AMD Announces Three New Dual-Core AMD Opteron Processors

March 6, 2006

Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor.

AMD today announced three new models in the Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor family that lead the industry in x86 performance and performance-per-watt capabilities. The new Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors help minimize overall server power consumption and cooling requirements.

The Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor Model 885 for up to eight-way/16-core enterprise-class servers and Model 285 for high performance two-way/four-core workstations and servers are immediately available. The Model 185 for one-way/two-core servers and workstations is expected to be available within 30 days. All three models deliver the highest performance available for x86 servers and power consumption remains within AMD’s standard thermal envelope.

“AMD integrates two AMD Opteron processor cores onto a single die, allowing them to communicate at full processor speed,” said Randy Allen, corporate vice president, Server and Workstation Division, AMD. “That means Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors are the only native dual-core x86 systems available today for customers who want efficient solutions for their datacenters. Datacenter managers can fill racks with dual-core platforms without worrying about increased electricity and cooling costs.”

In addition to offering native dual-core technology, the AMD Opteron processor helps deliver a significant savings for enterprise datacenters. Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors offer significant performance gains while operating in the same power and thermal infrastructure as single-core AMD Opteron processors. This means fewer servers can do the job of many, to lower overall operating costs. AMD PowerNow! technology with Optimized Power Management can increase those savings even further because it enables servers and workstations to dynamically power down processors, based on usage. AMD PowerNow! technology can reduce CPU power consumption by up to 75 percent during idle time, to help decrease the strain on datacenter cooling and ventilation systems and helping minimize overall power consumption for enterprise IT and workstation customers.

The Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor Model 885 is priced at $2,149 in 1,000-unit quantities and the Model 285 is priced at $1,051 in 1,000-unit quantities. The Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor Model 185, is scheduled to be available within 30 days.

Source: AMD