of the year. The comments from …
Read More »AMD pins hopes on ‘Carrizo’ APUs as sales of CPUs and GPUs drop
Advanced Micro Devices said on Tuesday that it pins a lot of hopes on its code-named “Carrizo” accelerated processing units after posting a major decline in sales of microprocessors and graphics adapters for personal computers. According to AMD, the “Carrizo” APUs will finally help it to boost PC chip market …
Read More »