AMD Enthusiasts - NOW is your chance

[AMDforME]

As many of you know, about a year ago there was a belief that AMD would deliver a Steamroller based desktop CPU to plug directly into the existing AM3+ mobo and deliver a ~15% performance increase over Vishera on an equal clock-for-clock basis. The Steamroller socket AM3+ CPU seems to have been abandoned with AMD's reorganization. That however has not stopped AMD enthusiasts from wishing for a Steamroller based AM3+ CPU.

I suspect if AMD knew for sure that there was a substantial size market for a Steamroller based socket AM3+ CPU, they might still consider producing these, which would extend the useful life of the AM3+ mobos and increase the value to AMD enthusiasts who currently own an AM3+ mobo or who just want to continue to use AMD desktop CPUs vs and APU.

That being the case I decided to take a poll to see what the interest level is because if it's enough, I'd suggest that AMD give production of a Steamroller based socket AM3+ desktop CPU serious consideration.

Let's keep this to just an AMD discussion only. This isn't a debate over which CPU/brand/model is the best. This thread is meant simply to get some real numbers from the XS members to see what interest they actually have regarding a Steamroller based AM3+ CPU with approximately a 15% performance boost over the same clockspeed model Vishera and with the top end FX model (similar to the FX-8350 currently), having retail street price in the $200-$250 range.

If you post any comments with Intel in them they will be deleted. Let's keep this thread active and to a simply Yes/No response based on the above stated criteria.

[Lightman]

There is an option missing for:
Yes I would buy Steamroller for AM4 socket with quad channel memory as AM3 is getting outdated.

I will surely get Steamroller APU for my living room as I think it will make nice upgrade from A10 5800K.

[AbortRetryFail?]

Should I vote #3 if I have a 790FX AM2+ ??

I suspect the current-stepping Vishera will not be the last chip on AM3+ but have heard nothing about yields or existing inventory of chips. It's anybody's guess ... whether it will be a new stepping of Vishera or 28nm Steamroller cores. Dresden has been great with new spins ... maybe they can do a Vishera mod at 32nm which rolls in some Steamroller arch/logic.

AMD has said Vishera will not be the last chip on AM3+ ... but that was before the FX-9's. I'm still looking for the 95w FX-8300s to hit America at retail ... it's been a long wait, so far.

You can order one from S Korea for $210

[tbone8ty]

There is an option missing for:
Yes I would buy Steamroller for AM4 socket with quad channel memory as AM3 is getting outdated.

I will surely get Steamroller APU for my living room as I think it will make nice upgrade from A10 5800K.

correct.... AM3+ is outdated and needs to be updated with pci-express 3.0 and updated sata III and usb 3.0 controllers (alot slower than intels options)...also quad channel would be nice.

[Darakian]

If the performance is there and the total cost of upgrade isn't huge then sure.

Edit:
If they went with a new socket I would also consider the upgrade, but a new socket better bring new features with it (ddr4, sata express, quad channel ram maybe).

[tbone8ty]

if its not on par with a 3770k then i wont be upgrading lol

[The Stilt]

AM3+ is not outdated.

The only thing related to AM3+ platforms, which can be considered as outdated is the chipset.

A quad channel memory controller would give no performance benefit over a dual channel controller.
Currently the bandwidth provided by a dual channel DDR-1866 (29.856GB/s) is not even fully saturated in most cases on AM3+ parts.
The performance benefit from DDR-2133 or higher can be seen in synthetic benchmarks only.

With the given, limited resources AMD should put all of their eggs in a single basket: A basket which says APU/SoC on it.
APUs / SoCs are the future in any case, there is just no way around it.

In case there would have been real demand for higher performance CPUs, we would been using a 10-core Komodos instead of 8-core Visheras. Komodo had 5 Piledriver based CUs in a single node and it would have been available for AM3+, C32 and G34 sockets.
It already existed as "release candidate" steppings before it was terminated and replaced by a cut-down version (4 CU) called as Vishera.

With the burder of the troubled manufacturing process lifted off things might escalate quicker than expected.

The APUs & SoCs are more complex than anything else the industry has ever seen.
A single chip CPUs have existed for 42 years now, while APUs / SoCs are around 37 years younger
It has taken and still will require time and chip generations before they can fully close the gap.
Ultimately APUs / SoCs will fully replace the CPUs.

"Resistance is futile"

[zir_blazer]

AM3+ is not outdated.

The only thing related to AM3+ platforms, which can be considered as outdated is the chipset.

A quad channel memory controller would give no performance benefit over a dual channel controller.

AM3+ topology do is outdated. Many Intel sockets and AMD own FM1/FM2 Processors got their own Integrated PCIe Controller, so the Processor can talk directly to the Video Cards instead of having to do one extra hop through the Chipset, that should possibily increase performance should some games be latency sensitive. AM3+ can't have that.
Also, it doesn't benefits AMD in any way to have two independent platforms, they should sooner or later get into the same Socket, even if they were to maintain CPU-only Processors (Like FM2 Athlons, but using CPU-only dies and not by die harvesting). In the case that they do get to share the same Socket, Quad Channel isn't required for CPU only, but it should surely help the bandwidth-starved APUs. It may increase Motherboard complexity, but if DRAM speeds becomes a limiting factor then its an alternative way to give the APU more bandwidth. Sounds like a solid foundation for a new, future prooft Socket infrastructure that could last a few generations.

In case there would have been real demand for higher performance CPUs, we would been using a 10-core Komodos instead of 8-core Visheras. Komodo had 5 Piledriver based CUs in a single node and it would have been available for AM3+, C32 and G34 sockets.
It already existed as "release candidate" steppings before it was terminated and replaced by a cut-down version (4 CU) called as Vishera.

For Sandy Bridge-E Intel only had an 8-Core die, but for Ivy Bridge-E they released three different dies with 6, 10 and 12 Cores. I would believe that if there was no need for that much CPU power, they wouldn't even have bothered spending money to design and validate all those 3 different dies.
I suppose that if AMD didn't use that Komodo for Desktop is because the performance increase wasn't going to be worth the extra die size, plus the fact that these should have run at slower speeds that current Piledrivers, hurting the already mediocre Single Threaded performance that is still very important on Desktop. Add in possible yield issues. Assuming that Opterons are still based on the same dies that Desktop Visheras, chances are that it was easier to manage one die that they could reuse among several products (Including two dies for the MCM G34 Socket) instead of having to produce both Vishera for Desktop and Komodo for Servers.



I would prefer to see a bigger, standalone CPU Steamroller version with 4 modules alongside 2 module Kaveri with its GPU on the same FM2+ Socket. Should make a decent lineup.

[AMDforME]

Let's not get side tracked here folks...

This thread is a vote on a Steamroller CPU as defined above, NOT a wish list of what you'd like from AMD.

As far as DDR4, PCIe 3.0, quad channel RAM, etc., I and others have noted for close to a year, that DDR4, quad channel RAM and PCIe 3.0 bring absolutely nothing tangible to the performance table nor will they for years to come, so let's just stay on track with the original premise of a ~15% performance increase over Vishera on a clock-for-clock basis at essentially the same price as Vishera, plugging directly into an AM3+ socket mobo. That's the question for AMD enthusiasts.

If you want to debate the other technologies or comparisons to Intel CPUs, please start a new thread of your own for that purpose.

If you don't currently own an AMD socket AM3+ mobo but you'd still buy a Steamroller to plug into an AM3+ mobo then you should pick option #3.

[sequoia464]

I voted yes on this (option 1). Not expecting to see anything though. Think my 8320 is probably going to be the last processor for my Sabertooth.

[Daveburt714]

Let's not get side tracked here folks...

This thread is a vote on a Steamroller CPU as defined above, NOT a wish list of what you'd like from AMD.

Seriously... You're going to question The Stilt?... I consider him the authority on AMD parts!!!
And I'm sure he has a better handle on what needs to be done to get them back in the game.

Anyway, I answered your poll (with option #1), but certainly wouldn't hesitate to stick with AMD in the future.
I'm not sure which way that'll lead, but unlike alot of folks I have no serious aversion to APU's. HUMA and GPGPU looks like the future, so if it required a new socket, so be it...

Ignoring synthetic benchmarks, in real world use I'm quite happy with my AM3+/8350 rig...

[MadDias]

let's just stay on track with the original premise of a ~15% performance increase over Vishera on a clock-for-clock basis at essentially the same price as Vishera, plugging directly into an AM3+ socket

U can't be serious.
After am2, am2+, am3, am3+ u really think amd would release a new processor without trying to milk the cow a lil more with a new socket?
Deneb ought to be a "drop in" upgrade for am2+ too, but in most cases u needed an am3 mobo to really let it shine.
After bulldozer not being an upgrade for am3, not only socket but also performance wise, i don't believe amd is going to do the same mistake again.
Sorry if i rain on ur parade, but am3+ is dead, like is amdforme since the future wasn't fusion at all.

If steamroller, then in a way intel does it. F**k the igp and the socket it uses, give us computing power amd.

[zanzabar]

if steam roller would match socket 1155 or 1150 i would buy it over intel, but i dont think that would happen. (i have 2 am3 and 1 FM1 right now, but amd just was not enough for the current gaming rig.)



i would rather see desktop overclockable g34 or c32. am3+ seamed kind of pointless to me from the start when there was perfectly good server sockets that could do the job.

[m_jones_]

I would love to buy it but even if AMD did release it on AM3+ i doubt the performance would be good as the competition.

[FlanK3r]

Maybe some 1090FX chipset. I have some bad feelings, if APU SR 3CU/6C could be so good as example FX-8350 with L3 cache...L3 cache is good boost performance for rendering and vide editing etc. For multitasking and bandwith too.

But, it could be Kaveri 2CU/4C in performance as now FX 3Cu/6C? What do you means? I wish enthusiast desktop with 8-12 threads...

[donitsi]

3.
I also would like to buy a 95w fx chip on fm2+

[AMDforME]

People PLEASE just stay on topic and not go off with issues that are not relevant to the poll. This is NOT a debate over what AMD could or might deliver and how that would compare with Intel products - as I mentioned several times above. Take those disussions to your own thread.

BTW, I didn't question Stilt who I feel is well informed but his opinion is not always 100% accurate. I was concurring that DDR4, PCIe 3.0 and quad channel RAM will NOT bring anything tangible in performance for years to come and that the socket AM3+ and 990FX chipset are not obsolete as some folks falsely believe.

Now let's stay on topic and just vote appropriately based on the premise of a ~15% performance increase clock-for-clock of a Steamroller CPU over the current Vishera CPU, for approximately the same street price.

[i found nemo]

Most definately. my x4 955be needs to be retired @ 3.4ghz and set in a am3/+ server/media center.

[Geonerd]

If Steamroller were released tomorrow, I'd definitely buy one and migrate all my CPUs 'downstream' into the next oldest motherboard I have laying about.

However, for the first time I can say that if I were building a complete new system, I'd switch to the Dark Side and not look back. AMD's continual incompetence, increasing reliance of Marketing BS, and 'Chirping Crickets' policy on the future of AM3+ has rather pissed me off, and I no longer feel any 'duty' to support this miserable company. If AMD pledges to release Steamroller on AM3+, I'd go ahead and build a new AMD system instead. Until such time, however, they have succeeded in squandering my trust and long-standing support.

[Geonerd]

OP, do you intend to send the results of this poll to AMD?

[tbone8ty]

Lol he works for AMD ^

[AMDforME]

Lol he works for AMD ^

Don't be an arsehole. There are a lot of people interested in a drop-in AM3+ Steamroller CPU if it were to become available. The best way for AMD to know what consumers will actually buy is to see real numbers. That's why this is a poll on a ~15% increase in performance over Vishera and not a wish list of foolishness.

I'm sure AMD can read the results for themselves and determine if there is sufficient consumer interest.

[Olivon]

I'm sure AMD can read the results for themselves and determine if there is sufficient consumer interest.

AM3+ steamroller choice is already made and this poll will change nothing.
Do you really think that AMD are complete amateur and base their choice on poll's hardware forums ?

[AMDforME]

AM3+ steamroller choice is already made and this poll will change nothing.
Do you really think that AMD are complete amateur and base their choice on poll's hardware forums ?

You'd be surprised how fast things can change when there is a financial opportunity possible. Steamroller desktop CPUs were on the AMD road maps up until the end of 2012, for those who don't know.

[FlanK3r]

sometimes, if right people are at right place... ,-)