X-bit labs

AMD to Boost Opteron Performance in June [UPDATED].

Category: CPU

by Anton Shilov

[ 04/19/2004 | 10:33 AM ]

UPDATE: Adding a new possible date for AMD Opteron x50 release.

Advanced Micro Devices will introduce new AMD Opteron processors with increased clock-speeds in June 2004, unofficial sources familiar with the Sunnyvale, California-based chipmaker’s roadmap said Monday.

The upcoming AMD Opteron processors are anticipated to be clocked at 2.40GHz and to be available in models 150, 250 and 850, forming a comprehensive lineup of powerful chips for uni-processor, dual-processor and multi-processor servers as well as workstations. As all the latest Opteron microprocessors, the upcoming SKUs will support PC3200 and PC2700 registered DDR SDRAM memory with ECC.

AMD Opteron processors are designed to serve variety of servers and workstations, including mission-critical enterprise servers. The processors incorporate 1MB of L2 cache, 128KB of L1 cache as well as a number of Hyper-Transport links for connecting to another CPU as well as to Hyper-Transport tunnels. All Opteron processors integrate dual-channel DDR SDRAM memory controller that can address up to 1TB of memory.

Unlike the AMD Athlon 64 FX chips for desktops, Opteron CPUs will not change packaging type and will continue to utilize Socket 940 infrastructure. AMD Opteron models 150, 250 and 850 are expected to be drop-in compatible with existing infrastructure.

According to some sources, Advanced Micro Devices is also about to transit production of the AMD Opteron central processing units to CG revision in order to advance yield and “maintain competitive frequency curves”. The new revision is likely to power faster AMD Opteron processors initially, but is also expected to move into all Opteron chips eventually. CG version of AMD64 server processors will fix some errata and enhance thermal management capabilities, sources said.

While 2.40GHz is not a real landmark for AMD64 processors, it is pretty remarkable that this is likely to become the final speed for AMD’s 64-bit microprocessors at 0.13 micron process technology. Faster processors are only slated to be available once AMD starts to successfully utilize its 90nm SOI fabrication process late in 2004 or early in 2005. Even though AMD will indisputably make its best to stay competitive with Intel Corp.’s Xeon processors, it is not clear if the company has chances to roll-out 2.60GHz processors in volumes using its 130nm Silicon-on-Insulator process technology.

Web-site AMDReview.com reports that at least one store may have the new AMD Opteron processors at 2.40GHz on its shelves as early as by May, 18, 2004. This implies that AMD may release its new server chips even earlier than indicated initially.

As a rule, officials from AMD deny to comment on information coming from third-parties in regards future product releases.