| Q: | What markets are you targeting with the 800 Series of the AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron 800 Series with Direct Connect Architecture are for use in up to eight-way servers or up to 4-way workstations. Enterprise workloads typically benefiting from four-way and eight-way server processing power include large, mission-critical databases, business processing (ERP, CRM, SCM), business intelligence, as well as other IT infrastructure applications including heavy-duty Web serving and messaging. AMD Opteron processor 800 Series is also suitable for 4P workstation environments such as oil & gas, EDA, rendering and others that benefit from increased computational power. |
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| Q: | What models of the AMD Opteron 800 Series are available now?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron 800 Series processor is currently available in single-core Models 854, 850, 848, 846, 844, 842 and 840 and in dual-core Models 865, 870 and 875. |
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| Q: | What are the features of the AMD Opteron 800 Series processors?
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| A: | AMD has made some significant enhancements to the AMD Opteron 800 Series processors beginning with Model 852. Performance-enhancing features include support for SSE3 software instructions as well as an increase in the HyperTransport™ technology bus frequency from 800MHz to 1GHz (improving individual link throughput from 6.4GB/s to 8.0GB/s).
In addition, with a BIOS update provided by the OEM or solution provider,
AMD Opteron processor-based platforms shipped after May 2004 can be enabled with AMD PowerNow!™ technology with Optimized Power Management (OPM). AMD PowerNow! technology with OPM for the AMD Opteron processor is designed to optimize their performance based on application and end-user demand. This can reduce thermal output to help lower TCO associated with electrical and cooling needs.
Use the Ordering Part Number (OPN) to determine the features of your processor. For more information visit http://www.amd.com/processorquickrefguide |
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| Q: | Which processor(s) does the AMD Opteron 800 Series with Direct Connect Architecture compete against?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron 800 Series processor competes primarily against the Xeon MP in four-to eight-way servers. Dual-Core AMD Opteron 800 Series processors have no competitive product in the server and workstation space as Xeon MP does not have a dual-core version in the market at this time. |
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| Q: | What motherboard support is available for these processors?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron 800 Series processor is supported by the Sanmina-SCI 4300 server, which is available through the Validated Server Program, Tyan S4880 and S4882 motherboards and various OEM-specific systems. |
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| Q: | What OEMs or system builders are offering systems featuring the 800 Series of the AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | Leading OEMs including Egenera, HP and Sun, along with regional system builders, currently offer servers and blades based on the single- and Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor with Direct Connect Architecture and are expected to add the latest version, the AMD Opteron processor Model 854, to their current platforms. Many system builders and value-added resellers are taking advantage of the opportunity to work with Sanmina-SCI, other ODMs and distributors to offer servers based on the AMD Opteron processor. Industry leaders like Egenera offer blade server products based on Opteron 800 series processors. |
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| Q: | What is the memory capability of the AMD Opteron 800 Series processors?
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| A: | In addition to providing world-class 32-bit performance, the AMD Opteron 800 Series processors are 64-bit capable, allowing them to support very large memory (up to 1TB of physical memory), well beyond the 4GB limit of competing 32-bit processors. In server environments based on 4P and 8P systems, this large memory addressability can benefit enterprise workloads such as mission-critical databases, business processing (ERP, CRM, SCM) and business intelligence. This can result in enhanced performance and improved productivity in business environments. With its 128-bit integrated memory controller and three HyperTransport technology links that together offer up to 24.0GB/s of I/O bandwidth per processor, the AMD Opteron processors with Direct Connect Architecture can provide a higher level of performance for multi-threaded applications by reducing memory latency (e.g. the CPU can get information more quickly and in turn produces results more quickly).
The AMD Opteron processor is based on AMD64 technology with Direct Connect Architecture, which helps eliminate the bottlenecks inherent in traditional front-side bus architectures and, instead, directly connects processors, memory controller and I/O to a central processor unit for improving overall system performance and efficiency. |
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| Q: | What chipset support is available for these processors?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron 800 Series processor is supported by the AMD-8000™ series of chipsets. This series includes the new AMD-8132™ HyperTransport™ PCI-X® 2.0 tunnel as well as the AMD-8131™ HyperTransport PCI-X Tunnel and the AMD-8111™ HyperTransport I/O Hub. |
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| Q: | What software supports these processors?
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| A: | As a backward-compatible x86 microprocessor, the AMD Opteron processor is designed to support all existing 32-bit server and workstation operating systems from Microsoft® (Windows® XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows® Server 2003, Windows XP, etc.), major Linux distributors (RedHat, SuSE, TurboLinux, SCO, MandrakeSoft), and Sun Solaris. In addition, several 64-bit operating systems exist in production versions (RedHat Enterprise Advanced Server 4.0, TurboLinux 10 Server, Novell SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.3, UnitedLinux V1, MandrakeLinux Corporate Version 3.0, NetBSD and Solaris 10) and several more are in development. For an up-to-date listing of 32- and 64-bit software applications that support AMD64 technology and AMD Opteron processors with Direct Connect Architecture, visit www.amd.com/amd64ecosystem. |
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| Q: | What benchmarks are you providing for these processors?
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| A: | For the AMD Opteron 800 Series processors, AMD has already published benchmark results for TPC-C, MMB3, SPECint_rate2000, SPECfp®_rate2000, SPECjbb2000, SPECweb99, SPECweb99_ssl, Lotus NotesBench and SAP Standard Application Sales and Distribution.
For more information, please see: www.amd.com/opteronperformance or the specific organization Web site. |
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| Q: | Is the AMD Opteron 800 Series processor available through the Validated Server Program?
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| A: | Yes, the Validated Server Program offers systems based on the AMD Opteron processor 800 Series. For more information, see
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/SellAMDProducts/0,,30_177_4458_3505^8796^13149,00.html |
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