Relative CPU performance of one dollar after the announcement of a new generation of relatively cheap server processors Intel Cascade Lake-X (W-2200) in October 2019. Source: Intel



AMD has officially confirmed that 3rd generation Ryzen Threadripper processors will be released in November 2019, but kept the details secret. At the same time, Intel told trading partners that it was ready to spend three billion dollars on a price war . Intel emphasizes that AMD's net profit for the past year was only $ 300 million, and it will not withstand dumping. Intel also promptly released a family of relatively cheap server processors of the W-2200 family (see under Cat) and relatively cheap 10th generation Core i9 game processors.



At the same time, AMD’s plans are becoming clearer thanks to the “master plan”, which the company accidentally (or “accidentally”) put in open access (the document has already been deleted, here's a copy , pages 550/558 are of interest).

AMD plans

The other day, the AMD Product website accidentally published a Master Product Document with some preliminary information about processors that could enter the market. The master plan is dated September 2019.



The list includes processors for the mass market, server CPUs and OEMs, including several models that were not previously reported.

Ryzen 7 3750X

For example, the plan mentions the eight-core Ryzen 7 3750X with a TDP of 105 W, which is located between the eight-core Ryzen 7 3800X and Ryzen 7 3700X. There is little difference between the two processors in the clock frequency (300 MHz), but the power consumption is very different: only 65 W for the younger model and 105 W for the older model. Observers conclude that AMD seeks to maximize the latest Ryzen family (Matisse), covering the desktop, laptop and OEM markets.



At the moment, this line is as follows:





The master plan for each product contains OPN part codes, as well as US ECCN, HTS and CCATS, which are required for export to the USA. It is likely that some components will be manufactured under direct contracts exclusively for certain customers.

Ryzen Threadripper 3000 Family

The document also lists a number of high-performance processors from the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3000 family oriented to the server market.



Previously, AMD officially announced that 24-core CPUs would be the first to enter the market. According to the plan, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3000 family will include 16-core, 24-core and 32-core processors with TDP up to 280 watts in the most powerful models. This is slightly more than the most productive 32-core current-generation 2000-series CPU (250 W).



The new process, along with improved heat dissipation and increased power, coupled with the advantages of the Zen 2 microarchitecture, should mean a significant increase in productivity, AnandTech writes .



The document states that third-generation processors use a new version of the SP3 socket called SP3r3, then there are doubts that they will be compatible with previous-generation motherboards. However, AMD is preparing new chipsets for next-generation Ryzen Threadripper processors, and socket compatibility has been announced.



As with processors for the mass market, it should be borne in mind that this is an internal technical document for the sales department. Separate models can be produced under direct contracts and not enter the mass market.



One way or another, but at the moment the list of third-generation AMD Ryzen Threadripper models is as follows (p. 550 in the master plan):

• CPK Consumer 16C 32T 140W
  
  
• CPK Consumer 16C 32T 140W DVT
  
  
• CPK DT Ryzen Threadripper 16C 280W SP3R3
  
  
• DT Ryzen Threadripper 280W SP3R3 DVT
  
  
• CPK DT Ryzen Threadripper 280W SP3R3 EVT
  
  
• DT Ryzen Threadripper 2E24 280W SP3R EVT
  
  
• CPK DT Ryzen Threadripper 32C 280W SP3r3
  
  
• DT Ryzen Threadripper 280W SP3r3 DVT
  
  
• DT Ryzen Threadripper 32C 280W SP3r3 EVT
  
  
• CPK DT Ryzen Threadripper 280W SP3r3 EVT
  
  
• DT RyzenThreadripper 2E32 280W SP3r3 EVT
  
  
• DT RyzenThreadripper 2832 280W SP3r3 EVT
  
  
• DT RyzenThreadripper 2E32 280W SP3r3 EVT

Intel Plans

Although AMD has not announced prices for the Ryzen Threadripper 3000-series, Intel has taken steps in advance to compete with these processors. In early October, the company introduced several processors of the new Intel Xeon W-2200 line (yesterday the official announcement was posted on the corporate blog on Habré): “Intel Xeon W-2200 processors are made in the same socket as Core X, they have the same operating frequencies and TDP, as well as the same number of cores and memory channels. Differences from Core X: support for ECC memory, large amounts of memory, vPro, VROC and some other technologies - a clear nod towards the corporate segment. Actually, the line is positioned as HEDT for official needs, however, the similarity here ends with the characteristics: the chipset for Xeon W is used in the server, and there is no compatibility on motherboards. ”





From the announcement in Intel corplog on Habré:

When studying the table, it is immediately evident that, compared to the W-2100, new processors are almost 50% cheaper - I think it makes no sense to explain what the reason is .

A further decline in prices is inevitable?

Intel presentation slide shows its financial reserves compared to a competitor, source



After the price announcement, it turned out that the new Xeon family is about half the price of last year's W-3200, which is considered the oldest family. These processors in the Xeon Scalable socket (LGA3647) support more memory channels (6) and PCI Express lines (64). The number of cores and threads is approximately double that of the corresponding W-2200 model.





The W-3200 has twice as many cores and threads as the W-2200, so the price difference is understandable, although it seems too big.

Game processors

Another situation with gaming CPUs. To withstand the competition, Intel released the tenth-generation Core i9 processors based on the Cascade Lake-X architecture with higher clock speeds, support for Turbo Boost 3.0, more PCIe lanes and more system memory with higher frequencies. At the same time, the tenth-generation Core i9 is about half as cheap as the ninth (Skylake-X).



Some analysts say that such a serious drop in the price of CPUs has never happened in Intel's history.



For example, the price of the flagship 18-core Core i9-10908XE with a clock frequency of 3 GHz and up to 4.8 GHz in turbo mode is announced at $ 979. For comparison, last year's flagship 18-core Core i9-9980XE at the time of release was offered at $ 1990, and now on the Intel website its price is announced "from $ 1699.00".



Rumors appeared on the network that lowering prices for the older lineup is almost inevitable. The German edition of ComputerBase notes that some sellers have already begun to cut prices. It also gives the likely final values ​​that the market can stop based on current trends. The price reduction has almost de facto reached target values:

Cascade Lake-X (ix-10000X) and Skylake-X Refresh (ix-9000X) price comparisons

(in the column “New Price” the official price of the 10th generation and the target value for the 9th generation are indicated)



Probably, Intel’s actions can be called dumping, as hinted at by the presentation slide above.

As in the 90s, if a full-scale price war starts between AMD and Intel, then it will definitely have one winner - buyers.

However, in the 90s there was another participant in this price war - Cyrix. He also sometimes produced chips cheaper and more efficiently than Intel, for example, the Cyrix 6x86 model. So, the performance of 6x86 at a lower clock speed exceeded the performance of a Pentium operating at a higher frequency.









Pentium-compatible Cyrix 6x86MX PR200 (Pentium Rating pins for PR (PR means “Pentium Rating”, that is, roughly equivalent performance with a Pentium processor that runs at this frequency)



For example, 6x86 at 133 MHz was faster than the Pentium 166 MHz, and as a result, Cyrix offered the 133 MHz chip as an equivalent alternative to the Pentium 166 (and at a lower price).



But in the end, the company could not stand the competition and went out of business. As a result, it was bought by the Taiwanese company VIA Technologies.



Let's hope that amid the dumping of a powerful competitor, AMD will have enough resources and it will not repeat the fate of Cyrix.