Zenmastur wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2019 9:13 pm
I guess you were right on the CPU pricing. Which leaves AMD with a gaping hole in their product stack. Namely the price points between the $750 Ryzen 9 3950X and the $1400 Ryzen Threadripper 3960X. I suppose they could keep the Threadripper 2950X and 2970X alive to fill this gap in the interim. But I would think that eventually they will have to fill it with newer SKU's. The question is what would you fill the gap with? I suppose they could fill it with a 20-core part. Seems a bit awkward though. I guess we'll have to wait and see. If they don't fill it, INTEL is sure to find a part to slide into the middle of AMD's stack to disrupt it. E.g. drop the price of the i9 10980XE and add a 20-core or maybe a 22-core part (a cut down W-3175X at higher clock speeds) in the $1000 to $1300 range.
Regards,
Zenmastur
I think it will be hard for AMD to fill those slots because the high-end CPUs come in 8 core chunks for those high end systems (maximally populated dies, and all the dies get used, less N, because you get 8 cores per die):
1x8=8 cores with one die
2x8=16
3x8=24 (This one is really the oddity! Since they bothered to make it, the only odd numbered die count after 1)
4x8=32
5x8=40 (This one is possible)
6x8=48
7x8=56 (this one is possible)
8x8=64
I think the 4 and 6 core (3200/3400/3600 stuff) is a different type of die, or some cores are dead on it. Most likely a different die.
I don't think AMD can cough up 28, 30, 36 core ... configurations easily.
But I doubt that it matters.
Intel is surely selling at a loss with their new prices.
And they
could discount to the point of giving the chips away.
But that is a loss of many thousands of dollars per chip.
And absurdly low prices will just mean that people will vacuum up the chips like a 10,000 foot tall hoover deluxe.
They would replace all the infrastructure in their server rooms with the new stuff.
Now, during this lull, AMD would have to tough it out.
But then, when Intel's inventory hits bottom, they would be in far more serious trouble that they are now.
Currently, they are already having problems meeting customer demand:
https://www.pcmag.com/news/371532/intel ... nd-maybe-i
And AMD seems to be running like clockwork, though a wee bit behind schedule.
And how long would the Intel shareholders put up with billion dollar losses?
I think that right now AMD is in the cat bird seat.
And the best Intel can do is whack them a few cans of corn, after the initial bloody nose.
I guess my odd metaphors are going to miss with the European audience.
"Cat bird seat" means huge advantage, position of control...
"Can of corn" is a baseball metaphor that means a really easy play (soft fly into the outfield right at a fielder).
"Hoover" is a brand of vacuum cleaner
Taking ideas is not a vice, it is a virtue. We have another word for this. It is called learning.
But sharing ideas is an even greater virtue. We have another word for this. It is called teaching.