Tech Preview: AMD Launches Trinity @ Rage3D.com

[Lupine]

AMD launches their second generation APU complete with second generation Bulldozer cores and the graphics cores from the mighty Cayman cards.

AMD Launches Trinity

[noko]

Is there any hardware available now being powered by Trinity? A launch with not much to show for? Looking forward to an actual review of Trinity with some detail cpu analysis since it incorporates Piledriver.

[aviphysics]

There are reviews of Trinity. I don't know if they fit your definition of detailed.

A list is here.
http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33989918

[noko]

I ment here at Rage3d which seems to do a very good job. I guess we will wait for the non-mobile versions later.

I hope AMD can make the numbers for demand this time around, Ivy Bridge GPU is getting there but still behind, can't say that for next time around except Intel needs even a bigger improvement in drivers.

[caveman-jim]

Availability is ramping up now, there should be mass availability of Trinity in mobility form by the end of June.

Desktop is coming, not sure when, but a bit later than mobility. The launch method here is more about announcement and then partner products, because it's not a direct-to-customer product; AMD sells to OEM's, OEM's sell to consumers, so they went to announcing and the partners can launch when they're ready.

Yields are much better for Trinity than Llano, for two reasons - 1 is design, AMD have learned a lot about GF's 32nm process as well as made a design that yields better; and 2 is GF, they have improved their 32nm process.

[noko]

Very good news about AMD and GF which was too bad it didn't pan out as good last year but that is just how it goes sometimes.

If AMD can relate user experience from Intel to AMD processors I think they would have the winning hand. One could say now days that more calculations are done on the GPU then on the CPU which AMD is ahead in.

Intel has better cpu AMD has better GPU which is more important in todays environment? I think the stronger GPU is more important but then that is my usage.

[caveman-jim]

Like you say, it comes down to meaningful impact; while there is a difference in CPU performance in Intel's favor, does the difference (a) offer meaningful, actual in-use benefit, (b) offset the loss of graphics performance, (c) force a spec upgrade to compensate for (b), and (d) justify the price difference?

[noko]

Originally Posted by caveman-jim

Like you say, it comes down to meaningful impact; while there is a difference in CPU performance in Intel's favor, does the difference (a) offer meaningful, actual in-use benefit, (b) offset the loss of graphics performance, (c) force a spec upgrade to compensate for (b), and (d) justify the price difference?

For most users, it is visual calculations that are most important as in image manipulation, fast graphical performance, gaming as well as video quality. At the lower end Cad, 3d rendering and so on is not the norm but more reserved for the professional market. The majority of x86/x64 users if shown the difference in gaming quality and speed, video quality as well as speed up of programs that does graphical images and video would probably think AMD is the leader. That is if clearly shown the difference especially at a given price point.

How does AMD effectively differentiate themselves is a question that AMD needs a good answer to plus actually impliment a successful push to enlighten folks their choices.

Some thoughts:

• Compare Intel FP performance cability to AMD APU FP calculations then show what it can do (same price range comparison)
• Left side Intel, right side AMD game comparison (biggy one here)

• FPS
• IQ differences
• Render errors
• Image speed for let say a OpenCL manipulation using Gimp Intel left AMD right.
• Then do some routine stuff such as word processing, spread sheet where both come out virtually the same as in no real usable difference in performance since human input is the limit at this point in time with those type of programs, cpu's have gone way past performance levels making a difference.
• Presentation transition effect of PowerPoint which uses GPU acceleration Intel left AMD right (that is if there is a noticeable difference)
• Video quality Intel Left AMD right, show close ups, labeling of refinements made by AMD processing. Just don't show battery life stuff but actual impact experience of better video quality which also translate into HDTV use.