"For AMD, the future is Hammer." - Jerry Sanders, CEO AMD

AMD has started releasing the next line of Server and workstation Processors named Opteron. The word Opteron comes from the Latin word Optimus which means the Best.  This new line of cpu’s are designed to run both 32bit and 64bit simultaneously. This will allow for use of 32 bit programs while moving towards the 64 bit environment. The Opteron Processor is targeted to be sold to Enterprise, small or  medium size businesses.  The Opteron unlike the 32-bit processors operates at 40-bit physical and 48-bit virtual addressing allows up to 1 terabyte physical and 256 terabytes of virtual memory addressing space, compared to the 4GB memory cap of the 32-bit processors.  The processor will be manufactured in a 940pin ceramic micro PGA package. The Opteron Processor is available in three different series:

For server applications you can use up to 8 way, while the workstation platforms will utilize 1 to 4 way processors.  Below are some of the Key features that the Opteron  provides.

Integrated  DDR Memory Controller onboard

 The Processor has an integrated  DDR memory controller which will allow for better cpu performance, increased bandwidth and reduced memory latencies.  The memory bandwidth scales with the number of CPUs that are put into a system configuration.

 When using PC2700 DDR’s you can have up to 5.3 GB/s per processor of available bandwidth.  The memory controller is a  128-bit wide controller capable of supporting up to 8 registered DDR’s per Processor.

Opteron die showing enlarged L2 Cache

HyperTransport Technology

HyperTransport is a new technology that enables the the system to have scalable bandwidth between cpu’s and I/O subsystems.  The AMD-8111 I/O Hub will replace the southbridge and integrate audio, storage connectivity and security in a single chip.   It also has Support for up to 3 coherent HyperTransport links, that can provide up to  19.2 GB/s peak Bandwidth per Processor and supports up to 3 coherent HyperTransport links, which provides up to 19.2 GB/s peak band width for each processor.  New technology allows a very low power consumption of 1.2volts.  Also supports new interconnect technologies such as 10 gig Ethernet, AMD-8131 tunnel for PCI-X slots, DDR and InfiniBand.  The Dual PCI-X interface will be able to support  Pci Speeds from Legacy PCI up to 133Mhz cards.  These interconnects are possible by the processor being able to provide up to 6.4 GB/s bandwidth per link.  HyperTransport  will also provide  AMD-8151 AGP3.0 Graphics Tunnel which the top manufacturers will create chipsets around the platform the follow chipset vendors have jumped onboard Nvidia, VIA, SIS and ALI.

Other features of the new Processor are the use of .13 micron SOI (Silicon on Insulator) Process technology that will lower the temperature level of the Cpu. Is fully compatible with SSE2 Technology instructions. Also featured is protection for the L1 and L2 cache data by use of ECC Protection with hardware scrubbing for both Cache and Dram. The addition of two pipelines  was added to increase cpu frequency scalability and performance.
 

Current AMD Roadmap

Opteron Chipsets
 

As with most new products, the industry buzz for the Opteron is huge, and the support base is slowly, but steadily building. Manufacturers have been working to get Opteron Chipsets to market somewhat at the same time as the CPUs themselves. Currently the following manufacturers have announced or released Chipsets made for the AMD Opteron CPU: AMD, nVidia, and VIA

Opteron Motherboards

ASI has already allocated a part number for Opteron motherboards from MSI, other manufacturers are sure to follow.

The MSI motherboards currently on order for ASI are the MSI K8D Master-F (MS-9131) (ASI SKU# 21283), and the MSI K8D Master-FT (MS-9131) (ASI SKU# 21285), the main difference in these motherboards being that one, the MSI K8D Master-FT is designed to be used in 1U rack mount chassis.

As you can see, the Master-FT Motherboard only has 1 64-bit/100MHz PCI-X slot and 1 Mini PCI slot as opposed to the 3 64-bit/100MHz PCI-X and 2 32-bit/33MHz PCI slots on the Master-F motherboard. The Mini PCI-X slot can be used for one of the 3 Mini PCI Cards that MSI offers, the MS-9513 VGA card, MS-9514 IEEE 1394 card, or the MS-9518 SCSI card.

The specs on the MSI Opteron motherboards are as follows:
 

ASI SKU	Mfr.	Model	CPU	Chipset	Memory	Slots	Video	Network
21283	MSI	K8D Master-F	AMD Opteron DP 940-pin	AMD 8131 AMD 8111	DDR 200, 266, 333MHz (ECC REG) 6 DIMMs, 12GB Max	3 PCI-X 64-bit 66/100MHz 2 PCI 32-bit/33MHz	ATI Rage XL 8MB	Dual Broadcom Gigabit
21285		K8D Master-FT (1U Rack)				1 PCI-X 64-bit 66/100MHz 1 Mini PCI

Currently ASI does not carry any power supplies that are listed by MSI on their compatability list. We have been informed that the Nspire NSP-550P4D-XEON, (ASI SKU# 16023), can support this motherboard, unfortunately since the board has not come into stock yet, we are unable to state, with certainty, that this combination works together.

More information will be added to this article as new products and details are released.