AMD Cuts Opteron Prices, Unveils New High-end Models
AMD today announced availability of new AMD Opteron processor
models in both highly efficient (68 watt) and mainstream (95 watt)
thermal envelopes.
AMD has expanded its low-power solutions with AMD Opteron processor
Models 1218 HE, 2218 HE and 8218 HE. Designed to offer
industry-leading performance-per-watt at only 68-watt maximum
thermal design power, these processors are ideal for
energy-conscious customers looking to reduce power and cooling
bills and to achieve greater density in the datacenter. AMD Opteron
HE processor models now include three 1000 Series models, bringing
the benefits of reduced thermals over previous AMD Opteron 1000
Series processors to entry-level server customers while preserving
the enterprise reliability they value.
All of the new processors feature AMD PowerNow! technology which is designed for reduced system level energy consumption, with multiple levels of lower clock speed and voltage states that can reduce processor power consumption by as much as 75 percent during idle times.
"Datacenter managers often tell me how important power management technology is for staying within their energy budgets," said Jonathan Koomey, consulting professor at Stanford University. "Having the ability to significantly reduce power at idle times is increasingly critical, particularly for datacenters that have extreme fluctuations in workloads from peak to off-peak times."
Amd claims that its Direct Connect Architecture deliver an overall performance advantage over the competition?s dual-core two- and four-socket offerings and enable systems to draw less power. Top-performing AMD Opteron processor Models 2220 and 8220 (2.8 GHz) are now immediately available in the 95-watt maximum thermal design power. These new processors, along with AMD Opteron processor Model 1220, are designed to offer leading-edge performance-per-watt and price-performance for mainstream server and workstation customers.
AMD Opteron processors will enable an upgrade path to AMD?s native quad-core processors, codenamed "Barcelona." "These processors are expected to feature substantial core enhancements in mid-2007 and to offer a 40-percent performance advantage over the competition?s quad-core offerings, all based on the same infrastructure and thermal envelopes customers depend on today," said AMD.
Cutting prices
AMD has also published across-the-board price cuts for its Opteron range of high-end and server processors.
Stating at the top of the scale, the price of the AMD Opteron 8220 SE has been slashed from US$2,149 to US$1,514, a 30% reduction, and a new model, the 8220, has been added to the series at the same cost. Other 8000 series models have also fallen in price by between 20% and 30%. In the high-efficiency range, the Opteron 8128 HE has been added at a cost of US$1,340.
In the 800 series, the Dual-Core Opteron 890 has been added at US$1,514, and the lowest-end 865 has been removed. All models in the series have moved down a step in price equivalent to those of the previous list. This trend continues in the single-core variants in the range, with the Opteron 850 falling to US$523, and the high-efficiency variants. The model 848 HE has also been removed.
The 2000- and 200-series sees similar additions with the introduction of the Opteron 2200 at US$698, 2218 HE at US$611, and Dual-Core AMD Opteron 290 at US$698. Both standard and HE variants of the model 246 are no longer listed.
The Opteron 1220 at US$545 has been introduced to the 1000 series, as well as five HE versions of the other models in the range.
All of the new processors feature AMD PowerNow! technology which is designed for reduced system level energy consumption, with multiple levels of lower clock speed and voltage states that can reduce processor power consumption by as much as 75 percent during idle times.
"Datacenter managers often tell me how important power management technology is for staying within their energy budgets," said Jonathan Koomey, consulting professor at Stanford University. "Having the ability to significantly reduce power at idle times is increasingly critical, particularly for datacenters that have extreme fluctuations in workloads from peak to off-peak times."
Amd claims that its Direct Connect Architecture deliver an overall performance advantage over the competition?s dual-core two- and four-socket offerings and enable systems to draw less power. Top-performing AMD Opteron processor Models 2220 and 8220 (2.8 GHz) are now immediately available in the 95-watt maximum thermal design power. These new processors, along with AMD Opteron processor Model 1220, are designed to offer leading-edge performance-per-watt and price-performance for mainstream server and workstation customers.
AMD Opteron processors will enable an upgrade path to AMD?s native quad-core processors, codenamed "Barcelona." "These processors are expected to feature substantial core enhancements in mid-2007 and to offer a 40-percent performance advantage over the competition?s quad-core offerings, all based on the same infrastructure and thermal envelopes customers depend on today," said AMD.
Cutting prices
AMD has also published across-the-board price cuts for its Opteron range of high-end and server processors.
Stating at the top of the scale, the price of the AMD Opteron 8220 SE has been slashed from US$2,149 to US$1,514, a 30% reduction, and a new model, the 8220, has been added to the series at the same cost. Other 8000 series models have also fallen in price by between 20% and 30%. In the high-efficiency range, the Opteron 8128 HE has been added at a cost of US$1,340.
In the 800 series, the Dual-Core Opteron 890 has been added at US$1,514, and the lowest-end 865 has been removed. All models in the series have moved down a step in price equivalent to those of the previous list. This trend continues in the single-core variants in the range, with the Opteron 850 falling to US$523, and the high-efficiency variants. The model 848 HE has also been removed.
The 2000- and 200-series sees similar additions with the introduction of the Opteron 2200 at US$698, 2218 HE at US$611, and Dual-Core AMD Opteron 290 at US$698. Both standard and HE variants of the model 246 are no longer listed.
The Opteron 1220 at US$545 has been introduced to the 1000 series, as well as five HE versions of the other models in the range.
