Quote Originally Posted by Apokalipse View Post
And a Bulldozer module being 12% larger than one core (or what one core would be if they didn't use modules) and actually have the ability to process another thread (instead of just using idle resources of the one core)

You are comparing 8 virtual threads with 8 actual threads.
Do you understand how hyperthreading works? It doesn't make each core process two instructions simultaneously.

And that's how Bulldozer modules are superior. An even smaller increase in die area (HT needs +30%, BD module needs +12%) for the ability to actually process two threads simultaneously.
HT certainly improves performance to the extent that 4 core 8 threaded 920s are comparable to 6 physical cores on thuban. This is just based on a rumor, but it said 8 core bulldozers compete with a westmere, which is fine and dandy, except that thats not what they will be up against. Bulldozer I'm sure will do fine against 1155 sandybridges even if they don't oc quite as well, but people currently on 1366 are probably not looking for a bargain considering x58 is not the best bang for the buck compared to 1156 or amd's am3 chips. Its not a small market like 2011 will be, and I don't think AMD should just dismiss it because of the "professionalism" aspect of letting g34 boards being equipped with enthusiast features. A $300-400 12 core cpu will put a real wrench in 1356's sales, as that was the i7 920's launch price, and I don' think intel lost money on those chips