AMD today
introduced its Next-Generation AMD Opteron processor family, featuring industry-leading
performance-per-watt and outstanding virtualization capabilities. As the
only x86 server processor with planned upgradeability to native quad-core
within the same thermal design power envelope, Next-Generation AMD Opteron
processors are designed to enable customers to increase computing capacity
without altering datacenter infrastructure. Improving upon what already
is recognized as a standard-bearer for energy-conscious microprocessor architecture
design, new platforms based on Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors will
be offered in record numbers from global original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs). "Customers trust AMD for critical server applications, as evidenced by our record Q2 2006 AMD Opteron processor sales, and in 2006, AMD expects to double the number of AMD Opteron processor-based systems offered from global and regional tier-one OEMs," said Randy Allen, corporate vice president, Server and Workstation Division, AMD. "Today's announcement represents continued innovation along the customer-directed path we blazed years ago; we provide the complete x86 processor architectural standard for others in the industry to emulate and have planned a seamless upgrade path to quad-core processors."
In addition
to launching its Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors, AMD also announced
the completion of the design, or tape-out, of its native Quad-Core AMD Opteron
processors. Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors represent another concrete
example of the benefits from AMD's overarching strategy to introduce new
technologies with minimal customer disruption for maximum value. AMD plans
to deliver to customers in mid-2007 native Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors
that incorporate four processor cores on a single die of silicon. Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors are expected to be electrical-, thermal- and socket-compatible with the Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors introduced today. This long-term approach means AMD customers can benefit from a consistent and common architecture that scales to meet changing needs and escalating demands, and from the ability to select quad-core ready platforms today. The consistency and stability offered by Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors also enhance the potential benefits to OEMs, system-builders and semiconductor companies who elect to innovate on the AMD64 architecture via the AMD Torrenza initiative. Torrenza capitalizes on the Direct Connect Architecture and HyperTransport technology advantages of the AMD64 architecture to enable other processor and hardware providers to innovate within a common ecosystem. The enhanced capabilities and innovation options now available through the extensible system bus via the HTX connector with new AMD Socket F (1207) compatible processors serve as the infrastructural underpinnings for advancing AMD64 as the x86 open innovation platform.
Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors represent the very latest products based on AMD's innovative Direct Connect Architecture, the industry's first architecture to deliver x86-based 32- and 64-bit computing and to reduce traditional front-side bus bottlenecks, offering customers processing core consistency and stability across 1-, 2-, 4- and 8-way systems. Additionally, with only two sockets for SMP planned over a seven-year period, AMD is delivering a growth strategy for its customers who want simplicity, longevity and stability across products and platforms for their datacenters.
Power Efficiency and Blade Server Leadership Continues
Power consumption continues to be one of the top concerns for managing
today's datacenters. AMD Opteron processors address this concern by providing
customers with industry-leading overall power-efficiency and can deliver
significant performance gains over single-core AMD Opteron processors
while operating in the same thermal infrastructure. The Next-Generation
AMD Opteron processors will further define a new standard in performance-per-watt
with outstanding PowerNow! capabilities and energy-efficient DDR2 memory
support, while maintaining a consistent maximum 95-watt thermal design
power envelope. Thanks to the memory capacity offered with AMD's Direct
Connect Architecture, customers can have the memory performance they require
with DDR2 and avoid the premature use of memory technologies that are
not yet at an optimal price-to-performance ratio and that require more
power.
The power efficiencies delivered by Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors,
combined with an ever-increasing number of blades offered by tier-one
OEMs, continue to define AMD Opteron processors as powering optimum blade
platforms. AMD Opteron processor-based blades make up more than 50 percent
of HP's x86 blade server platforms. IBM brought the LS20 AMD Opteron processor-based
blade to market in 2nd quarter 2005 and recently expanded its offerings
to include the industry's first "snap-in" scalable, 2- to 4-socket
blade that allows customers to scale their business in mere seconds --
doubling the processing capacity. AMD Opteron processors are at the foundation
of Sun's re-entry into the x86 blade server market with its innovative
Sun Blade 8000 modular system, which combines the high-performance of
rackmount servers in a more power-efficient blade environment.
X86 Virtualization
The combination of AMD Virtualization technology and Direct Connect Architecture
provides a balanced approach to enhanced virtualization performance. AMD
Virtualization is designed to extend AMD's Direct Connect Architecture
by providing additional silicon-based features to allow a hypervisor (the
component in a native virtualization scenario that manages the partitioning
of the processor) to easily support guest operating systems. The integrated
DDR2 memory controller on Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors enhances
virtualization and provides efficient isolation of virtual machine memory
for improved security and support of virtual users. AMD Virtualization
was developed in collaboration with AMD's enterprise-focused OEM partners
and ISVs currently shipping commercial virtualization software such as
Microsoft, Novell, VMware and Xen.
Widespread Hardware Partner Support
Today, the industry's leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
announced support for Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors.
Today's announcement marks Sun's continued support of AMD Opteron processors
in its Sun Fire and Sun Ultra x64 servers and workstations, including
the Sun Fire X2100 M2 server, Sun Fire X2200 M2 server and the Sun Ultra
20 M2 Workstation. Sun has revamped and expanded its entire x64 AMD Opteron
processor-based server, workstation and High Performance Computing (HPC)
product lines with AMD's Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors. Sun Microsystems
continues to be the only AMD partner who offers a complete solution of
hardware and the Solaris 10 Operating System (OS) pre-installed on every
system shipped, while still offering professional services and software
solutions. The Solaris 10 OS sits at the core of many datacenter applications
and supports more than 680 x86/x64 platforms.
"AMD understands that our customers don't want to adapt to a new
infrastructure every time a new processor is introduced, which can translate
into headaches for end users," said Lisa Sieker, vice president of
marketing for the Systems Group at Sun. "With Next-Generation AMD
Opteron processors powering Sun's extensive line of x64 systems, we're
able to bring our customers the continued advancements they need to meet
their datacenter challenges, with a stable migration path to quad-core
and beyond."
HP will add Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors to the HP ProLiant
DL385 and DL585 rack-optimized servers and the HP ProLiant BL25p, BL45p,
BL465c and BL685c server blades as well as future workstations.
"Our strong, global relationship with AMD is built upon a commitment
to deliver advanced technologies and high-performing platforms that meet
the ever-changing demands of enterprise customers," said Paul Miller,
vice president, marketing, Industry Standard Servers and BladeSystem Division,
HP. "Given HP's success of delivering superior system performance
and best-run server infrastructures through a broad array of power efficient
enterprise-class platforms with AMD Opteron processors, we plan to support
Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors in our server and workstation product
lines."
IBM, one of the first vendors to ship Next-Generation AMD Opteron processor-based
platforms, is supporting the new processors in the five new System x and
BladeCenter servers it now offers for business performance computing -
a new compute model that leverages high performance computing capability
to more effectively meet general business needs, such as business intelligence,
enterprise resource planning and more.
"IBM was the first global OEM to market with AMD Opteron processor-based
systems in 2003. The growth of our portfolio of AMD-based systems, coupled
with our leadership innovation in IBM X-Architecture, will provide customers
with the broadest arsenal of leading-edge x86 systems," said James
Gargan, vice president, IBM System x. "IBM has invested in a complete
line of differentiated offerings based on Next-Generation AMD Opteron
processors. With these platforms, customers will uniquely be able to achieve
their business objectives for performance, total cost of ownership and
power management. IBM's CoolBlue datacenter power management and optimization
initiative, including PowerExecutive software, and innovations like Xcelerated
Memory Technology, will give customers the ability to get the most from
their datacenter with these new systems."
Systems based on Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors are also being
announced today by a host of other manufacturers, including Egenera, Rackable
Systems, Supermicro and others.
Model Numbers, Pricing and Availability
Starting with Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors, AMD will move to
a 4-digit model number system. The new model numbers will continue to
feature a 1, 2 or 8 in the first position to represent the scalability
of each processor while adding a 2 in the second position, representing
the second socket generation.
Model numbers will be as follows:
- Up to 1P = 12xx. Socket AM2
- Up to 2P = 22xx. Socket F (1207)
- Up to 8P = 82xx. Socket F (1207)
Next-Generation AMD Opteron processor Model 8218 is priced at $2,149 in
1,000-unit quantities and the Model 2218 is priced at $873 in 1,000-unit
quantities. The Next-Generation AMD Opteron processor Model 1218 is priced
at $749 in 1000-unit quantities. The Next-Generation AMD Opteron processor
Model 8220 SE is priced at $2,649 in 1,000-unit quantities, Model 2220
SE is priced at $1,165 in 1,000-unit quantities, and Model 1220 SE is
priced at $899 in 1,000-unit quantities. For additional pricing information,
please see www.amd.com/pricing. For more information on Next-Generation
AMD Opteron processor model numbers, please see www.amd.com/opteronmodelnumbers.
For more information on the sixth AMD Enterprise Online Event, featuring
IBM's energy-efficient server portfolio and Novell's Open Enterprise,
go to www.amd.com/enterpriseevent.
| 16Aug2006 |
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