AMD Plans 12-/16-Core CPUs For 2011
History has shown that Advanced Micro Devices doesn't have the greatest track record for delivering chips as promised (at least right on schedule), but the company's looking to make a change for the better starting with its highly anticipated six-core Istanbul. Said CPU, which falls in the Opteron family, promises to provide up to 30 percent more performance within the same power envelope and on the same platform as current Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors, and while we've already seen it demonstrated and slated for a 2H 2009 launch, AMD's bringing cautious smiles out everywhere with its latest update.
AMD Istanbul Die - Image courtesy: AMD
As the company revamps and refreshes its processor roadmap, consumers are now being told that Istanbul will be shipping in June, which is not even two full months from now. There's no word on what hastened the shipment schedule, but so long as no corners were cut to get it rushed out, we won't prod for answers.
In related news, the company also made it known that it plans to ship the Opteron 6000 series for 2P and 4P servers that are designed to address the highly virtualized, high performance computing and database markets next year. Crazier still, the 'Interlagos' 12- and 16-core processor, based on the 'Bulldozer' core and manufactured on 32nm process technology, is planned to ship in 2011 and will also be supported by the 'Maranello' platform. No need to question your sanity -- you really just read that AMD is planning a 12- and 16-core CPU to ship in two years. The rest of the highlights are posted below:
AMD Istanbul Die - Image courtesy: AMD
As the company revamps and refreshes its processor roadmap, consumers are now being told that Istanbul will be shipping in June, which is not even two full months from now. There's no word on what hastened the shipment schedule, but so long as no corners were cut to get it rushed out, we won't prod for answers.
In related news, the company also made it known that it plans to ship the Opteron 6000 series for 2P and 4P servers that are designed to address the highly virtualized, high performance computing and database markets next year. Crazier still, the 'Interlagos' 12- and 16-core processor, based on the 'Bulldozer' core and manufactured on 32nm process technology, is planned to ship in 2011 and will also be supported by the 'Maranello' platform. No need to question your sanity -- you really just read that AMD is planning a 12- and 16-core CPU to ship in two years. The rest of the highlights are posted below:
- Months ahead of schedule, AMD plans to deliver the six-core AMD Opteron processor code named “Istanbul” in June this year, with up to 30 percent more performance within the same power envelope and on the same platform as current Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors.i
- AMD unveiled Direct Connect Architecture 2.0, the next stage of server processor innovation: up to 12 cores initially, with superior memory and I/O capability, near native virtualization performance, and a range of full-featured power bands that continue to place a priority on low power consumption.
- AMD believes a customer value shift is currently underway, transforming the server market, with the high end moving toward performance and expandability and virtualization driving a need for more cores and greater scalability. At the lower end, AMD sees power management and overall value as primary drivers for cloud computing and ultra-dense environments that demand greater energy efficiency.
- In 2010, AMD plans to ship the AMD Opteron 6000 series for 2P and 4P servers that are designed to address the highly virtualized, high performance computing and database markets. The 6000 series will debut on the G34 socket and the “Maranello” platform, with the 8- and 12-core “Magny-Cours” processors.
- The upcoming AMD Opteron 4000 series is also planned for introduction in 2010 for 1P and 2P servers and designed to address virtualized Web and cloud computing environments. The 4000 series will launch with the C32 socket and “San Marino” platform with the 4- and 6-core “Lisbon” processor.
- The “Interlagos” 12- and 16-core processor, based on the “Bulldozer” core and manufactured on 32nm process technology, is planned to ship in 2011 and will also be supported by the “Maranello” platform. The 6- to 8-core “Valencia” processor, also manufactured on 32nm process technology, is planned for shipment in 2011 on the “San Marino” platform.
“Over the past six years, AMD has transformed the x86 server industry to what it is today with the AMD Opteron processor, delivering exceptional performance per watt gains along the way. And in 2010 and 2011, AMD plans to deliver to its customers unprecedented back-to-back performance gains that remain true to our commitment on power efficiency. We’re currently working on new processors which we expect will deliver more than 35 times the performance of the original single-core AMD Opteron processor released in 2003,” said Patrick Patla, vice president and general manager, Server/Workstation Business, AMD. “With our wide range of available power bands and performance capabilities, AMD is delivering full featured, maximum value at every price point today, and plans to continue to do so well into the future.”
