AMD Restructuring And Renaming Entire CPU Lineup

[RicheemxX]

It looks like AMD has come up with another naming scheme in hopes to emphasize its corporate AMD Vision trademark and hopefully make things less complicated for users.

Essentially there will be
Enthusiast chips - the FX-Series - AMD Vision Black and AMD Vision Ultimate labels
Mid-range/mainstream chips - A-Series - AMD Vision Ultimate and AMD Vision Premium platforms
Budget/Entry level chips- E-Series - AMD Vision

Via Tom's Hardware

The news arrives by way of a mysterious document received by X-bit Labs. Although the site didn't provide a scanned copy for all to see, the document supposedly reveals that AMD will divide its processors into three different classes of its Vision platforms including FX-Series, A-Series and E-Series. That means we may not see another Phenom, Athlon or Sempron-related branding on our AMD CPUs ever again.

the FX-Series will consist of "Zembezi" processors based on Bulldozer micro-architecture with four, six or eight cores. These will be sold using the AMD Vision Black and AMD Vision Ultimate labels.

The A-Series processors will consist of the "Llano" APUs (accelerated processing units). These will have two or four cores and an ATI Radeon HD 6000-class graphics core. These will be sold on AMD Vision Ultimate and AMD Vision Premium platforms.

As for the E-Series, this group will serve the low-end market with APU's using one or two cores and a basic Radeon HD 6000-class "Zacate" graphics core. This series will be sold simply as AMD Vision.

Should add the AMD Vision platform and marketing is already out there. [linkage] AMD just wants a 'fresh' approach. I've done some of the AMD insight studies and saw the new logo and new ideas and it doesn't look bad but you never know until its actually out there.

[ShyguyXPC]

That just sucks, losing the Well established Names... Yeah sure new is good, but why lose a good thing when you have it going good now.

Athlon has been a part of the company since the first ones came out 10+ years ago.

Heck even Intel still uses the Pentium name to some extent.

Hopefully the CPU's will live up to the Hype and marketing and further boost the new chips image with the new naming, otherwise this renaming could be for nothing.

[Horrorcosmic]

Didn't AMD state that they would be dropping the ATI name and everything would be under the brand AMD, perhaps this is part of that, just some new names to help this image of a newer company.

[RicheemxX]

Yup they are doing the same for their Vid cards. They want to make the big push to emphasize AMD more

While I hate to see the Athlon name leaving I think it will be a good thing. Cuts down on some of the cross naming confusion.

[zulquar]

Damn they decided to change plans :S.
I think they might also be planning to change the socket ?
I was really looking forward to bulldozer supporting am3 socket, since Amd is already pretty good with backward compatibility I wouldnt be surprised, but hey a new architecture from the ground up will be great, IF its priced well .

[ShyguyXPC]

your right about the socket, though I don't think its been confirmed, but its been speculated, rumored and almost certainly will be something along the lines of an "AM3+" Socket.

As it is current Opteron Based Server CPU's that use some of the Bulldozer Features use a different Socket (G34 and C32), instead of Socket F/1207.

Socket C32 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Socket G34 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not sure if AM3+ will be anything like these two in looks and layout, but you can almost certainly bet it'll be a new socket.

Since AMD is doing all this Renaming stuff, IMO it would be best if they didn't use any sort of AM3 designation for Bulldozer, at least just jump up on to Socket AM4 or something like that, would go good with the new CPU Renaming Scheme as well (sort of like working with a Clean Slate)