Among a handful of Opteron processor launches from Advanced Micro Devices today came a HyperTransport PCI-X 2.0 tunnel, a first for the company.

The chip, AMD-8132, allows OEMs and system builders to take advantage of the next generation of I/O technology by bringing PCI-X 2.0 connectivity to Opteron processor-based systems with increased throughput, improved RAS capabilities, robust data management and enhanced HyperTransport technology connectivity, according to Margaret Lewis, commercial software strategist at AMD.

"PCI Express is really a technology that our workstation customers want because it enables very fast graphics. In the server world, we are seeing some of our high-performance computing customers wanting to use processor servers that are going to PCI Express," Lewis said.

This latest addition to the AMD-8000 series is scheduled to ship for servers and workstations this month.

Further announcements from AMD today came from the dual-core end and included Opteron models 852 and 252, representing what the company claims are the world's highest performing processors for one-way to eight-way x86 servers and workstations.

Enhancements include support for SSE3 software instructions as well AMD PowerNow! technology with Optimized Power Management.

AMD's 852 and 252 received support from HP, Sun and IBM on the server end. The models will be available to partners within 30 days, AMD said, adding that volume server solutions based are expected to be available this quarter.

"Our customers are very interested in dual core technology, but they want the technology bought out -- just as we did the 64bit technology -- so that it doesn't necessarily disrupt their whole infrastructure," Lewis noted. "This will mean you can put dual-core processors into the systems that have these 852 models in them, and then, with the bios change, be ready for dual core."
 
The 852 is priced at $1,514 in 1,000-unit quantities, while 252 is priced at $851 in 1,000-unit quantities.

AMD added that it plans to extend the launch of dual-core AMD Opteron processors in mid-2005.

By: DocMemory
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