Udoo Bolt 'maker board' packs an AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000

[HEXUS]

Kickstarter project has easily achieved its goals. Early bird hardware priced $229.

Read more.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I read that as Usain Bolt and wondered why he had an embedded AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000. I still want one for some reason!

Edit!!

Hmm,the lower end model has a 2C/4T Ryzen CPU,so it makes me wonder why there isn't a similar part available yet on AM4??

[3dcandy]

I don't see the point of a 2c/4t part on AM4. AMD are attempting to move to more cores not keep lower end 2c/4t. Intel has had to respond too

[edmundhonda]

That higher end one has the same number of CUs as the Ryzen 3 2200G, so in games it'll perform like one of those, clocked way down to fit the TDP and struggling through DDR4-2400. Their talk of AAA gaming is overselling it somewhat.

They were ~6 months late delivering their last maker board project on Kickstarter FYI.

[scaryjim]

... the lower end model has a 2C/4T Ryzen CPU,so it makes me wonder why there isn't a similar part available yet on AM4??

Market segmentation? Attempting to move some cheap Bristol Ridge APUs in the £50 - £60 segment while they've got surplus stock? 2200G is selling well enough that they don't feel the need to bring in a lower cost desktop chip? The mobile and embedded segments are capable of absorbing all the dies allocated to 2C/4T products? (this is the embedded version of the Ryzen 3 2200U, after all).

That higher end one has the same number of CUs as the Ryzen 3 2200G, so in games it'll perform like one of those, clocked way down to fit the TDP and struggling through DDR4-2400. ...

It's the embedded version of the Ryzen 5 2500U. Depending on improvements from driver optimisations and what settings/resolution you're talking about, I don't think AAA gaming is that far off tbh (see https://hexus.net/tech/reviews/lapto...wift-3/?page=7 for gaming benchmarks on a Ryzen 5 laptop).

[philehidiot]

I read that as Usain Bolt and wondered why he had an embedded AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000. I still want one for some reason!

All I can say is that their marketing works, I thought the same!

[EN1R0PY]

I don't see the point of a 2c/4t part on AM4. AMD are attempting to move to more cores not keep lower end 2c/4t. Intel has had to respond too

It is an embedded processor, not a desktop/laptop one. Its not for competing against i7's but A12's and atom's. Not everything is made for 'gamerz' with wicked RGB and water cooling. There's an entire world of computing that has nothing to do with desktops and Windows, and everything to do with making ordinary things smart. These particular embedded processors lend themselves to gaming very nicely, like a handheld console, but they could just as easily be used to drive a 4k interactive advertising board in kings cross, or a HUD in a car, not just a mini steam machine.

[3dcandy]

Yup they are - and they are still moving to more cores...
They have other products rather than Ryzen in 2c/4t for those markets. And as you said it's an embedded one but from the Ryzen line - which is my point. Ryzen is more cores, they could probably cut down one but why bother when they already have 2c/4t designs

[DanceswithUnix]

Yup they are - and they are still moving to more cores...
They have other products rather than Ryzen in 2c/4t for those markets. And as you said it's an embedded one but from the Ryzen line - which is my point. Ryzen is more cores, they could probably cut down one but why bother when they already have 2c/4t designs

And what do they do with the 4 core parts where one of the cores doesn't work?

I think the last genuine 2 core parts they did was on 45nm, since then they have all been die harvested 4 core parts. If there is a market for AMD to sell existing 4C design as a 2C part then good luck to them.

[3dcandy]

And what do they do with the 4 core parts where one of the cores doesn't work?

I think the last genuine 2 core parts they did was on 45nm, since then they have all been die harvested 4 core parts.

yup of course - but they don't seem to want to make Ryzen that low a core count for whatever reason, market segmentation or whatever. Perhaps it's just they have enough 2c chips or it's going to make them worthless if a 2c Ryzen comes along I don't know. Perhaps they just can't get a 2c Ryzen cheap enough to sell over a 2c alternative or they don't wish to devalue it. I'd personally see no reason for a 2c/4t Ryzen I believe they don't need it. Put pressure on Intel and keep the Ryzen brand a bit more premier. They haven't been able to do that for years

[DanceswithUnix]

... and keep the Ryzen brand a bit more premier.

I think this is a part of it. A budget Ryzen isn't good for image, an embedded chip to get rid of those partially working die would slip under the radar for most people.

Edit: The old A12 4 thread chips with reviews like "Infecting the AM4 platform" are already pretty undesirable so I doubt AMD could damage their saleability tbh

[scaryjim]

... they don't seem to want to make Ryzen that low a core count for whatever reason ...

Except they already have - the Ryzen 3 2200U is 2C/4T with Vega 3 graphics: https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-ryzen-3-2200u

They may not want the Ryzen desktop brand to drop that low, of course - after all, Intel's core i parts now bottom out at 4C/4T on the desktop, but they're still running core i3 down to 2c/4t in mobile. Intel's 2C dekstop SKUs are now reserved for the budget Pentium and Celeron branding. And there's all those rumours circulating about the Athlon 200GE, a 2C 35W desktop chip ... if that's not the desktop version of the 2C/4T Vega3 SKU I'll be gobsmacked....

... I think the last genuine 2 core parts they did was on 45nm, since then they have all been die harvested 4 core parts. ...

It was rumoured that Stoney Ridge was actually a separate 2C die with only one memory channel, distinct from Bristol Ridge, and dedicated for entry level laptops (and no doubt an embedded counterpart). The desktop dual cores were definitely harvested from Bristol Ridge (dual channel memory), but a lot of the launch materials suggest the mobile/embedded dual core was dedicated silicon. I've never been able to find anything to absolutely confirm that, mind you.

The early embedded roadmap for Zen strongly implied that there was going to be a 2C die with single channel memory for budget sensitive markets, but so far all the released parts have had dual channel memory and are almost certainly harvested RR chips. I'd be fascinated to know why - given Ryzen pricing I do wonder if the yields were just much better than early expectations so they were able to serve the whole market off a single die...

[3dcandy]

Which is why I said seem...
It's a delicate area and one that as mentioned has almost forced Intel to make bottom end 4c now. There is always a chance that later as the Ryzen brand becomes even more well know they *may* just get some parts out. But I guess they'd dump the older names/architectures and just concentrate on Ryzen then
I'd hazard a guess they are sitting on substantial lower core count chips from older stuff they just can't shift

[Xlucine]

It could be higher than expected volume of the top end - with more ryzen 7's sold they can order more wafers, and so get more defective dies to use for low end chips.

[Tabbykatze]

I want one of these for a home automation + media centre + Steam Link/On box Gaming box. The processor should more than handle all of that!!

[Savas]

This size seems like the perfect build for a custom NAS box, but I'm not seeing a way to connect more sata ports, if I'm not mistaken.

I'm guessing they could easily build a version designed for mass storage builds and maybe it could lighten the load on the main projects.