Intel vs AMD: 2010 Could Be a Slow Year for AMD Processors

Written by: J. F. Amprimoz • Edited by: M.S. Smith
Updated Jan 11, 2010 • Related Guides: Intel

With no Bulldozer or Fusion CPUs Until 2011, will there be any AMD processors that can compete against Intel's Sandy Bridge in 2010?

The previous article explained how AMD’s Phenom II may make some inroads as Intel fans hesitate to choose which of Intel’s new sockets to buy over the course of 2009. But with Intel already crossing the Sandy Bridge (the codename for the architecture to succeed Core) in the second half of 2010, things don’t seem as positive for AMD come the end of the decade.

The Storm after the Calm

click to enlarge

By the end of 2009, Intel will have its new Core architecture well established in the enthusiast market, will be finding it’s way into the hands of performance (the level between enthusiast and mainstream, below that is termed value) users.

AMD road maps (the one on the right is from a presentation at their Financial Analyst Day, November 13th) don’t show anything for the desktop except no more Phenom tweaking until 2011, when the Bulldozer core (last supposed to appear in ’09 on a now defunct CPU codenamed Shrike) is slated for launch. This, at 32nm in Orochi, Llano, and Ontario CPUs for enthusiast, mainstream and netbook markets, respectively.

Where Did the Fusion Powered Bulldozer Go?

The time machine feature went off unexpectedly: apparently now it won’t be seen until 2011. The 45nm CPUs line that was to use the Bulldozer core, set to appear in 2009 last we heard of it, and codenamed Shrike, has shrunk to invisibility and can no longer be found.

Not much is known about Bulldozer, and it’s impossible to tell whether it will be ready to go on time; let alone whether it will live up to its name and crush anything in front of it; or live up to its name and be really slow, use a lot of power, and need a lot of special care and maintenance. One thing is for sure; we’ll be waiting for a while to find out. Some good news: while we will still be waiting until 2011 for the part to launch, AMD had offered further details of the Bulldozer CPU architecture.

Fusion, AMDs brand for integrated graphics on the CPU, was also pushed out to 2011, when it should appear on Llano and Ontario.

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Jay S Mar 3, 2010 1:58 AM

Always an AMD fanboi...

I think AMD's compatibility advantage is too great for me to switch to Intel. For a long time I had an X2 4000+ and seamlessly upgraded the CPU to X3 440 running at 3gigs!! Everything is so much faster and I only shelled out $85 for the performance boost. I don't care what Intel makes. I'll always buy AMD.

J. F. Amprimoz Jan 23, 2010 4:55 PM

agreed

Yup Patrick, with Intel making a mess of socket selection (there is a third on the way) it would be great if AMD was able to drop a high end chip on us. If you don't need breakneck speed, AMD's Phenom II are plenty fast enough in most applications and really attractive in the face of the Intel platform shuffle. Those with a hankering for processor intensive stuff, especially highly multicore, are still going to have to pick an Intel, at least for the rest of this round.

Next year should be AMD's Bulldozer against Intel's Sandy Bridge. Now if the code names were literal, it wouldn't be much a fight ;-)

Patrick Jan 23, 2010 4:41 PM

Intel vs AMD in 2010

This is a real letdown, especially at a time when AMD would have such a good chance against intel (due to intel choosing multiple platforms).

Its about that time of year for me to do a computer upgrade, and having 2 different sockets from intel doenst really do anything for me as i intend to have the machine for at least a few years, and it seems intel is trying to force more hardware down my throat than buying something and coasting off of it for a few years.

Amd really doesnt have anything competitive, and the lack of anything new in 2010 could prevent would be customers such as myself from switching.

I really hope they get thier act together, and give intel a run for thier money. Its not all about speed, just give us something that is relatively inexpensive to buy, maintain, and upgrade. And as long as it does the same thing for less money (especially when upgrade time comes around) AMD will always have customers.

J. F. Amprimoz Nov 21, 2009 6:41 PM

Yes But Light at End of Tunnel

Don't count them out yet. The Global Foundaries deal looks like it is going really well, the cash from Intel helps, and it looks like the Fusion Powered Bulldozer might be coming together. Anand Shimpi from Anadandtech tweeted they look pretty good so far.

M.S. Smith Nov 21, 2009 6:13 PM

Rough Road

Things really look bad for AMD. I feel sorry for them because they did everything right for a long time, but Intel was simply too big a giant to topple. I do hope that the proliferation of cheap PCs will give them a chance, however, given how good their low-end stuff is.

Mezghani Mehdi Sep 26, 2009 8:37 PM

RE: Intel vs AMD: 2010 Could Be a Slow Year for AMD Processors

AMD maranello Coming Soon

waw !

Intel vs AMD: 2010 Could Be a Slow Year for AMD Processors

The Storm after the Calm

Where Did the Fusion Powered Bulldozer Go?

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