AMD has predicted that multi-core processors, with four or more processors in one device, will shape PC design and performance in the coming years. As outlined by chief technology officer Phil Hester in a recent interview. 

“We're looking at a decidedly multi-core processor, multi-threaded application future for the PC industry,” said Bob Brewer, corporate v-p of desktop business at AMD.

Multi-threaded games are among the first applications to see immediate advantages from using multi-socket, multi-threaded architectures like the upcoming 4x4 enthusiast platform and make exceptional demonstrations for new PC technologies.

The firm has gained developer support for its upcoming four-core, multi-socket enthusiast platform, codenamed 4x4.

“AMD has planned this enthusiast platform so that software developers can design outstanding multi-threaded applications for consumers who demand the very best immersive computing experience,” said Brewer.

Developers including Bioware, Cakewalk, Crytek, Havok, Irrational Games, Midway, NERO and Sony have been working on software applications and games to run on multi-core processors using the four-core, multi-socket platform which is based on AMD's Direct Connect architecture.
 
This is not just about running evermore processor intensive games on PCs,  multi-processor platforms will also benefit digital media developers, said AMD.

“AMD's combination of HyperTransport technology and an integrated memory controller gives us the bandwidth we need to see impressive performance scaling on multi-core systems," said Curtis Palmer, chief technologist, Sony Media Software.