AMD 64 X2 EE (Energy Efficient) Processors

Saving power is important for our generation and generations to come. More sustainable energy may be the answer but making more efficient, power saving hardware is also important. Inefficient hardware can hurt the environment by wasting valuable energy, especially if the energy is coming from a non-sustainable source.

I have been a customer of the processor manufacturers AMD for years now. The first PC I built used an AMD chip and I remember it used to overheat so much that I had to buy a bigger cooler for it. This solved the problem but created a lot of noise. My friends had similar results with Intel processors at the time. Processors used to use up lots of power and as a result generate lots of heat.

In recent years however, PC owners have become conscious of the amount of heat and noise there computers are producing. IT professionals and enthusiasts alike agree that more power consumption leads to more heat and therefore more noise and let’s not forget, more money and waste. Consumers and producers are realising that sustainability is the key. AMD have made a stand against the hot, noisy and inefficient AMD processors of old by releasing its new line of AMD ATHLON X2 EE edition processors. The question is can you have an energy efficient processor without sacrificing too much performance and what applications are there for these processors if the performance isn’t up to scratch.

A few years ago when AMD’s Athlon 64 processor was released, they also added a technology called “Cool & Quiet” to the benefit of a more energy conscious consumer. This was the company’s first attempt to market a greener processor. Cool & Quiet works by lowering the clock speed of the processor during periods of inactivity or low workloads to save energy. As soon as the processor encounters a heavy workload and requires more power, it steps up to its normal clock speed.

In March 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded AMD’s Cool & Quiet technology special recognition for advancements in energy efficiency. These processors have been proven to meet and even exceed EPA’s ENERGY STAR specifications.

This doesn’t seem so special these days since Intel have released their new efficient Core 2 Duo processors which have a technology called speed step which works similarly to Cool & Quiet which is why AMD decided to take this approach one step further. The new EE (Energy Efficient) line of processors allow the voltage to go down a lot further than in previous Athlon X2 models. However, this isn’t just when the processor is in Cool & Quiet mode, but actually during normal full load usage.

A second way of reducing the power consumption of AMD processors is the move from 95nm to 65nm processors. By reducing the size of the processor, you are reducing the amount of power required to run it. Also, this helps in the next step of processor development for AMD because future technology is going to be smaller. By releasing these 65nm processors, it is going to be easier to release the next generation of 65nm processors. Microsoft is a heavy supporter of 65nm techonlogy and is already working to make sure that it is supported in opperating systems in both compatibility and efficiency.

Mike Sievert, corperate vice president of microsoft said that "Microsoft and AMD have been working together to ensure customers get the quality, security and computing experience they deserve and expect using the upcoming Windows Vista operating system. We look forward to processor advances in energy efficiency and performance made possible with AMD's transition to 65nm technology, and expect that they will continue to enhance the customers' experience using Windows Vista."

These AMD X2 EE processors come in two flavours; 65 Watts maximum power consumption and 35 Watts maximum power consumption. The 65 Watt processors are come in with faster speeds than the 35 Watt varieties.

To analyse the impact that energy efficient AMD processors have made or can make, I will carry out the following research;

- How efficient are these processors compared to other AMD processors and even Intel processors?
- Were any extra sustainability issues created by these new energy efficient AMD processors?
- What other uses are their for energy efficient processors? I will include research on living room PC’s (Media Centres).
- Are consumers or businesses seeking to buy processors for efficiency or performance?
- What do you have to pay extra to get an energy efficient version of an AMD processor and do Intel offer better value for money?
- What is the future for energy efficient processors (next generation AMD processors eg. AMD Phenom etc...)?

There are a few sources to find out the information that i need to complete this research however, these can be classified into a few classes:
- Benchmark results
- Pricing lists
- Articles
- Usage statistics

These are a few of the online resources that i have found relevent to this study. Further sources will be added as appropriate.

http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/Athlon_64_X2_Energy_Efficient_Processors/
http://www.amd.com
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/VirtualPressRoom/0,,51_104_543~108324,00.html
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2007/10/11/42350/amd+rolls+out+energy-efficient+processors.htm
http://www.hardwarezone.com/news/view.php?id=8884&cid=4
http://www.intel.com/design/embedded/downloads/315336.pdf
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/amd-energy-efficient.html
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/21/intel_green/
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/tsearch/Processor+energy+efficient+intel+core.htm
http://www.itweek.co.uk/itweek/news/2169203/intentions-little-action-energy
http://whitepapers.silicon.com/0,39024759,60261390p,00.htm
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/
http://freespace.virgin.net/roy.longbottom/cpuspeed.htm