Colleagues from the EE Times website was lucky enough to chat with Mike Clark , which is its first AMD processor design experience obtained in this company even 23 years ago, having been engaged in the development of one of the K5 processor generation units.
It is with the words of Clark, we learn that the author of the legendary K8 architecture Jim Keller managed to create an impressive groundwork for architectural improvements, which are used in Zen processors. He managed to organize the work as necessary, and his departure from the company did not affect the quality of "fine-tuning" the Zen to the stage of mass production.
Sam Clark explains that the development of processors with Zen architecture saving low power consumption was one of the most important priorities - just for the reason that it is important for all market segments in which these processors will appear. As soon as any changes or suggestions began to pose a threat to the energy balance of the processor, the working group has taken corrective solutions.
Even the name "Zen", borrowed from Eastern philosophy, Clark proposed to use for the display of the balance of performance and power consumption, which will have the appropriate processors. Naturally, the market supports Zen architecture will be offered under other trade names, but at the stage of development of the architecture characteristics of balance was a priority, and therefore found in the title display.
Clark admitted that support the implementation of simultaneous processing of multiple streams in Zen processor provides a good level of performance, but to share specific data did not. This feature still needs some work, and to judge the final growth performance early. Related Products :
|