AMD claims dual-core first with new Opterons

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 21 Apr 2005 at 12:18

AMD has marked the second anniversary of its 64-bit Opteron chip by releasing multi-core versions of the server and workstation processor and also announcing the AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor brand. This will be the dual-core offering for desktops, which is already being sampled, and it is due to ship in June.

There is immediate availability of the Dual-Core AMD Opteron 800 Series processor, for four- to eight-way servers, while the 200 Series processors for two-way servers and workstations will be available in late May.

The company states that the new processors can deliver up to a 90 per cent performance improvement for application servers over single-core AMD Opteron processors.

While Intel has very recently released dual-core Pentiums - aimed at the desktop and workstation markets - AMD is hailing the Opteron development as an industry first: 64-bit, x86-based multi-core processors for servers and workstations.

'Just as AMD led the industry to pervasive 64-bit computing, AMD is now leading the industry to the performance and power benefits of multi-core processors,' declared Marty Seyer, general manager of AMD's Microprocessor Business Unit. 'We have flawlessly executed manufacturing AMD64 processors, which is why today we are announcing the world's only broad dual-core client and server processor line-up, well ahead of our announced schedule.

Multi-core AMD offerings for desktop computers should follow in the summer, Seyer confirmed, as AMD also announced the new AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor brand. 'Because our non-disruptive dual-core architecture is designed to fit in today's existing infrastructure and provide leading-edge performance, enterprise customers can rapidly adopt AMD64 dual-core processors for servers and workstations today and for client platforms in June,' he added.

Multi-core technology is where more than one processor is combined on a single chip. This provides an alternative route to scaling up processing power rather than just increasing clock speeds, which has become increasingly difficult due to the constraints of managing the increasing temperatures generated. It also provides opportunities for multi-tasking - one processor can concentrate on burning a CD while another concentrates on a music download process, for example. In the context of servers, multi-core technology offers improved response times and greater scalability.

In terms of cost, AMD begins the pricing of its multi-core Opterons at the same level as its high-end single-core versions. For example, the entry-level Dual-Core 865 Opteron is priced at $1,514, the same as the high-end single-core Opteron 852. The new dual-core 870 is priced at $2,149 and the 875 at $2,649.

Manufacturers who have committed to producing systems based on the new dual-core chips include IBM, HP, Sun and Cray.

More information on AMD's multi-core processors can be found at www.amd.com/multicore010