| Q: | What are examples of high-end embedded products?
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| A: | The high-end embedded market includes products such as storage, telecommunications, security appliances and other application-specific blade servers; rugged military systems such as field workstations; medical and other digital imaging equipment; security scanners; industrial automation and many others. |
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| Q: | Why is AMD64 technology relevant for high-end embedded markets?
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| A: | AMD64 technology provides embedded markets with a high-performance, low power processor that is uniquely well-suited for embedded applications.
Design options such as longer-than-standard component availability, an overall lower chip count, scalability from single socket to 8-socket and/or single- to multi-core configurations, low memory latency and high data throughput are all key areas of concern for designers of high-end embedded systems. Additionally, embedded markets are moving away from designs based on custom or proprietary components and toward industry standards, including x86. |
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| Q: | Why do these designs/products require processor longevity?
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| A: | These markets often have longer design and qualification cycles, which require that parts be made available for longer periods of time than is standard with mainstream servers and workstations or PCs. In addition, end-customers in these markets often need to purchase equivalent systems over a longer-than-standard period of time. |
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| Q: | Which AMD64 processors are available under the AMD64 Longevity Program?
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| A: | A range of products from the AMD Opteron™, Mobile AMD Sempron™, and AMD Turion™ 64 processor families are available with a longevity option. A full list and corresponding technical details can be found here: http://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/embedded/. |
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| Q: | How are processors selected for the AMD64 Longevity Program?
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| A: | The processors chosen for a longevity option are selected for a balance of performance, power and thermal envelopes that best meet our customers’ requests for embedded processors. |
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| Q: | Are parts with extended longevity priced differently than their corresponding standard-availability processors?
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| A: | No. The AMD64 processors available with the longevity option are not priced any differently than corresponding standard availability parts, while those parts are generally available. Pricing changes may come into effect, once the customer enters a 2-year end-of-life contract term. |
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| Q: | How are these parts made available to customers?
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| A: | AMD’s current distributors can easily add the AMD64 processors that offer the longevity option to their catalog and we continue to work with them to make these processors readily available through existing distribution channels. |
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| Q: | Will additional processors be added to the AMD64 Embedded roadmap?
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| A: | Just as providing the initial longevity option for the AMD Opteron processor was driven by our customers’ needs, we will continue to evaluate the need for additional AMD64 processors in the embedded market and respond accordingly. |
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| Q: | What embedded platforms can be supported by AMD64 technology?
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| A: | The list ranges from legacy Compact PCI platforms to the emerging Advanced TCA standard platform for carrier-grade applications and telecommunications to blade form factors and custom embedded designs unique to our customers and their markets. Other small form factor standards such as ITX, Mini ITX, VME, micro TCA and many others can also take advantage of the benefits of AMD64. |
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| Q: | What companies are currently interested in or designing high-end embedded products with AMD64 technology?
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| A: | A number of companies have launched high-end embedded products based on AMD64 technology or have announced plans to do. In telecommunications, Advantech, Huawei, Performance Technologies, PDSi and Sun are AMD64 Embedded customers.
In the storage market, AMD counts Agami, Adaptech, HP, Sun and Wasabi Systems among its customers.
AMD also has a number of customers providing more unique form factors including NextCom, Themis, and WIN Enterprises.
Of course AMD is working with a number of customers who are not yet ready to announce their products, but we anticipate that you will be hearing from a number of them in the coming quarters.
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