-Customers now have more Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor performance options available-
SUNNYVALE, Calif., - Sept. 26, 2005 - AMD (NYSE:AMD) today announced
three new models in the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor family,
delivering the world's highest performance for one-way to eight-way x86
servers and workstations.
The Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor Model 880 for up to eight-way,
16-core enterprise-class servers and Model 280 for high performance
dual-processor workstations and servers are immediately available. Model
180 for one-processor, two-core servers and workstations is expected to
be available within 30 days.
"Introducing the next Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor models less than
five months after launching the initial Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors
shows undeniable technological leadership," said Marty Seyer, corporate
vice president, Commercial Business and Performance Computing, AMD. "In
terms of performance-per-watt, nothing can touch the Dual-Core AMD
Opteron processor. It represents a potential annual savings of $50,000
for a datacenter with 500 two-way systems."
Intel has yet to accept AMD's Aug. 23, 2005 challenge to a Dual-Core
Duel to evaluate workloads and power consumption. AMD's duel would be a
live, public performance evaluation between server platforms based on
the highest-performing Dual-Core AMD Opteron(tm) 800 Series or 200
Series processors and the corresponding Intel x86 server processors that
are commercially available in volume.
Performance-per-watt leadership
In addition to offering true dual-core technology, the AMD Opteron
processor alone delivers a significant savings for enterprise
datacenters. Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors offer significant
performance gains while operating in the same power and cooling
infrastructure as single-core processors. This can allow fewer servers
to do the job of many, helping lower operating costs. In addition, AMD
PowerNow!(tm) technology with Optimized Power Management can increase
that savings because it enables servers and workstations to dynamically
power down processors, based on usage. AMD
PowerNow! technology can reduce CPU power consumption by 75 percent
during idle time, decreasing the strain on datacenter cooling and
ventilation systems and helping minimize overall power consumption for
enterprise IT and workstation customers.
Industry support
The AMD64 processor platform is a gold standard for 64-bit computing,
earning the support of more than 1,300 applications from more than 300
independent software vendors and open-source software organizations.
These same software applications can support AMD64 dual-core processors
with a simple BIOS upgrade and no substantial code changes. In addition,
the industry's leading operating systems-Windows 64-bit editions, the
Solaris 10 Operating System and Linux dual-core-compatible operating
systems-are all optimized for AMD64 dual-core technology.
Today, the industry's leading original equipment manufactures (OEMs)
announced support for the latest Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors.
Two years ago, IBM was the first OEM to announce support for the AMD
Opteron processor with the IBM e325 server. IBM continues to support AMD
across their blade, rack server and workstation lines with the
two-processor, four-core AMD Opteron LS20 blade for IBM BladeCenter,
e326 server and IntelliStation A Pro workstation.
"AMD64 dual-core technology helps us deliver industry-leading
performance-per-watt to our customers. This is especially important in
space- and power-restricted datacenters," said Dave Turek, vice
president of Deep Computing, IBM Systems and Technology Group. "We were
among the first vendors to ship Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor-based
blade, rack server and workstation offerings, and plan to ship the
latest new Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors in the IBM e326 server and
the IntelliStation A Pro workstation."
Sun Microsystems is the first OEM to design and develop systems with the
Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor SE Model 280, and will be shipping
servers equipped with these highest-performing x64 processors next
month. On Sept. 12, Sun launched new industry-standard additions to the
Sun Fire x64 server family that are multi-core available, including the
enterprise-class four-way Sun Fire X4200 and Sun Fire X4100 servers, and
one- and two-way Sun Fire X2100 servers.
"We designed the Sun Fire X4000 series specifically to deliver the
highest performance in an enterprise-class 1U and 2U chassis, with
complete remote management capabilities and flexibility to run just
about any operating system," said Lisa Sieker, vice president of
marketing, Network Systems Group, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Our newest Sun
Fire x64 servers powered with the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor are
optimized for AMD64 technology in order to provide industry-standard x64
systems that set new standards for performance, reliability and energy
efficiency for our customers and partners."
HP added the new Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors across its extensive
portfolio of AMD Opteron processor-based ProLiant servers and
workstations. Model 880 will add to the record-breaking performance of
the four-processor/eight-core HP ProLiant DL 585 and BL45p while Model
280 will offer customers performance increases in the
two-processor/four-core ProLiant DL385 and DL145 G2, plus the BL25p and
BL35p server blades. HP will also match Model 280 with the performance
class HP xw9300 workstation that features multi-processing capabilities
and support for dual PCI-Express x16 graphics. Dual-Core AMD Opteron
processors bring the power of four processors to HP's xw9300 workstation
for scientists, engineers, designers and digital artists who demand
extreme graphical and visualization performance.
"The new Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors are a welcome addition to our
industry-leading servers," said James Mouton, senior vice president and
general manager, Industry Standard Servers, HP. "AMD64 dual-core
technology enables us to deliver the power, performance and efficiency
our customers have come to expect from HP solutions."
Pricing and Availability
The Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor Model 880 is priced at $2,649 in
1,000-unit quantities and the Model 280 is priced at $1,299 in
1,000-unit quantities. The Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor Model 180,
for single-processor workstations and servers, is scheduled to be
available within 30 days and will be priced at $799 in 1,000-unit
quantities. With the addition of the new Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor
models, the prices of two dual-core processor models within each series
overlap with current single-core processors, making the shift to
dual-core technology an easy decision for customers. For additional
pricing information, please see http://www.amd.com/pricing.
About the AMD Opteron(tm) Processor
More than 75 percent of the top 100 of the Forbes Global 2000 companies
or their affiliates, representing the world's most competitive
industries, now use AMD Opteron(tm) processor-based systems to run
applications at new levels of performance. The AMD Opteron processor,
based on AMD64 technology with Direct Connect Architecture, made history
as the industry's first x86 multi-core processor for servers and
workstations that is both 32- and 64-bit capable. Dual-Core AMD Opteron
processors can deliver higher performance within the same power envelope
as single-core processors because they were designed from the ground up
for multi-core computing. With a broad portfolio of
dual-core and single-core solutions and a robust 64-bit ecosystem, AMD
and its customers are leading the way to the next evolution of
enterprise computing.
About AMD
AMD (NYSE:AMD) designs and produces innovative microprocessors, Flash
memory devices and low-power processor solutions for the computer,
communications and consumer electronics industries. AMD is dedicated to
delivering standards-based, customer-focused solutions for technology
users, ranging from enterprises and governments to individual consumers.
For more information visit http://www.amd.com