fpg,
Bottom line: Adding the dualie capability to A64s is free for AMD, practically free for the boardmakers, and yet vastly increases the value of the platform.
I think AMD marketers' argument agains making 4x4 available across the board (not just FX) is that it may canibilize Opteron sales, which IMO does not make much sense now when AMD has ALL Tier 1 OEMs.
I don't understand why some are calling this a kludge, either.
Definitely not me. It is elegant solution, as are all > 1 socket AMD products. I jus don't think it will fly if it is FX only.
Who wouldn't spend $15 more on a dualie-capable MB, just for the option of filling the 2nd socket at a later date? Nobody's forcing you to fill both sockets immediately.
It is a little like SLI, only worse. You can buy SLI board, you can buy an SLI capable card, and you have an option of getting a second one. If you are getting a system, you settle on the CPU (which in ovewhelming percentage is non-FX), why would you buy a 2 socket mobo along with it when from the outset you know you would have to throw out the 1st CPU to get 2 way.
A logical approach for non-FX buyer is not to get 2 socket mobo upfront and only get 2 socket system when the CPU he is buying is 2 socket capable.
NVidia got this part right. NVidia gae the option to get 2nd card to a lot of mainstream buyers, so NVidia's marketing gimmick (SLI) works. If AMD will make 4x4 FX only, it will not work.
Joe |
