New AMD CPUs, Intel’s Ivy Bridge Timeline, and Elpida is Bankrupt

What an interesting news day today was. This morning I received an email from AMD about a pair of new CPUs. They are expanding the Bulldozer line with new six core (three module) and four core (two module) CPUs.

Model	CPU Base	CPU Turbo Core	TDP	Cores	L2 Cache	L3 Cache	Max DDR3	PKG
FX-6200	3.8 GHz	4.1 GHz	125 W	6	6 MB	8 MB	1866	AM3+
FX-4170	4.2 GHz	4.3 GHz	125 W	4	4 MB

Both of the new offerings will have fully unlocked multipliers and should be fairly competitive price-to-performance. What that price is remains to be seen. When we’ll see them is unknown at this point, but their release “… is happening on a rolling timeline, so availability will vary by market.”

They have also announced a price drop in the FX-8120 effective today. To what they didn’t say, which seemed odd to me, but I’m just the messenger. They expect retail outlets to reflect the change too. Engaget seems to think they’re dropping it to $185, which would be a $15 drop from current NewEgg prices. I’ll assume Engaget referencing the FX-8150 was a typo (see their URL), and that they’re not dropping the FX-8150 by $65. $15 off the FX-8120 sounds more realistic.

Next up we have a revised launch schedule through the grapevine. From HWBot, who got it from TechPowerUP!, who got it from SweClockers, it seems Intel has revised the schedule a bit. I’ll pick from the middle of the pack for the quote (TechPowerUP!).

• 8 April, 2012: This was supposed to be the day “everything” (all CPU models slated for April, compatible motherboards) launched. Instead on this day, motherboard vendors will launch their products based on Intel Z77, Z75, H77, and B75 chipsets. System builders (you) will have to use existing “Sandy Bridge” processors, which are very much compatible with those motherboards. You will not be able to buy “Ivy Bridge” processors from anywhere on this day.
• 29 April, 2012: This is when Intel will launch quad-core Core i5, Core i7 “Ivy Bridge”. On this day, the media will be able to post reviews of the new processor platform. It’s not clear if you’ll be able to buy these chips on this day, either. Perhaps you might.
• 3 June, 2012: This is when Intel will launch Q77 and Q75 chipset. The notebook platform based on “Ivy Bridge”, dual-core “Ivy Bridge” processors, and the much talked about Ultrabook “Ivy Bridge” form-factor are due for “sometime in June”.

We can neither confirm nor deny that; indeed I just plain don’t know, but it’s more fodder for the rumor mill to discuss.

Lastly, we’re sad to report that memory manufacturer Elpida (who made the much coveted Hyper memory ICs) has filed for the equivalent of Chapter 11 in Japan. It seems they owe around $5.6 billion which they weren’t able to find partners to pay. This one was already posted in the forums, feel free to discuss: Hypers Just Got More Expensive…. Elipida Files for Bankruptcy. Credit for that find goes to Tech Reaction.

All in all, an interesting day for overclockers!

–Jeremy Vaughan (hokiealumnus)