Maximum PC roadmap RSS Feed

AMD to Phase Out Several Phenom II X4 CPUs, Readies Six-Core Chip

Paul Lilly — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:59:26 -0600

According to AMD's updated CPU release schedule, the chip maker plans to put several Phenom II X4 900 series chips on the chopping block. The company has already stopped taking orders for the Phenom II X4 910 (2.6Ghz) and 945 (3.0GHz) and will stop shipments in the second quarter of 2010.

Starting in the first quarter of 2010, AMD will no longer take orders for its Phenom II X4 965 (3.4GHz) and 925 (2.8Ghz) processors, while orders for the Phenom II X4 955 (3.2GHz) are scheduled to end in the second quarter.

In addition to the above named parts, AMD will start phasing out its Phenom II X4 800, X3 700, and X2 500 series, and Athlon II X4 600 and X3 400 series sometime next year.

To replenish its CPU lineup, AMD plans to launch a 95W Phenom II X4 955 processor in Q2 2010, as well as its six-core desktop chip codenamed Thuban. The 2.8Ghz Thuban part will be built around a 45nm manufacturing process and come with 512KB of L2 cache and 6MB of L3 cache.

Image Credit: AMD

Rumor: Microsoft Plans to Counter Android, iPhone with Two Mobile OSes

Pulkit Chandna — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:46:47 -0500

Microsoft’s share of the mobile OS market has plummeted sharply in the last few years. It needs to quickly mount a counter-offensive against its more dapper rivals in the smartphone market, if it is to prevent itself from being marginalized even further. According to Taiwanese rumor mill Digitimes, Microsoft does have a strategy to counter its rivals in the smartphone market.

A Digitimes report, based on insider information from sources at Taiwan handset makers, suggests that Microsoft has readied a dual-platform strategy to take on the Android platform and Apple's iPhone. Under this strategy, Microsoft will not withdraw Windows Mobile 6.5 from the market even after Windows 7 Mobile is released during the fourth quarter of 2010. Instead, it will keep Windows Mobile 6.5 – a minor upgrade – on the market, albeit at a lower price point.

According to the sources, Microsoft plans to pit Windows Mobile 6.5 against Android, while reserving Windows Mobile 7 for the Apple iPhone.

Image Credit: Mobilewhack

Google Android Roadmap Shows Upcoming Features

Andy Salisbury — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:04:35 -0600

Thanks to some cryptic code mixed in with bug fixes and general clean up on the Android site, there are finally some hints as to what G1 users can expect in the near future.

Among those updates that remain obvious are camera functions (video has finally been included), a browser update (which will include a find function and clever copy paste) and other general speed enhancements.

Other updates aren’t directly aimed at the G1, but are still pretty notable. There’s focus on implementing an on-screen keyboard, and basic x86 support.

While there haven’t been any exact vendor names specified on the blog, it’s difficult to say if this is directed at any specific gadget. However, it does give us reason to believe that Android will finally be making its way onto a huge assortment of gadgets.

Image Credit: Google

Intel's Netbook Roadmap Revealed

Andy Salisbury — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:14:39 -0600

Intel’s most recent processor roadmap, released earlier this week, reveals their plans for technology extending all the way into the 32-nanometer realm.

The roadmap reveals some new codenames for the world to gawk at, including Medfield, which is slated for 2010, and it’s predecessor, Pineview, which should be on its way for a 2009 release. The two processors are still based on 45-nanometer technology, much like today’s Atom processor.

Pineview might be housing Intel’s own graphics processing technology, right on the chip.

The Medfield chip would be part of a new generation that includes the processor, memory controller, multimedia functions and I/O into a single chip. It’s also reported that battery life of netbooks that include the chips will have their battery lives drastically increased.

Image Credit: Intel

Intel Updates Its CPU Roadmap with Price Cuts, Says Motherboard Partners

Paul Lilly — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:45:02 -0500

More price cuts are on the horizon from Intel, with some processors soon to reach their end of life (EOL), say motherboard makers. As DigiTimes reports it, Intel will announce product discontinuance notices (PDNs) for the Core 2 Extreme QX9770 and QX9650 in the first quarter of 2009. PDNs will also be sent out for four quad-core chips, one of which is the Q9450 and ten dual-core CPUs, including the E8300.

Specific numbers haven't been released, but come October 19, Intel is expected to cut the price of the Core 2 Quad Q8200 and Q6600, Core 2 Duo 7300, and Pentium E2220 and E2220 CPUs. Around the same time the chip maker will launch its Core 2 Duo E7400.

In November, look for Intel to release a Core 2 Quad Q8300 clocked at 2.5GHz, Pentium E5300 clocked at 2.6GHz, and a dual-core Celeron E1500 at 2.2GHz. Prices in thousand-unit quantities will sit at $224, $86, and $53 respectively.

And finally, on January 18, 2009, Intel plans to launch the Core 2 Duo E7500 (2.93GHz, $133) and will make the following price cuts:

Core 2 Quad Q8200 from $193 to $183
Core 2 Duo E7400 from $133 to $113
Pentium E5200 from $84 to $76
Pentium E2200 from $84 to $64
Celeron E1400 from $54 to $43

Keep in mind that none of this is official, with Intel declining to comment on the price cuts and product launches.

Image Credit: Intel

Leaked AMD 2009 Roadmap Shows New FX Chip

Paul Lilly — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:14:52 -0500

Wondering what exactly AMD has in store for 2009? So is everyone else, which would explain the sometimes conflicting speculation making the rounds on the web. But for the real scoop, TomsHardware claims it has "some confirmed information thanks to [credible] inside sources."

If the sources prove accurate (and THW feels confident they will), AMD's upcoming socket AM3 platform is being designed to exclude AM2 and AM2+ parts. AM3 will support DDR3-1333 memory, and expect a move away from Diode based thermal monitoring to Thermal Sense Interface (TSI) monitoring.

Also on tap for 2009 are two new AM2+ Deneb chips shown as launching in January. THG also reports that an AM3-based Deneb chip will launch sometime in February, with tri-core AM3 chips making a debut by April or May of next year.

Catch the full roadmap here.

Image Credit: TomsHardware

Leaked Intel Roadmap Shows Next-Gen Atom Plans

Paul Lilly — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:31:24 -0500

Intel's already popular Atom chip may get a whole lot more interesting next year if a leaked slide turns out to be accurate. The slide comes courtesy of Japanese technology news site PCWatch, and it shows that Intel plans on bringing a next-generation Atom chip to market in Q3 2009. Code named Pineview, the CPU will come in both dual- and single-core versions, according to the report.

But the biggest news with the new Atom is its Lincroft microarchitecture. Lincroft differs from the current Silverthorne microarchitecture by integrating both a GPU core and a memory controller into the chip package. How exactly Intel plans to mesh a GPU core remains a mystery, but such a feat would spark an already booming Netbook market, assuming it would even be made available for Netbook systems.

Making things even more interesting, AMD is reportedly readying its own Atom competitor code named Bobcat, which is expected to be a single-core 1GHz AMD64 processorwith 256kb of L2 cache with an 8W power draw.

Image Credit: Intel

The Microsoft Roadmap – Past, Present, And Future

Justin Kerr — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:07:20 -0500

Bill Veghte, Microsoft’s Senior Vice President has laid out the official roadmap going forward for the Windows Product Line. In his address to the public he makes it pretty clear that Vista isn’t going away and neither is XP. Additionally he reveals some interesting facts about Windows 7, and what people should expect.

Windows XP

If Windows XP were to make a guest appearance in a Monty Python movie, it would be the old man trying to convince everyone he’s not dead yet. The press release from Microsoft seems aimed at trying to reassure people that Windows XP will be supported for many years to come. He reminds consumers that XP is only going to disappear in its retail form on June 30th and will still be available to OEM’s until 2009. This date actually becomes much longer when you consider users have the option of downgrading to XP should they happen to own a copy of the business or ultimate versions of Vista. Perhaps the most important reminder contained in the memo is the reality that Windows XP will continue to be patched with security updates until 2014. That’s a long time in PC years, in fact, it’s a full four years after the presumed launch of Windows 7. Current owners of Windows XP will all so be able to activate copies of the OS well past its end of life.

Windows Vista

Despite the fact that this press release is clearly aimed at attempting to quell any impending riots over the demise of Windows XP, he is quick to lay on the Vista charm. Vista clearly has a serious perception problem, and it will take a concentrated effort by Microsoft to shake the stigma. Unimaginable damage has been done to the Vista brand, mostly by Apple. As a result average users have been trained to fear Vista like the plague, even if that fear is unwarranted. He continues by quoting statistics typical home users have clearly rejected such as, improved security, faster performance, etc. Informed readers know that Vista, when matched with the appropriate PC isn’t actually all that bad. We now know that Vista runs on par with XP performance wise, and that UAC can help prevent root kits. Vista isn’t a huge a step forward, but it is a step forward none the less.

Windows 7

Bill Veghte refers to Windows 7 within the press release as a “working name”. This suggests they will indeed rebrand the new OS prior to launch. Additionally he confirms that Windows 7 will be built off the same core architecture of Vista. This will improve compatibility, but unless Microsoft address’s the sagging fortunes of the Vista brand, it won’t improve public reception. Given the fact that Vista has been heavily criticized for it’s “bloat” many have speculated that Microsoft is likely use a core Kernel and will bolt on functionality to suit the device. This approach is similar to that of the Mac or Linux allowing for versions of the OS to run on everything from phones to powerful Quad Cores. If Windows 7 actually turns out to be the version of Vista we were all hoping for, will all be forgiven?