AMD's revised server and workstation roadmap that includes Opteron processors with four, six and twelve cores, essentialy pushing back the arrival of a next-generation processor architecture. In 2009, rather than push its Bulldozer architecture as it originally planned, AMD now intends to stick to 45nm four- and six-core server CPUs.

"Shanghai", AMD's first 45nm server processor is on schedule to begin production in the second half of 2008. Shanghai will pack 512KB of L2 cache per core, 6MB of shared L3 cache, DDR2 memory support, and will feature HyperTransport 3.0 for processor-to-processor communication. It will also include core and instruction-perclock (IPC) enhancements.

"Istanbul" will follow in the second half of 2009, will be a six core processor that will fit within th current Socket F1. AMD believes that the new CPU will enambe OEMs to preserve platform investments and increase system performance-per-watt. It is planned to be available in 2P and above configurations amd leverage AMD's Direct Connect Architecture, which alleviates the system communication bottlenecks.

In the first half of 2010, AMD will reveal its third-generation Socket G34 platform. The new platform is planned to offer features such as DDR3 memory capabilities and the AMD RD890 chipset for non-coherent HyperTransport 3.0, along with additional HT link.

AMD plans to follow up with a revamped six-core chip dubbed Sao Paulo and a new 12-core offering nicknamed Magny-Cours. Both CPUs will be based on the same 45nm process and the Socket G34 platform.

Bulldozer hasn't quite vanished from AMD's plans. The company's executives stated last month that the upcoming architecture will sample next year on a 45nm process.