AMD Introduces Opteron Quad-Core Processors

Performance is still an issue, but energy efficiency is the name of the game for AMD's latest processors.

With so many overclocked, supercooled, watt-sucking CPU monstrosities built to milk every extra frame per second out of games at any electric cost, we never thought we would see the day when processors were marketed on efficiency, but it’s here. AMD announced its latest Opteron Quad-Core line of server processors on Monday, and it’s all about keeping things cool and using watts wisely.

Sure, there’s a 50 percent boost in integer and floating-point performance in there too, but the main draw is performance-per-watt. AMD had to actually invent a new unit of measurement in order to advertise it, which they call average CPU power, or ACP. According to AMD, it represents CPU power while running a suite of typical commercial workloads to give buyers some expectation of power usage. The latest Quad-Core Opterons deliver 55- and 75-watt ACP.

Inside, an array of new technologies are used to keep power usage down. AMD’s CoolCore technology shuts down unused parts of the processor when they aren’t in use, while independent dynamic core technology scales each core’s clock frequency depending on what’s demanded of it. Separate power supplies for the cores and memory controller mean they can both operate on different voltages.

Systems built with AMD Quad-Core Processors will be available immediately from AMD’s  partners.