AMD Launches AMD Opteron 100 Series Processors With ECC Unbuffered Memory Support

August 2, 2005

AMD announced general availability of the AMD Opteron™ 100 Series processors that now feature error-correcting code (ECC) unbuffered memory support. Based on overwhelming customer demand in an increasing number of critical markets for one-way servers and workstations, AMD is expanding the types of memory supported by the AMD Opteron 100 Series processors. This new type of memory support is now the standard for the 100 Series.

AMD will continue to deliver AMD Opteron 100 Series processors using registered memory to existing customers that require them; including customers who are designing high-end products based on the AMD64 embedded processor roadmap.

“Based on feedback from our customers, we have enhanced the AMD Opteron processor roadmap by providing our customers more choices for the technology they demand within an infrastructure that best suits their needs,” said Marty Seyer, corporate vice president, Commercial and Performance Computing, Microprocessor Solutions Sector, AMD. “Adding ECC unbuffered memory support to AMD’s award-winning AMD Opteron 100 Series processors with Direct Connect Architecture, is going to enable our customers to offer even more compelling 1P server and workstation solutions, while helping to reduce their overall solution costs. This is another example of the innovative and responsive approach to customers that has resulted in more than 75 of the top 100 of the Forbes Global 2000 enterprises using AMD64 technology.”

Sun Microsystems, Inc., the first to use the new AMD Opteron 100 Series with ECC unbuffered memory support, recently, announced the Sun Ultra 20 Workstation, based on the new processors. The Sun Ultra 20 Workstation entered the marketplace with a new world record result on OCUS benchmark, a performance measurement of graphics oriented MCAD application - Pro/ENGINEER—based on results published at http://www.proesite.com, as of June 27, 2005. The new 64-bit workstation also established a world record on EnSight 8.0 benchmark that is used to gauge the performance of identically named engineering visualization application—based on results published at http://www.ensight.com/products/performance.html , as of July 27, 2005.

Sun’s Ultra 20 Workstation has easily surpassed the competing Intel-based systems from other hardware vendors.

“Adding the AMD Opteron 100 Series processors with ECC unbuffered memory support to our x64 (x86, 64-bit) workstation product line gives our customers even more break-through performance at lower costs than other competitive x64 workstations currently on the market,” said Lisa Sieker, vice president of marketing, Network Systems Group at Sun. “Recent record-breaking benchmark results for the Ultra 20 Workstation are a testament to the power and performance we continually see on our x64 systems that are powered with AMD processors.”

ECC unbuffered memory support will also extend to the Dual-Core AMD Opteron 100 Series processors, expected to be available within the next 30 days. Additionally, AMD plans to support ECC unbuffered memory on future AMD Opteron 100 Series processors designed for DDR2 and other emerging memory technologies.

With a simple BIOS update, AMD Opteron 100 Series supporting ECC unbuffered memory will use the existing AMD 939-pin package. Infrastructure partners including Supermicro Computer, Inc. and Tyan Computer Corporation already support this package and are the first to offer motherboards enabling true server solutions based on the new AMD Opteron 100 Series processors. Processors in the AMD Opteron 200 and 800 Series will continue to utilize Socket 940 which is validated for the registered memory configuration required by these processors.

“The AMD Opteron 100 Series processors with ECC unbuffered memory support, coupled with our Tomcat K8E (S2865) motherboard, enables Tyan to uniquely address the needs of our 1P server and workstation customers who are looking for high-performance at an improved price point,” said Danny Hsu, vice-president of Sales and Marketing at Tyan Computer Corporation. “The power and performance inherent in this exciting new addition to the AMD64 family will provide our customers with the capability to realize higher gains without higher cost overhead.”

“In April, we expanded our product offerings with AMD64 technology-based solutions,” said Tau Leng, director of marketing, Supermicro Computer, Inc. “With the new AMD Opteron 100 Series, we are able to offer our customers even more compelling 1P server and workstation solutions within an infrastructure that best suits their needs.”

Pricing and Availability
The new AMD Opteron 100 Series processors with ECC unbuffered memory support offer a compelling price/performance ratio, beginning with Model 144, priced at $125 in 1,000-unit quantities, and scaling to Model 152, priced at $799 in 1,000-unit quantities. Dual-Core AMD Opteron 100 Series processors with ECC unbuffered memory support, ranging from Model 165 at $417 to Model 175 at $530 for 1,000-unit quantities, are expected to be available within 30 days.