AMD’s Next-Gen Kaveri APUs Will Require New Mainboards

From X-bit Labs: It is not a secret that AMD’s next-generation code-named Kaveri accelerated processing unit for high-performance systems will be significantly different than the currently available chips in many ways. As it appears, the difference is so significant that the new hybrid microprocessor will require power supply circuitry, which means new FM2+ form-factor and appropriate mainboards. It will be impossible to install Kaveri into existing platforms.

AMD Fusion A-series APU code-named Kaveri is projected to feature up to four Steamroller high-performance x86 general-purpose cores as well as GCN architecture-based AMD Radeon HD graphics engine. The Kaveri chip will be AMD’s first high-performance accelerated processing unit with HSA [heterogeneous system architecture] enhancements, such as heterogeneous uniform memory access, CPU and GPU cache coherency and other. Moreover, Kaveri will be AMD’s first high-performance APUs made using 28nm process technology. Finally, the chips will feature new dual-channel memory controller as well as all-new power management.

As a result of massive changes inside Kaveri, the chips will feature new FM2+ form-factor and will only be compatible with new mainboards with FM2+ sockets, according to a new roadmap update issued by AMD. The new chips will therefore be incompatible with existing mainboards, which means that there will be no upgrade path for systems based on A-series “Trinity” and “Richland” APUs.

Given the fact that Kaveri will feature a number of “firsts” for AMD, a new socket was something logical to expect. What is unclear at this point is whether FM2+ mainboards will have any specific requirements and whether they will be more expensive than existing motherboards with FM2 sockets.

It should be noted that among other things Kaveri will reportedly support not only DDR3 memory, but also GDDR5 memory, which will be AMD’s secret weapon to fight for high-performance systems. GDDR5 should enable very high performance of integrated graphics sub-system for all-in-one and mobile systems.

Maximum memory bandwidth provided by dual-channel DDR3 memory sub-system at 2133MHz is 34.1GB/s, which should be sufficient for today’s microprocessors, but may be insufficient for powerful graphics adapters. By contrast, an inexpensive 128-bit GDDR5-based memory sub-system with 3400MHz effective clock-speed enables 54.4GB/s of memory bandwidth, or 60% higher compared to DDR3-based sub-system. While this clearly is not enough for a high-end graphics solution, it should be sufficient for modern mainstream graphics adapters that cost around $100 and which truly provide adequate performance in video games.

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