Chipmaker AMD took the wraps off three new dual-core Opteron processors today, and taunted Intel for not accepting AMD's offer of a public dual-core performance challenge.
Chipmaker AMD today announced three new high-performance dual-core x86 Opteron processors aimed at servers and workstation, while taking a moment to wag its finger at rival chipmaker Intel for so far failing to accept AMD’s offer of a public dual-core processor performance contest anytime in 2005.
AMD’s new Opteron 880 enables up to 8-way, 16-core enterprise class server applications, wile the Opteron model 280 is aimed at high-performance dual-processor servers. Both the 880 and 280 are available immediately in 1,000-unit quantities; the new Opteron 180 should be available within 30 days, and is targeted as workstation and desktop systems with a single, dual-core processor.
Dual-core systems offer more performance-per-watt, a crucial issue for datacenters and enterprises which host large numbers of servers and their correspondingly high power and cooling costs. AMD designs further reduce power costs by cycling down processors when possible, based on utilization, rather than running the chips at top speed all the time. Hewlett-Packard has already incorporated Opteron processors into its ProLiant server line, and plans to match the new Opteron 280 with its high-end xw9300 workstation. Similarly, Sun Microsystems plans to integrate the Opteron 280 into its server line, including the Sun Fire x64 server family.
Meanwhile, not to let a publicity opportunity pass by, AMD took a moment to tweak leading chipmaker Intel for thusfar failing to accept AMD’s August 23 challenge to a public, dual-core processor performance contest. AMD’s proposed showdown would pit AMD’s dual-core Opteron 800 or 200 series against corresponding Intel x86 dual-core server processors available in volume anytime during 2005. AMD obviously feels its products would fare well on the basis of performance and power consumption against Intel’s current dual-core offerings.
