AMD’s TLB errata fix benchmarked

Robert Hallock 10 Dec, 2007 at 2:34am ET Article published in Tech

On the heels of a rocky Phenom launch comes word that the Phenom processor line is hamstrung by instability problems at high CPU loads. As a result of an error on the released Phenom silicon, AMD has been forced to release a BIOS patch to correct the problem at a “Software” level. Unfortunately for AMD, this update outrightly cripples the Phenom which was already ailing in the performance race.

At this time, AMD is looking towards the B3 silicon which isn’t slated for release until early 2008. It’s going to be a long, cold winter for the boys at AMD.

Techreport has an insightful analysis and benchmark suite for the Phenom in light of the TLB error being “Fixed.” They detail the problem, and put doom in neat little charts. It’s worth the read.

Comments

10 Dec 2007 ~ 2:45am jhenry It sure sucks to be AMD right now... They let the lead they had with the 939's go straight to hell... I knew it once AM2 came out...and I was an AMD guy... It's a shame.
10 Dec 2007 ~ 2:48am primesuspect Is the errata worth "fixing"? Seems like it's obscure enough that it shouldn't be a problem for almost all users. From what I read, it has to do with virtualization and a bizarre set of circumstances causing a hard lock.
10 Dec 2007 ~ 6:07am mmonnin No piece of hardware should ever, EVER cause an error/crash when its new in acceptable circumstances IE not overheating. It is completely unacceptable in the business world.
10 Dec 2007 ~ 12:20pm mas0n The TLB issue is not that big of a deal, errata happens to everyone in the business and AMD is handling it well. Unfortunately this is very bad timing for such a problem. The Phenom is not a dissappointing chip IMO, it's just NOT Core 2, and Core 2 is phenomenal. As it should be though, Intel is a $160B company with 30 times the R&D budget that AMD has. After years of suck it was time for a "leap ahead."
10 Dec 2007 ~ 12:28pm Thrax A TLB issue is not <i>usually</i> a big deal, because Intel and VIA can both update their CPU's opcodes to provide fixes. AMD is the only CPU mfgr that can't, and they're paying the price.
10 Dec 2007 ~ 12:29pm Leonardo

No piece of hardware should ever, EVER cause an error/crash when its new in acceptable circumstances IE not overheating. It is completely unacceptable in the business world.

That's exactly why AMD is taking steps to mitigate the problem and is admitting it openly. Were they just to let it pass, it would damage their credibility beyond the damage already incurred.
10 Dec 2007 ~ 1:19pm mas0n To add furthur insult to injury, AMD is now officially worth less than they paid for ATI. :sad2:
10 Dec 2007 ~ 1:31pm BlackHawk

mas0n wrote:

To add further insult to injury, AMD is now officially worth less than they paid for ATi. :sad2:

Saw that on another site. Bad idea buying ATi. They should've put that money into R&D. Wasn't ATi already going downhill by then?
10 Dec 2007 ~ 1:34pm GHoosdum

mas0n wrote:

To add furthur insult to injury, AMD is now officially worth less than they paid for ATI. :sad2:

My stock portfolio showed me intuitively that this is the case, but it's still sad to see it confirmed in print.
10 Dec 2007 ~ 1:35pm Thrax

Black Hawk wrote:

Saw that on another site. Bad idea buying ATi. They should've put that money into R&D. Wasn't ATi already going downhill by then?

Yeah, because the 1900 series (While good) got effectively slaughtered by NVIDIA in the games that mattered to people.
10 Dec 2007 ~ 1:38pm BlackHawk Miss the 9700 + AXP1600+. Remembering all those steppings, modding the cards. Those were the days. That would've been an awesome time for them to merge.
10 Dec 2007 ~ 1:48pm mas0n In retrospect you certainly have to wonder why they didn't dump that $5.4 Billion into R&D. I understand the need for the ATI merger, but they had to know that eventually Intel was going to awake as an angry giant.

If they survive the next 2 years, the ATI merger will pay off i think, but in the meantime...
10 Dec 2007 ~ 2:10pm Leonardo

Bad idea buying ATi. They should've put that money into R&D. Wasn't ATi already going downhill by then?

On the surface it may look that way, but the ATI acquisition may turn out to be a great boon, given AMD survives long enough to realize and implement the combined technologies. I don't think AMD went "downhill" so much as they failed to climb the hill. Intel swore to not allow themselves to be humiliated again, to stay on the forward edge of new technology, and to provide products at a very good value proposition. AMD failed to climb the hill, more or less just walking around the hill at the same elevation.

Oh, you stated that ATI went downhill. ATI had gone downhill, but that trend is over. ATI's future, both long and short term, look pretty good to me. The ATI arm is much more competitive than the AMD arm.
10 Dec 2007 ~ 5:33pm Snarkasm The ATI arm might actually be what saves AMD. At least the whole company won't go under because of this current processor set fiasco. They might live through it thanks to ATI and live to R&D another day and get back in it in the processor arm.

But then again, maybe not. Really was an AMD fan, here's hoping they do.
10 Dec 2007 ~ 6:46pm Leonardo

Were they just to let it pass, it would damage their credibility beyond the damage already incurred.

And the credibility gets even worse, it would appear.

Is AMD telling lies about power consumption? Or is this just deliberate misleading? A useful rating system?

I smell desperation.
10 Dec 2007 ~ 8:39pm Qeldroma

Leonardo wrote:

And the credibility gets even worse, it would appear.

I smell desperation.

Really? After the leaks of Barcelona being a 40% better performer than anything Intel had out? I think I'm beginning to smell more SOP.