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While the Model 248 Model is available immediately worldwide (for dual-processing servers and workstations), the Model 148 (for entry-level servers) will only be available in December. Also available next month will be the 848, which is targetted at enterprise-class servers.

The AMD Opteron 148, 248 and 848 will cost $733, $913 and $3,199

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respectively, based on direct orders of 1,000-unit tray quantities. The pricing for existing Opterons have remained unchanged, there has been no adjustment on their cost.

Also on the subject of Opterons, AMD has announced a strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems. Under the terms of the deal, Sun will sell Opteron-based Sun Fire server systems and supply optimised versions of Solaris and Java for AMD's processors. The companies' plans also include 'long-term joint technology development to create future hardware and software offerings'.

'This means that Sun customers can now get all the benefits of Solaris OS, Linux and Java technologies running on their choice of UltraSPARC and x86 systems,' commented Scott McNealy, Sun's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. 'With the addition of the AMD Opteron processor, we are setting a new industry standard by delivering even more choice and performance to our customers.'