AMD Demonstrates Twelve-Core Microprocessors.

AMD Shows Off Servers Running Twelve-Core Chips

[04/24/2009 11:22 PM]
by Anton Shilov

Advanced Micro Devices has demonstrated its twelve-core microprocessors operating in a 4-way server just days after it said it would start selling six-core chips in May, 2009. Thanks to multi-chip-module nature of the code-named Magny-Cours processor, creation of such chip was a relatively easy challenge.

AMD Opteron 6000-series code-named Magny-Cours with twelve processing engines will be released in the first quarter of 2010, according to some reports. However, already now AMD can demonstrate the chip to public and customers to show off its benefits compared to competing platforms and technologies.

This week AMD demonstrated a 4-way server featuring four Magny-Cours processors. While AMD did not demonstrate any real-world performance numbers, the system with 48 cores looked impressive by itself.

Photo by c't web-site

AMD Magny-Cours processor will be the first chip for the AMD G34 “Maranello” platform designed for Opteron processors 6000-series with up to 16 cores, quad-channel memory interface, 2 or 4 sockets, up to 12 memory modules per socket and some server and enterprise-specific functionality.

In 2011 AMD plans to release a successor for Magny-Cours code-named Interlagos, which will be based on Bulldozer micro-architecture, built using 32nm process technology and contain up to 16 cores.

Tags: AMD, Opteron, Bulldozer, Istanbul, Interlagos, Magny-Cours, 45nm, 32nm

Discussion

Comments currently: 2
Discussion started: 04/26/09 04:10:23 PM
Latest comment: 04/29/09 11:56:09 PM

[1-2]

It's amazing how fast can the cores multiply using the MCM tech. 12 cores TODAY working ? I'm not sure but I think not even Intel has such a chip .. it wouldn't make sense for them as a Nehalem Quad is still faster than an Istanbul CPU clock for clock so surely their next step would be a MCM of 8 cores that would trounce any 2S or 4S AMD server using the Istanbul CPU . 12 core MCM would be overkill for Intel now as they could just wait and launch it later and mull some more money . As I see it ... AMD will skip the 8 core altogether until Bulldozer arrives ... For now, they will use multiples of six to compensate for Nehalem's much better memory controller and the other improvements .