Advanced Micro Devices, the world’s No.2 maker of processors for PCs, said it would tend to triple its server market share by the end of the year as a result of design wins with major server customers and closer relationships with server manufacturers.
Historically AMD has been known as a maker of clones of Intel’s processors, hoverer, starting from the mid-nineties the Sunnyvale, California-based chipmaker started to develop its own central processing units. The first strong rival for Intel’s Pentium III processors – the AMD Athlon – emerged in 1999 for desktops and evolved into server/workstation product – the AMD Athlon MP – in 2001. However, AMD’s recognition in the server space only happened in mid-2003 when the company released the world’s first commercial x86-64 processor – AMD Opteron.
Armed with the Opteron microprocessor AMD has managed to increase its market share in the server space by about 6% in the first quarter of this year as a result of 3.5% servers incorporating AMD’s server products (since servers may have more than one processor, the number of chips shipped to market may not ). Due to design-wins with IBM, HP and Sun, along with adoption of AMD’s Opteron chips by companies like Cray, AMD’s executives hope to install AMD’s server chips into 10% of x86 servers shipped by the end of the year, CNET News.com reports quoting Ben Williams, AMD’s vice president of the server/workstation microprocessor business unit.
The main driver of AMD’s success in the server space is popularity of AMD Opteron processor. Recently a number of large companies, such as VeriSign and Sabre, and government agencies, like CIA, adopted a number of AMD Opteron-based servers. Furthermore, AMD has managed to establish strong ties with server subdivisions of HP, IBM and Sun. Dell, IBM, HP and Sun control over 70% of x86 server market.
Up to now the most popular AMD Opteron-based platforms were 1-way and 2-way, but this year 4-way systems will also make it to the mass market. Additionally, 8-way systems are likely to demonstrate their strength.
Intel, the world’s largest chipmaker and AMD’s main rival, now also supplies its x86 chips with 64-bit capability, putting additional pressure on sales of AMD server products.
Comments currently:
2
Discussion started: 08/05/04 11:05:01 AM
Latest comment: 08/05/04 06:38:09 PM
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AMD Chipsets long in the tooth....
They need a new chipset for the Opteron line, and fast. Native SATA, USB 2.0, PCI-Express, etc need to be included to compete with Intel's new, albiet buggy, server chipsets for Nocona.
AMD can not sit on its hands and wait for Nforce4. They have proven that they can make a stable chipset with the 761 and current 8000 series... so why not throw some money into an upgrade?
Is ServerWorks working on a chipset/board for the Opteron? That would be great news too.
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Posted by: mamisano
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Date: 08/05/04 11:05:01 AM]
2.
It doesn't look like AMD is a long term chipset provider. They do the initial designs, but depend on third parties to carry on.
Actually, the 761 had issues...(1) was the USB issue that was re-solved with a revision and (2) due to the way the PCI buses are arranaged, it doesn't provide sufficient bandwidth for some high end capture cards. (Canopus does not recommend you use the old 761 chipset based mobos with their cards).
Of course, the current 8000 series has no problems. Nothing like a 2nd attempt to correct your past mistakes. :)
Don't worry...The Nforce 4 is coming closer than you think *wink wink*. That's why AMD doesn't need to refresh their chipset line.
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Posted by: 643
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Date: 08/05/04 06:38:09 PM]
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