Chip manufacturer AMD has announced plans for an new
platform with a four-core, multi-socket processor.
The platform, dubbed 4x4, will be designed to be upgraded to
eight total processor cores when AMD launches four-core processors
in 2007.
Four-core chips put together four processors on a single
platform, using less power than single-core designs. They help
machines to process data more quickly and run more applications
simultaneously.
AMD’s announcement is the latest in its continuing battle with
rival chip manufacturer Intel, which has announced that it expects
to ship its own four-core processor early next year.
AMD said its next-generation architecture for servers,
workstations and desktops would be launched in the middle of next
year, with a four-core design for servers, workstations and
high-end desktops, and a dual-core design aimed at mainstream
desktop markets.
The new processors will be built with the capacity to
dynamically alter the frequency of each core on the chip to match
application workloads – a design aimed at reducing power
consumption.
The chip manufacturer is also planning a new mobile design for
the second half of 2007, to offer improved power efficiency and
longer battery life.