Some answers about Opteron that have been answered. Some need more detail though. These where taken from the AMD website
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Weblets/0,,...,00.html#69575
Q: What is the AMD Opteron™ processor?
A: The AMD Opteron™ processor is the world’s first 64-bit server and workstation multiprocessor based on the industry-standard x86 instruction set architecture. It is also the highest performing 2P and 4P server processor in the 32-bit world.
By extending the x86 architecture to 64-bit computing, the AMD Opteron processor maintains complete compatibility with existing 32-bit operating systems, applications, and equipment. This enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing, which protects the valuable investments in the existing IT infrastructure while allowing customers to migrate to more powerful 64-bit applications at their own pace.
Q: What markets are you targeting for the AMD Opteron processor? What commercial arenas are you targeting?
A: The AMD Opteron processor’s ability to simultaneously run x86-based 32- and 64-bit applications protects customers’ existing IT investments and eliminates barriers to 64-bit computing. The target markets for the AMD Opteron processor include global enterprises, small-medium businesses, and government/education institutions – both for 1-8 way server solutions and for 1-4 way workstation solutions. With its bigger L2 cache, large workload features and high-bandwidth HyperTransport™ technology links, the AMD Opteron processor is ideal for server customers who need faster database transactions or support for more users on e-commerce type applications. It’s also an excellent workstation processor for CAD, digital content creation and other applications that need quick graphics response.
Q: What are the features of the AMD Opteron processor and why are they important to enterprise customers?
A: Enterprise customers seek solutions on which they can feel confident running their business, and AMD delivers. With the support of a broad range of technology industry leaders, AMD designed the AMD Opteron processor to eliminate barriers to 64-bit computing with unparalleled performance and support for the x86 instruction set, delivering outstanding performance for both 32-bit code and 64-bit code. As the need for memory-intensive 64-bit applications grows, the AMD Opteron processor enables IT managers to seamlessly move to 64-bit applications that benefit their business while continuing to leverage their investment in 32-bit software.
Additionally, the HyperTransport technology interface addresses the high memory and I/O bandwidth needs AMD believes future PCs, workstations and servers will require.
The 128-bit-wide data paths of the AMD Opteron processor should run applications faster than traditional processors with only 32- or 64-bit-wide data paths. Current 32-bit processors have a 4 gigabyte memory addressing cap; the AMD Opteron processor’s 40-bit physical and 48-bit virtual addressing remove that limitation, enabling systems based on the AMD Opteron processor to address up to 1 terabyte of physical memory space and 256 terabytes of virtual memory.
Q: What are the benefits of the AMD Opteron processor and why are they important to enterprise customers?
A: Compatibility: Optimized x86, 64-bit core with native support for 32-bit applications delivers simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing.
Performance: High-bandwidth integrated memory controller scales with processor frequency and number of processors.
Scalability: Highly scalable HyperTransport technology-based system bus enables glueless multiprocessing up to 8-way processors.
Reliability and high availability: The AMD Opteron processor includes error correcting code (ECC) protection for L1 and L2 cache data and DRAM ECC protection with chipkill.
Q: For what types of servers is the AMD Opteron processor suitable?
A: The AMD Opteron processor is suitable for different workloads across an enterprise:
1-2P servers are suitable for firewall, cache and load-balancing servers, as well as Web servers.
2-4P servers are suitable for heavy-duty Web servers and applications servers.
4P-8P servers are suitable for back-end database and storage servers.
Q: Who is supporting the AMD Opteron processor?
A: In addition to announcements by IBM and Fujitsu Siemens that they will offer products based on the AMD Opteron processor, AMD is working with hundreds of OEMs, server vendors, operating system and application developers, and infrastructure partners throughout the technology industry to support the AMD Opteron processor. More details are available at
www.amd.com/athlon64andopteronnews.
Q: Which operating systems will support the AMD Opteron at launch?
A: AMD designed the AMD Opteron processor to run all x86-based operating systems, including 32-bit versions Microsoft® Windows® and Linux. SuSE Linux will have a 64-bit operating system for AMD Opteron processor-based servers at launch, and Microsoft recently announced the development schedule for 64-bit versions of Windows for server and PC computers. AMD expects all other major operating systems vendors will support the AMD Opteron processor, including Red Hat, United Linux, MandrakeSoft and Wasabi (NetBSD).
Q: What kinds of applications will benefit from the performance of the AMD Opteron processor?
A: The 128-bit-wide data paths of the AMD Opteron processor should run applications faster than traditional processors with only 32- or 64-bit-wide data paths. E-commerce applications, enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management and other highly transactional database applications will benefit from the AMD Opteron processor’s larger cache and big workload features that manipulate larger data sets faster. Other large data set applications that will benefit from the AMD Opteron processor include computer-aided design and digital content creation applications, as well as financial and scientific modeling applications.
Q: What software applications will be available for the AMD Opteron processor at launch?
A: The universe of approximately 10,000 x86-based 32-bit applications will run natively on the AMD Opteron processor. Several other operating system and software vendors have announced their intention to develop 64-bit applications for the AMD Opteron processor. AMD also has a complete suite of open-source development tools and optimized compliers from PGI and high-performance numerical libraries from NAG. AMD has developed proof of concept demonstrations with Oracle 9i, Tivoli and SAP. More details are available at
www.amd.com/athlon64andopteronnews.
Q: Will the AMD Opteron processor be available in a single-processor version? Can the AMD Opteron processor be used in a configuration greater than 8P? How far can it scale?
A: AMD designed the AMD Opteron processor to directly support between 1 and 8 AMD Opteron processors in a glueless (that is, requiring no chipset support for external logic) multiprocessor configuration. A platform can support an unlimited number of AMD Opteron processors in a multi-way configuration with external/additional chipset support.
Q: How should customers interpret the AMD Opteron processor model numbers?
A: The AMD Opteron processor model numbers communicate the scalability of each series and the relative performance within that line. The first digit is the series number, which is the maximum number of processors supported in a system based on that processor. The last two digits of the model number help customers determine the relative performance of processors within each series. For example, an AMD Opteron processor Model 244 supports a system with a maximum of 2 processors and provides incremental performance improvement over an AMD Opteron processor Model 242.
Q: What kind of performance does the AMD Opteron processor deliver? What benchmarks are you using?
A: The AMD Opteron processor is the highest performing 2P and 4P server processor in the 32-bit world. AMD posts benchmark results at
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/V...2_863,00.html.
Q: How did AMD choose its performance benchmarks?
A: AMD selects industry-standard benchmarks developed and validated by independent third parties that are most likely to represent typical customer usage scenarios.
Q: What will be the frequency of the AMD Opteron processor?
A: Frequency is only one factor contributing to overall processor performance. With the architectural enhancements of the integrated memory controller and HyperTransport technology, the AMD Opteron processor is the highest performing server processor for 32-bit 2P and 4P markets. AMD posts benchmark results at
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/V...2_863,00.html.
Q: What does the AMD Opteron processor cost?
A: The AMD Opteron processor will be priced at parity with competitive 32-bit products, and will offer a seamless migration path to 64-bit computing. Check pricing for details.
Q: Is there any difference between the AMD Opteron processor/platform for workstations and for servers? Are the parts identical? Are they somehow implemented in workstations and servers differently?
A: The AMD Opteron processor is available in multiprocessor configurations with no external logic required: 1-8 way servers or 1-4 way workstations. Inclusion of the AMD-8000™ series core logic may vary between a server and a workstation implementation. For example, an OEM may not want to include the AMD-8151™ HyperTransport technology AGP3.0 Graphics Tunnel on a server, while this is an essential feature of a workstation.
Q: What chipsets will be available to support the AMD Opteron processor? What motherboards are in development?
A: The AMD-8000 series of chipsets is the core logic for the AMD Opteron processor. Key innovations in the AMD Opteron processor core include support for simultaneous, transparent 32-bit and 64-bit computing; a high-bandwidth integrated memory controller closely coupled with the microprocessor core; and a highly scalable system bus using HyperTransport technology with support for single- and multi-processor configurations. The AMD-8000 series of chipsets includes the AMD-8111™ HyperTransport technology I/O hub, the AMD-8131™ HyperTransport technology PCI-X tunnel, and the AMD-8151 HyperTransport technology AGP3.0 graphics tunnel.
Technology industry leaders ALi Corporation, ATI Technologies, NVIDIA®, Semtech, SiS Corp. and VIA have announced they will build chipsets based around these core logic components and HyperTransport technology. More than 20 leading motherboard partners have announced support for AMD’s next-generation processors. More details are available at
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/...2_873,00.html.
Q: Is the Northbridge integrated into the AMD Opteron architecture?
A: Key functions of the Northbridge, including memory control, multiprocessing control and functionality, are integrated as part of the AMD Opteron processor architecture. Functions like AGP graphics will be supported by components like the AMD-8151 HyperTransport technology AGP3.0 Graphics Tunnel.
Q: What is the front-side bus frequency of the AMD Opteron processor?
A: In traditional microprocessor architecture, the front-side bus is the communication path connecting the Northbridge chip to the CPU. As the AMD Opteron processor embeds functions of the Northbridge into the CPU itself, including the memory controller, there is no longer a front-side bus as people have come to understand it. As the built-in memory controller operates at processor frequency, the clock frequency of the AMD Opteron processor can be considered the frequency of its front-side bus.
Q: What is AMD64?
A: AMD’s family of 64-bit processors has been referred to by many names, among them “x86-64” and “Hammer.” AMD chose a term to describe this new class of computing, AMD64, that distinguishes AMD’s vision from proprietary 64-bit solutions and from existing 32-bit, x86-based computing solutions. AMD’s goal is to tie our vision of pervasive 64-bit computing to a term that identifies our customer-centric, evolutionary approach.
Q: What are the differences between the AMD Opteron processor and the AMD Athlon™ 64 processor?
A: The primary difference between the AMD Opteron processor, for servers and workstations, and the upcoming AMD Athlon 64 processor, for desktop and mobile systems, is in the number of HyperTransport technology links embedded on the chip. The AMD Athlon 64 processor will contain one HyperTransport technology link offering 6.4 GB/s data transfer while the AMD Opteron processor offers three links. The processors may contain different amounts of cache depending on the configuration a customer chooses.
Q: When will AMD launch the AMD Athlon 64 processor?
A: AMD plans to extend the AMD64 architecture to desktop and mobile computing with the launch of the AMD Athlon 64 processor, expected to be the industry’s first and only 64-bit processor for mobile and desktop PCs, in September 2003. AMD designed the upcoming AMD Athlon 64 processor to deliver unparalleled technology and simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing, so end users can be confident they have the best-performing PC processor.
Q: Is the AMD Opteron processor what AMD has up until now referred to as “SledgeHammer?” Is there any difference between “SledgeHammer” and the AMD Opteron processor?
A: AMD’s code names for its 64-bit computer processor cores were “SledgeHammer” and “ClawHammer.” End users should not mistake the “SledgeHammer” and “ClawHammer” cores for the AMD Opteron and AMD Athlon 64 processors:
AMD designed the “SledgeHammer” die to extend from multiprocessors for servers to high-performance uniprocessors for personal computers.
AMD designed the “ClawHammer” die specifically for desktop and mobile PCs.
Q: Why didn’t you retain the “Hammer” codenames as the product names?
A: “Hammer” was a code name and does not contain the brand attributes of the AMD Opteron and AMD Athlon 64 processors. AMD is no longer using the term “Hammer” or “x86-64,” and is replacing them with a term to describe a new class of computing, AMD64.
Q: Why did you choose AMD Opteron as the product name for this processor? What does “Opteron” mean?
A: “Opteron” comes from the Latin word optimus – meaning best. We chose “Opteron” because it communicates best performance, highest performance and also implies options (flexibility, choices).
Q: What is AMD’s vision for 64-bit computing?
A: The evolution from 32-bit computing to 64-bit computing is inevitable and will happen much faster than the transition from 16-bit to 32-bit. AMD64 can accelerate the industry’s move to 64-bit computing by providing a solution developed with customers in mind.
AMD’s approach embraces the platforms and applications already in use in business and home computing today and offers a way to make a smooth transition to next-generation technology by allowing simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing. AMD64 enables a seamless transition for enterprises and consumers; it is designed to provide a migration to 64-bit computing without sacrificing the performance and compatibility of today’s installed base of 32-bit systems.
