| Q: | What markets are you targeting for the AMD Opteron™ processor? What commercial arenas are you targeting?
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| A: | The target markets for the AMD Opteron processor include
Worldwide Enterprises, Small-Medium Businesses, Government/Education Institutions—both for 1-8 way server solutions and for 1-2 way workstation solutions. With its bigger L2 cache, large workload features and high-bandwidth HyperTransport links, the AMD Opteron processor is ideal for customers who need faster database transactions or support for more users on e-commerce type applications. It’s also excellent for CAD, digital content creation and other applications that need quick graphics response. |
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| Q: | What types of servers will the AMD Opteron processor be suitable for?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron processor is suitable for different workloads across an enterprise.
- 1-2P servers are suitable for firewall, cache and load balancing servers, as well as Web servers.
- 2-4P servers are suitable for heavy-duty Web servers and applications servers.
- 4P-8P servers are suitable for back-end database and storage servers.
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| Q: | What operating systems will the AMD Opteron processor support?
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| A: | Currently we have commitments from Microsoft to support Windows on the AMD Opteron processor and SuSe has been the lead partner in Linux support; we also expect support from other leading Linux and UNIX vendors. |
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| Q: | What are the benefits of the AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron processor architecture is designed to provide unparalleled performance and support the x86-64 instruction set, delivering outstanding performance for both 32-bit code and 64-bit code. As the need for memory-intensive 64-bit applications becomes greater, our plan is for IT managers to be able to seamlessly move to 64-bit applications that benefit their business while continuing to leverage their investment in 32-bit software.
Additionally, the HyperTransport technology interface addresses the high memory and I/O bandwidth needs we believe will be required for future PCs, workstations and servers. |
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| Q: | What specific applications will benefit from the performance of the AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | Any application should run faster on the AMD Opteron processor due to its doubled data paths. Current 32-bit processors have a 4 GB memory addressing cap. The AMD Opteron processor’s 40-bit physical and 48-bit virtual addressing remove that limitation, permitting up to 1 Terabyte of physical memory space and 256 Terabytes of virtual memory addressing space.
E-commerce applications, ERP, CRM and other highly transactional database applications will benefit from the AMD Opteron processor’s larger cache and big workload features that make manipulating larger data sets faster. Other large data set applications that will benefit from the AMD Opteron processor include CAD and DCC type applications, as well as financial and scientific modeling applications. |
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| Q: | Why did you choose AMD Opteron as the product name for this processor? What does “Opteron” mean?
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| A: | “Opteron” comes from the Latin word optimus – meaning best. We chose Opteron because it communicates best performance, highest performance and also implies options (flexibility, choices). |
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| Q: | Why didn’t you retain the “Hammer” codenames as the product name?
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| A: | “Hammer” is a codename and does not contain the brand attributes that AMD Opteron processor does. |
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| Q: | Is the AMD Opteron processor what AMD has up until now referred to as “SledgeHammer?” Is there any difference between “SledgeHammer” and the AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron processor is based solely upon what has been referred up to now at the “SledgeHammer” core. The AMD Opteron processor will be the brand AMD uses for its multi-way capable products. The AMD Athlon 64 processor will continue to be the brand AMD uses for its high-performance single-way processors for desktop and mobile systems. |
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| Q: | Will “ClawHammer” also be branded as the AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | “ClawHammer” is AMD’s codename for the AMD Athlon 64 for desktop and mobile products. |
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| Q: | When does AMD plan to begin shipping the AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | AMD plans to begin shipments of the AMD Opteron processor in the first half of 2003. |
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| Q: | When do you expect systems based on the AMD Opteron processor will be available?
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| A: | We expect systems based on the AMD Opteron processor will be available in the first half of 2003. |
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| Q: | Is there any difference between the AMD Opteron processor/platform for workstations and for servers? Are the parts identical? Are they somehow implemented in workstations and servers differently?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron processor is available in multiprocessor configurations: 1-8 way server or 1-4 way workstations (with no external logic required). Inclusion of the AMD-8000 series core logic may vary between a server and a workstation implementation. For example, an OEM may not want to include the AMD-8151 HyperTransport AGP3.0 Graphics Tunnel on a server while this is an essential feature of a workstation. |
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| Q: | What chipsets will be available to support the AMD Opteron processor? What motherboards are in development?
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| A: | AMD has announced the AMD-8000 core logic series, the AMD-8111 HyperTransport I/O Hub, the AMD-8131 HyperTransport PCI-X Tunnel and the AMD-8151 HyperTransport AGP3.0 Graphics Tunnel. ALi, NVIDIA, SiS and VIA have announced they will build chipsets based around these core logic components and HyperTransport technology. Leading motherboard partners announcing support for AMD’s next generation processors include ASUS, ECS, FIC, Gigabyte and MSI. |
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| Q: | Will the AMD Opteron processor be available in a single-processor version? How many AMD Opteron processors can a platform support in a multiway configuration?
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| A: | The processor architecture directly supports 1-8 AMD Opteron processors in a glueless (requiring no chipset support) multiprocessor configuration. A platform can support an unlimited number of AMD Opteron processors in a multi-way configuration with external/additional chipset support. |
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| Q: | What type of packaging will support the AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron processor is expected to be available in 940-pin ceramic micro PGA packages. |
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| Q: | Will all AMD Opteron processors support HyperTransport technology? How many links?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron processor architecture is designed to support up to three HyperTransport links, which can provide up to 19.2GB/sec peak bandwidth. |
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| Q: | Is the northbridge integrated into the AMD Opteron architecture?
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| A: | Key functions of the northbridge, including memory control, multiprocessing control and functionality are integrated as part of the AMD Opteron processor architecture. Functions like AGP graphics will be supported by components like the AMD-8151 HyperTransport AGP3.0 Graphics Tunnel. |
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| Q: | Will the AMD Opteron processor support the dual-channel, 128-bit DDR memory controller?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron processor is capable of supporting dual-channel, 128-bit memory communications. |
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| Q: | Where will the AMD Opteron processor be manufactured?
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| A: | Fab 30 in Dresden, Germany |
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| Q: | Will the AMD Opteron processor be manufactured on 0.13 micron technology?
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| A: | Yes. 0.13 SOI (silicon on insulator) process technology. |
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| Q: | Can the AMD Opteron processor be used in a configuration greater than 8P? How far can it scale?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron processor is designed to be scalable to eight processors with no external logic required. Systems built around the AMD Opteron processor can scale without limit provided additional chipset support. |
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| Q: | What type/speeds of memory will the AMD Opteron processor support?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron processor supports PC1600, PC2100 and PC2700 DDR memory. |
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| Q: | What are the types/sizes of cache for the AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | Up to 1MB L2 cache. Other specifics have not been disclosed yet. |
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| Q: | What are the differences between the AMD Opteron processor and the AMD Athlon 64 processor?
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| A: | The primary difference between the AMD Opteron processor and the AMD Athlon 64 processor is in the number of HyperTransport links embedded on the chip. The AMD Athlon 64 processor contains one HyperTransport link offering 6.4 GB/s data transfer while the AMD Opteron processor offers three links. The processors also contain different amounts of cache. |
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| Q: | What is the front-side bus frequency of the AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | In traditional microprocessor architecture, the front-side bus is the communication path connecting the northbridge chip to the CPU. As the AMD Opteron processor embeds functions of the northbridge into the CPU itself, including the memory controller, there is no longer a front-side bus as people have come to understand it. As the built-in memory controller operates at processor frequency, the clock frequency of the AMD Opteron processor can be considered the frequency of its front-side bus. |
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