| Q: | Is the AMD Athlon™ MP processor 2800+ for servers and workstations based on the “Barton” core?
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| A: | Yes. The AMD Athlon MP processor 2800+ is based on AMD’s 0.13 micron copper process technology with the processor core previously code named “Barton.” |
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| Q: | What performance improvements are expected with the “Barton” core? What is the benefit of the AMD Athlon MP processor 2800+?
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| A: | The AMD Athlon MP processor 2800+ provides increased performance over previous AMD Athlon MP processors, delivering outstanding overall processor performance for servers and workstations because of the larger cache size (512k L2 cache) and the ability to introduce higher performance than the current parts based on the “Thoroughbred” core. This increased cache size provides significant performance improvements for many memory intensive server and workstation applications. |
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| Q: | How is the AMD Athlon MP 2800+ positioned in the market against the AMD Opteron processor? Why would an IT manager choose one over the other?
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| A: | The 1-2 way capable AMD Athlon MP multiprocessor is a good choice for IT buyers who require entry-level servers and workstations. The AMD Athlon MP offers high reliability and a price/performance advantage for many companies that have standardized on the 32-bit IT environments and appreciate the reliability and stability of AMD’s Socket A platform. The AMD Opteron processor for one- to eight-way server solutions and one- to four-way workstation solutions meets the needs of IT managers whose businesses require the highest performing 32-bit applications and seamless transition to 64-bit computing. All AMD multiprocessors deliver unsurpassed compatibility that can help lower a company’s total cost of ownership. |
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| Q: | Will existing motherboards be compatible with AMD processors using the new “Barton” core?
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| A: | AMD maintains a complete list of AMD Athlon MP recommended motherboards. |
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| Q: | What is the die size of the AMD Athlon MP processor 2800+ on the “Barton” core compared to previous AMD Athlon MP processors on the “Thoroughbred” core? What are the differences in the number of transistors?
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| A: | The die size of the AMD Athlon MP processor 2800+ increased to 101mm2. The number of transistors also increased to approximately 54.3 million. Previous processors had approximately 37.6 million transistors and a die size of 84mm². |
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| Q: | What type of packaging does the AMD Athlon MP processor 2800+ use?
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| A: | The AMD Athlon MP processor 2800+ uses OPGA, or organic pin grid array, packaging. The substrate used to make this packaging is fiberglass, similar to the material found in printed circuit boards. This packaging offers a better solution for performance processors by lowering the impedance and cost of the package. |
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| Q: | What process technology is the AMD Athlon MP processor 2800+ manufactured on? Where are they manufactured?
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| A: | AMD manufactures the AMD Athlon MP processor on 0.13 micron copper process technology at Fab 30 in Dresden, Germany. |
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| Q: | What is the AMD-760™ MPX chipset?
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| A: | The AMD-760 MPX chipset is AMD’s chipset for the AMD Athlon™ MP processor. It consists of two chips: the AMD-762™ system bus controller, or Northbridge, and the AMD-768™ peripheral bus controller, or Southbridge. The AMD-760 MPX offers an enhanced 66MHz/64- & 32-bit PCI Bus, which provides an improved high-speed peripheral connection and AC-97 audio support. The AMD-760 MPX chipset unleashes the power of Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology for multi-tasking and multimedia-intensive applications. The AMD-760 MPX chipset supports up to two AMD Athlon MP processors with 266MHz front side buses, as well as AGP-4x graphics. |
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| Q: | What are the key features of the AMD Athlon MP processors?
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| A: | The key features of the AMD Athlon MP processors are:
- AMD Smart MP technology
- 266 MHz high-speed AMD Athlon MP front-side bus with ECC Support
- High-performance, full-speed on-chip cache (354K total full-speed cache size)
- Socket A infrastructure
- AMD 3DNow!™ Professional technology (70 instructions, full SSE compatibility)
- AMD QuantiSpeed™ architecture
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| Q: | What is Smart MP Technology?
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| A: | Smart MP technology features dual point-to-point, high-speed system buses, an optimized "MOESI" cache coherency protocol, which manages data and memory traffic, as well as innovative “snoop” buses, which offer high-speed communication between the CPUs in a multiprocessing system. Smart MP technology is designed to optimize the execution of multi-threaded, mission-critical applications empowering your server and workstation platforms to achieve new levels of productivity. |
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| Q: | What is QuantiSpeed architecture?
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| A: | QuantiSpeed architecture encompasses the AMD Athlon MP processor’s core architectural features, and explains to end users how the AMD Athlon MP processor provides superior application performance. Specifically, QuantiSpeed architecture incorporates:
- Nine-issue, fully pipelined, superscalar micro-architecture
- Superscalar, fully pipelined floating point unit (FPU)
- Hardware data prefetch
- Exclusive & speculative Translation Look-aside Buffers (TLB)
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