Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/14/amd_ddr3_in_phenom/
AMD's Phenom processors weren't expected to gain DDR 3 support until H2 2008 when the chip maker introduces its Socket AM3 interconnect. But documents posted on the company's website show the upcoming, Socket AM2+ versions are DDR 3 compatible too.
AM2+ is all about supporting HyperTransport 3, the latest version of the technology AMD uses to connect its processors to host computers' system chips. AMD has said AM2+ will support DDR 2 memory, controlled using its CPUs' built-in memory manager hardware.
DDR 3, on the other hand, already supported by Intel's P35, G33 and other 'Bearlake' chipsets, hasn't officially been due to be supported until H2 2008.
However, AMD's BIOS and Kernel Developer's Guide for AMD Family 10h Processors, essentially the chip series' low-level programming bible, reveals "support for DDR 2/DDR 3 DIMMs in product variations".
Of course, AMD would want to architect in DDR 3 support, in order to ensure the second-generation Phenoms - and, indeed, the recently released 'Barcelona' third-generation Opteron server CPUs - are able to handle DDR 3 in the near future without AMD having to design a whole new memory controller and re-validate the chip with this new component.
The question is, will Phenoms be able to use DDR 3 out of the gate, or will their use of the Socket AM2+ bus preclude support of DDR 3 until AM3 comes out?
AMD denies 'stop ship' with Barcelona because chip is not shipping (6 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/06/opteron_delays_amd/
IBM fails to ship even the most meager four-core Opteron box (6 November 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/06/ibm_opteron_x3455/
AMD three-core Phenoms to ship March 2008? (24 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/24/amd_tri-core_phenom_plans/
AMD updates Phenom timetable (10 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/10/amd_phenom_timetable/
AMD to try to take on Intel Core 2 with tri-core Phenom (18 September 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/18/amd_three_cores/
AMD admits no 'substantial' Phenom output in '07 (23 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/23/amd_phenom_shift/
AMD to roll out 45nm Phenoms, Semprons H2 '08? (25 June 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/06/25/amd_45nm_cpus/
AMD launches Phenom brand (14 May 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/05/14/amd_launches_phenom/
AMD to bridge Socket AM2, AM3 with intermediate interconnect? (3 October 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/03/amd_socket_am2_plus/
AMD's Socket AM2 to support Socket AM3 CPUs (6 July 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/06/amd_socket_am3_compatibility/