AMD Introduces the World’s Most Advanced x86 Processor, Designed for the Demanding Datacenter
Quad-Core AMD OpteronTM processors Deliver Breakthrough
Performance-Per-Watt
AMD (NYSE: AMD) today introduced the Quad-Core AMD Opteron™ processor, the world’s most advanced x86 processor ever designed and manufactured and the first native x86 quad-core microprocessor. Designed from inception for the most demanding datacenters, Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor-based servers from global OEMs and system builders can deliver breakthrough capabilities to customers in a time of dramatically escalating performance-per-watt emphasis.
Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors with AMD’s revolutionary Direct Connect Architecture introduce innovations that go beyond four x86 processing cores on a single die of silicon. Critical considerations for today’s most challenging business requirements inspired Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor innovations: energy efficiency with a 50 percent increase in integer and floating-point performance, enhanced virtualization performance, and investment protection via a customer-centric approach of enabling non-disruptive transitions from dual- to quad-core within the same power and thermal envelopes to help keep infrastructure costs down.
“Today marks one of the great milestones in microprocessor achievement as AMD again raises expectations for industry-standard computing,” said Gautam Srivastava, vice president, sales and marketing; managing director for AMD, Middle East, Africa and Pakistan. “We’ve worked closely with our customers and partners to design a new generation of processing solutions embodied by today’s Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor – a four-way winner in performance, energy efficiency, and virtualization and investment protection. Early customer response has been extremely positive.”
Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor-based systems from global OEM and system-builder partners begin shipping this month and are expected to increase in number through the remainder of the year. AMD Phenom™ processor solutions, which will leverage many of the same benefits of this innovative, next-generation architecture, are expected to be available for the desktop market in December. Due in part to the industry’s most stable x86 server platform, more than 50 Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor-ready system choices are on the market today from tier one OEMs, all of whom are publicly supporting today’s introduction.
"Today more customers choose ProLiant for their AMD-based server blades than any other vendor by a factor of more than 2 to 1. HP offers customers a broad portfolio built on innovative designs to address customer needs in the areas of power, virtualization and cost," said Paul Miller, vice president, marketing, enterprise storage and servers, HP. "With today’s launch of Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors, we can help customers bring new levels of efficiency to their infrastructure as we broaden our Opteron-based family of servers."
“Sun is thrilled about the introduction of Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors. Incorporating Sun's innovative design principles that enable stunning scalability and industry-leading performance-per-watt, our upcoming Quad-Core Opteron-based servers and workstations will only accelerate the momentum Sun is experiencing in its x64 business,” said John Fowler, executive vice president of Sun Microsystems' Systems Group. “With so much pent-up demand for the scalability of native quad-core processing, Sun believes there will be rapid, widespread adoption of Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor-based systems. We applaud AMD for yet another technological breakthrough, and are excited to continue to grow our alliance.”
“Dell and AMD share a commitment to delivering industry leading performance, performance per watt, and the most energy efficient product designs to help our customers focus on driving their business forward,” said Brad Anderson, senior vice president, Dell Product Group. “Dell’s ability to seamlessly deliver the benefits of AMD’s Dual Dynamic Power Management technology means our customers can get more today and for future growth in the AMD-powered Dell PowerEdge 2970 and Energy Smart 2970.”
"IBM was the first global OEM to support AMD Opteron processors in 2003. Today our relationship is delivering powerful and energy-efficient business performance computing solutions," said James Gargan, VP Brand Management System x & BladeCenter, IBM. “Our x86 systems feature IBM’s X-Architecture innovation, such as Xcelerated Memory Technology, to help optimize Quad Core AMD Opteron processor capabilities for peak system performance. We look forward to bringing new products to market with AMD later this year to help strengthen IBM’s position as the world’s top server vendor ."
Systems based on Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors are also being announced today by a host of other manufacturers, including Appro, Egenera, Gateway, Rackable Systems, Supermicro and Verari.
Additionally, AMD is providing the channel with a tremendous opportunity to be able to offer their customers Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor-based solutions very early on. AMD Validated Server Program platforms are available today through distribution, ensuring that channel partners have an opportunity to be early to market with solutions.
The new Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors introduce the world’s most energy-efficient x86 architecture, bolstered by a variety of new power saving technologies.
Datacenters depend on virtualization software as an essential tool to consolidate server workloads, operate more securely, and enable disaster recovery. Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors with Direct Connect Architecture excel in virtualized environments because of the integrated memory controller for reduced memory latency, and Rapid Virtualization Indexing, a new AMD innovation in AMD Virtualization™ technology designed to reduce the overhead associated with software virtualization. Rapid Virtualization Indexing takes functionality that was previously performed in software and greatly accelerates it by performing it within the CPU to help enable near-real time application performance.
“Microsoft and AMD are working together to drive innovation, performance and energy efficiency across the datacenters and development environments,” said Bill Laing, general manager of Windows Server Division at Microsoft Corp. “With 64-bit multi-core technology, Direct Connect Architecture and built-in virtualization, AMD Opteron processors continue to provide Microsoft Windows customers with an innovative platform. Looking ahead, we believe Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 running with Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors will provide a compelling development and deployment platform to drive customers’ dynamic IT environments.”
Mr. Manoj Thacker, Managing Director of SKY Electronics, the Middle East’s leading systems integrator and distributor of best-in-class global technology brands said: "SKY’s “Expression Servers & Workstations” on Quad Core AMD processors are ready to cater to industries, which require high performance servers and workstations. With AMD Opteron Quad Core, one will be able to meet tomorrows need with maximum efficiency. These solutions boost the efficiency of the system, processor, power and virtualization. It automatically helps the IT Managers to manage in a single consistent environment. These solutions also bring efficiency with reliability and flexibility to scale further."
"We are very pleased to be one of the first companies in the Middle East to offer an innovative range of servers powered by the newly launched AMD's quad-core Opteron processor," said Nimer Al Attal, Managing Director, DTK Middle East. "We are committed to providing our customers with best-in-class performance and scalability, and the advanced quad-core technology will help us further this commitment. Over the years, DTK and AMD have shared a mutually-rewarding relationship that has seen both companies respond effectively to changing corporate demands in the regional markets.”
