1.35v, but not a problem
A WHILE AGO we said that AMD was having trouble reaching the speeds it wanted at the
voltages it wanted on the upcoming 65nm process.
In this case, even though the original source was correct, the information is nowhere near as dire as we were told.
The 1.4v operation is not a problem, we are told the first generation of 65nm parts are set for 1.35v, so if they had to go up to 1.4, well it is not a problem worth noting really. (For the pedantic, (1.4^2)/(1.35^2) ~= 1.075, or about an 8% increase)
More likely, the source had a mobo with a BIOS that rounded off a tad aggressively. In any case, we are told this version of the 65nm process is on target.
There is another bit to think about though, I said this version of 65, there is a new one coming early next year. That one will dramatically drop voltage and wattage consumed, leading to quad core parts that are on track for the speeds and power AMD promised. Basically, what it comes down to is AMD says they will deliver 65nm parts on time, on power, and in quantity. While it is a story for another day, AMD does not have a single monolithic process like Intel, there is a much higher prevalence of running changes and improvements. It looks like AMD is in much better shape than the rumors suggest.
The INQuirer
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