| Q: | What markets are you targeting with the Dual-Core AMD Opteron 800 Series processors?
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| A: | The Dual-Core AMD Opteron 800 Series processors with Direct Connect Architecture are for use in up to eight-way servers. 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. The Dual-Core AMD Opteron 800 Series processors are 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: | Why dual-core now? Who needs dual-core?
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| A: | Customers and end users currently face thermal and environmental challenges with today’s computing platforms. AMD’s dual-core technology will deliver the best-balanced solution to meet their computing demands within a given power envelope. Multi-core processors also will help to break through today’s single-core performance limitations, and provide the performance capacity to tackle tomorrow’s more advanced software.
AMD64 dual-core technology can improve system efficiency and application performance in today’s multi-threaded and multi-tasking environments. The Direct Connect Architecture of the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor enables superior performance on multi-threaded and symmetric multi-processing (SMP)-capable operating systems and applications because the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors offers SMP capabilities at the processor level, not the system level. |
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| Q: | What are the features of the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors feature:
- The best performance for multi-threading and multi-tasking needs.
- The new processors are attractively priced in order to encourage customers to drive rapid dual-core adoption. Entry-level dual-core systems overlap with current single-core based systems that are in market today.
- The industry’s best x86 dual-core architecture —AMD64 technology with Direct Connect Architecture which directly connects multiple processor cores, the memory controller and the I/O directly to the central processor unit and eliminates the bottlenecks inherent in a front-side bus.
- Best performance-per-watt architecture in the market because all Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors operate within the same power envelopes as our single-core 90nm processors
- Best performing two-way and four-way x86 server and workstation processors in the industry.
- Cost-effective 940-pin socket infrastructure, providing one architecture for one enterprise and eliminating disruptive upgrades.
- Industry-standard benchmarks show the highest-performing Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor Model 275 outperforming the highest-performing, single-core AMD Opteron processor Model 252 by nearly 70 percent and the single-core Model 248 by nearly 90 percent.
- The investment protection of not only the best 64-bit platform but also the best performing 32-bit platform.
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| Q: | Explain AMD’s model number system for the AMD Opteron processor? What are the frequencies of the processors in relation to the model numbers?
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| A: | AMD Opteron processors are described by a three-digit model number. The first number indicates the maximum scalability of the processor. Thus, the AMD Opteron 100 Series processors can be used in one-way servers or workstations while the AMD Opteron 800 Series processors and be used in up to eight-way servers and workstations. The second two digits indicate relative performance within the series. So, for example, an AMD Opteron processor Model 875 outperforms an AMD Opteron processor Model 870. |
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| Q: | Has AMD changed the model number scheme for the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors?
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| A: | Yes. The model numbers for the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors will begin with 165, 265 and 865 and advance in increments of five versus increments of two like the single core processors, this reflects how dual-core processors scale more than single-core processors. |
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| Q: | What models of the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor 800 Series are available now?
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| A: | The AMD Opteron 800 Series processor is currently available in models 875, 870 and 865. |
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| Q: | What are the prices of the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors?
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| A: | The Dual-Core AMD Opteron 800 Series will start at $1,514 for Model 865 and reach up to $2,649 for the Model 875. The Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor Model 865 is priced the same as the single-core AMD Opteron models 852 processors, thereby making the shift to dual-core technology an easy decision for customers. |
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| Q: | What motherboard support is available for these processors?
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| A: | Motherboards that support 90nm, single-core AMD Opteron processors can be upgraded to support Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors with a BIOS update. No hardware changes are required. |
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| Q: | What OEMs or system builders are offering systems featuring the 800 Series of the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor?
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| A: | Many of our OEM and system builder partners are taking orders today for systems based on the Dual-Core AMD Opteron 800 Series processor. Systems based on the 800 Series will be available within 30 days. |
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| Q: | What is the memory capability of the AMD Opteron 800 Series processor?
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| A: | In addition to providing world-class 32-bit performance, the Dual-Core AMD Opteron 800 Series processor is 64-bit capable, allowing it 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 offering up to 24.0GB/s of I/O bandwidth, the Dual-core AMD Opteron processor with Direct Connect Architecture provides a higher level of performance for multi-threaded applications by reducing memory latency—the CPU gets information more quickly and in turn produces results more quickly.
The Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor is based on AMD64 technology with Direct Connect Architecture, which helps eliminate the bottlenecks inherent in a front-side bus by directly connecting the processors, the memory controller and the I/O to the central processor unit, improving overall system performance and efficiency. |
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| Q: | What chipset support is available for these processors?
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| A: | Since the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors are designed to be completely compatible with single-core AMD Opteron processors, all chipsets that currently support the AMD Opteron processor will also support the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor.
This includes:
- AMD-8000 series of chipsets
- AMD-8132 HyperTransport PCI-X 2.0 tunnel
- AMD-8131 HyperTransport PCI-X Tunnel
- AMD-8111 HyperTransport I/O Hub
- AMD-8151 HyperTransport AGP3.0 Graphics Tunnel
From NVIDIA
- NVIDIA nForce Professional 2200 with PCI-Express support
- NVIDIA nForce Professional 2050 with PCI-Express support
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| Q: | What benchmarks are you providing for these processors?
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| A: | We plan on showcasing industry-standard benchmarks that are well accepted by enterprise customers. These include SPEC CPU2000, SPECJBB2000, WebBench, Terminal Services, and benchmarks based on Maya, 3D StudioMax and Cinebench.
For more information, please see: www.amd.com/opteronperformance or the specific organization Web site. |
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| Q: | What are the implications for software vendors? How will software vendors license applications for AMD’s dual-core technology?
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| A: | AMD has established itself as an industry leader for x86 multi-core computing and while we expect software vendors to follow their established licensing practices, AMD strongly recommends that software developers license by processor. This means that users would purchase one software license per processor, no matter whether the processor had a single core, or dual cores. This customer-centric licensing approach will help facilitate the broad adoption of multi-core technology, enabling users to easily and economically migrate to multi-core computing. Software industry leaders Microsoft, Novell, Red Hat and Sun have all announced they plan to adopt this licensing method. |
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| Q: | What software supports these processors?
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| A: | For multi-tasking and multi-threaded environments, two cores offer more physical resources, enabling operating systems to prioritize and manage tasks from multiple applications simultaneously and; therefore, maximize performance. Dual-core AMD64 processors are compatible with the existing base of x86 software, whether it is single-threaded, multi-threaded or hyperthreaded. This means the more than 1,300 applications from more than 300 ISVs and open-source software organizations that are featured in the AMD64 Software Ecosystem website www.amd.com/amd64ecosystem will be able to support AMD64 dual-core processors with a simple BIOS upgrade and no substantial code changes.
More than 30 strategic software partners joined AMD in the launch of AMD64 dual-core technology, including market-leading vendors for operating systems, development tools, database, IT infrastructure, engineering and graphic design tools. The industry’s leading operating systems—Solaris 10 and Linux dual-core-compatible operating systems and the upcoming Windows 64-bit editions—are all optimized for AMD64 dual-core technology. |
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