AMD

New AMD Opteron™ Processors Deliver the Ultimate in Performance, Scalability and Efficiency

Madrid—Nov. 14, 2011—AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced immediate launch and availability of its AMD Opteron™ 6200 and 4200 Series processors (formerly code-named “Interlagos” and “Valencia”). The new AMD Opteron processors are designed to give enterprises:

  • Better performance for business with up to 84 percent higher performance[i]
  • Increased scalability for Virtualization with up to 73 percent more memory bandwidth, enabling servers to host more virtual machines and also handle increasing workloads [ii]
  • More efficient economics for the Cloud  with half the power per core[iii], requiring 2/3 less floor space[iv] and up to 2/3 lower platform price[v]

“Our industry is at a new juncture; virtualization has provided a new level of reliable consolidation and businesses are now looking to the cloud for even more agility and efficiency. We designed the new AMD Opteron processor for this precise moment,” said Paul Struhsaker, corporate vice president and general manager, Commercial Business, AMD.  “The wait for the most anticipated new product and architecture for servers is over. Leading OEMs are now offering cloud, enterprise and HPC customers a full suite of solutions based on the industry’s most comprehensive server processor portfolio, the new AMD Opteron family of processors which deliver an inspired balance of performance, scalability and efficiency.”

AMD also announced the expansion of its 2012 roadmap with the addition of the new AMD Opteron 3000 Series platform. The AMD Opteron 3000 Series platform is targeted to the ultra-dense, ultra-low power 1P Web Hosting/Web Serving and Microserver markets. The first processor will be the 4-8 core CPU code-named “Zurich”, expected to ship in the first half of 2012. “Zurich” is based on the “Bulldozer” architecture and leverages the new Socket AM3+. The AMD Opteron 3000 series offering is designed for hosting customers who require dedicated servers for their customers.  These cloud and web hosting customers appreciate the cost savings associated with a lower cost infrastructure, yet still want to deploy a server-class product with reliability and security features and server OS certification.

  IT customers of all sizes can today take advantage of new servers based on the engineering and business advantages of AMD’s new “Bulldozer” architecture, which has been engineered for the leading datacenter workloads.  Systems from Acer, Cray, Dell, HP, IBM and many additional channel and motherboard partners are expected on the market in the coming days and weeks.

AMD is also introducing embedded server processors designed for high-end embedded systems such as storage, telecommunications and networking infrastructure.  These models are planned to be available to match the embedded market’s longevity need.

Key Facts, Performance and Technical Detail

  • 89 percent greater performance[vi] than the most popular server processor[vii] from the competition at the same price[viii]
  • An extremely comprehensive processor portfolio scaling from 4- to 16-cores
  • Unmatched power efficiency with power envelopes that are consistent with previous generation platforms and as low as 4.375W per coreiii
  • Up to 24 percent to 84 percent better performance on key cloud, virtualization and HPC workloads[ix]
  • Highest 2P server TPCC score[x]
  • Lowest cost per virtual machine (VM)[xi]
  • Up to 4 memory channels with up to 1600 MHz memory
  • The only x86 processor to support ultra-low voltage 1.25v memory
  • Supports up to 12 DIMMs per CPU for up to 384GB memory per CPU
  • Up to Four x16 HyperTransport™ technology (HT3) Links at up to 6.4GT/s per link

Together, these new features allow AMD to deliver unparalleled performance, scalability and efficiency for highly threaded workloads like HPC, database, virtualization, and especially, the emerging web and cloud market.

Full performance details can be found at www.amd.com/opteronperformance or read about the latest here.

Additional Resources        


[i] 84% higher performance:  LINPACK (2P) AMD Opteron processor Model 6276  generates 84% more FLOPS than Intel Xeon processor Model X5670

–       239.1 FLOPS, 2 x AMD Opteron™ processors Model 6276 in Supermicro H8DGT server, 64GB (8 x 8GB DDR3-1600) memory, SuSE Linux® Enterprise Server 11 SP1 64-bit, gfortran compiler v4.6, OMPI 1.5.3, AMD Core Math Library 5.0.0.0

–       Compiler Flags: -fomit-frame-pointer -O3 -funroll-loops -W -Wall  -mavx -mfma4 –fopenmp

–       130.1 FLOPS, 2 x Intel Xeon processors Model X5670 in Supermicro 6026TT-BIBQF server, 24GB (6 x 4GB DDR3-1333) memory, SuSE Linux® Enterprise Server 11 SP1 64-bit, Intel Professional Compiler v11.1, OMPI 1.5.1, Intel Math Kernel Library 10.3, Hyper-Threading disabled, Turbo Boost Technology enabled

–       Compiler Flags: -O3 -w -ansi-alias -i-static -openmp -nocompchk

[ii] 73% more memory bandwidth:

–       STREAM (2P) AMD Opteron processor Model 6276  has 73% higher memory bandwidth than Intel Xeon processor Model X5670

–       73 GB/s, 2 x AMD Opteron™ processors Model 6276 in Supermicro H8DGT, 64GB (8 x 8GB DDR3-1600) memory, SuSE Linux® Enterprise Server 11 SP1 64-bit, x86 Open64 4.2.5-1 Compiler Suite

–       42 GB/s, 2 x Intel Xeon processors Model X5670 in Supermicro X8DTT server, 24GB (6 x 4GB DDR3-1333) memory, SuSE Linux® Enterprise Server 11 SP1 64-bit, Intel Compiler v11.1.064

[iii] 1/2 the power-per-core*

–       As of Nov 1, 2011, AMD Opteron™ processor Models 4200 EE have the lowest known power per core of any x86 server processor, at 35W TDP (35W/8 = 4.375W/core).   Intel ‘s lowest power per core server processor, L5630, is 40W TDP (40W/4 = 10W/core).  See http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/prodbrief/323501.pdf.  Previous record held by AMD Opteron processor Models 4100 EE at 35W TDP / 6 cores = 5.83 W/core.

[iv] Requires 2/3 less floor space*

–       VMs/rack (2P and 4P) One rack of 16-core AMD Opteron 6200 Series-based servers can support 672 VMs (1 VM per core, 2U servers)

–       This would take three racks of floor space and 56 2U Intel Xeon 5600 Series-based servers to do the same.

–       Assumes 1 VM/core, AMD Opteron 6200 Series-based 2P 2U server has up to 32 cores, supports up to 32 VMs/server x 21 servers per rack, which equals 672 VMs per server.  Intel Xeon 5600 Series-based 2P 2U server has up to 12 cores, supports up to 12 VMs/server x 21 servers per rack, which equals 252 VMs per rack, Intel specs as of 11/4/11 at www.intc.com/pricelist.cfm.

[v] Top bin comparisons.  Dell R710 with two top bin Intel Xeon processor Model X5690s is $7,103.  Since pricing for a Dell R715 with two top bin AMD Opteron processor Model 6282 SE (1ku $1019) is not yet available, the similarly priced AMD Opteron processor Model 6140  (1ku $989) was used and the server yielded a price of $4564.  That is a 36% price savings.  Both servers were configured with 32GB RAM, 146GB 10K hdd, and 3yr base warranty and large enterprise pricing is from www.dell.com as of 10/22/11.  HP DL 580 with four top bin Intel Xeon processor Model E7-4870 is $29,336 at www.dell.com.  Since pricing for an HP DL585 pricing with four top bin AMD Opteron processor Model 6282 SE (1ku $1019) is not yet available, the similarly priced AMD Opteron processor Model 6140 (1ku $989) was used and the server yielded a price of $11,094.  That is a 62% price savings.  Both servers were configured with 64GB RAM, 72GB 15K hdd, and 3yr base warranty and large enterprise pricing is from www.hp.com as of 10/22/11.  VMware vSphere pricing not included, assuming both servers configured with versions 5.0 or 4.1u2, which are the same price for AMD- and Intel-based servers.

[vi] SPEC and SPECint are registered trademarks of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation.  The results for AMD Opteron™ processor Model 6276 is based upon data submitted to Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation as of November 7, 2011.  The results for Intel Xeon processor Model E5640 reflect results published on http://www.spec.org/cpu2006/results as of November 7, 2011.  The comparison presented above is based on the best performing two-socket servers using AMD Opteron™ processor Model 6276 and Intel Xeon processor Model E5640, operating at each processor’s default frequency.  For the latest SPECint_rate2006 results, visit http://www.spec.org/cpu2006/results.  SPECint®_rate2006 score = 480, 2 x AMD Opteron™ processors Model 6276 in Supermicro A+ Server 1022-URF server, 128GB (16 x 8GB DDR3-1333) memory, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.1, x86 Open64 4.2.5.2 Compiler Suite.  SPECint®_rate2006 Score = 253, 2 x Intel Xeon processors Model E5640 in Cisco UCS C210 M2 , 48GB (12 x 4GB DDR3-1333) memory, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP1, Intel C++ Compiler XE Version 12.0.1.116 Build 20101116

[vii] Source: Mercury Research, PC Processors and Chip Sets Updated Edition 3Q2011

[viii] 1ku pricing is $788 for the AMD Opteron™ processor Model 6276 and $774 for the Intel Xeon processor Model E5640

[ix] 84% higher performance:  LINPACK (2P) AMD Opteron processor Model 6276  generates 84% more FLOPS than Intel Xeon processor Model X5670

–       239.1 FLOPS, 2 x AMD Opteron™ processors Model 6276 in Supermicro H8DGT server, 64GB (8 x 8GB DDR3-1600) memory, SuSE Linux® Enterprise Server 11 SP1 64-bit, gfortran compiler v4.6, OMPI 1.5.3, AMD Core Math Library 5.0.0.0

–       Compiler Flags: -fomit-frame-pointer -O3 -funroll-loops -W -Wall  -mavx -mfma4 –fopenmp

–       130.1 FLOPS, 2 x Intel Xeon processors Model X5670 in Supermicro 6026TT-BIBQF server, 24GB (6 x 4GB DDR3-1333) memory, SuSE Linux® Enterprise Server 11 SP1 64-bit, Intel Professional Compiler v11.1, OMPI 1.5.1, Intel Math Kernel Library 10.3, Hyper-Threading disabled, Turbo Boost Technology enabled

–       Compiler Flags: -O3 -w -ansi-alias -i-static -openmp –nocompchk

24% higher performance: SPEC and SPECint are registered trademarks of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation.  The result for AMD Opteron™ processor Model 6282 SE is based upon data submitted to Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation as of Nov 7, 2011.  The results for the Intel Xeon processor Model X5690 reflect results published on http://www.spec.org/cpu2006/results as of November 7, 2011.  The comparison presented above is based on the best performing two-socket servers using AMD Opteron™ processor Model 6282 SE and Intel Xeon processor Model X5690, operating at each processor’s default frequency.  For the latest SPECint_rate2006 results, visit http://www.spec.org/cpu2006/results.  SPECint®_rate score= 526, 2 x AMD Opteron™ processors Model 6282 SE in Supermicro A+ Server 1022-URF server, 128GB (16 x 8GB DDR3-1333) memory, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.1, x86 Open64 4.2.5.2 Compiler Suite.  SPECint®_rate score = 421, 2 x Intel Xeon processors Model X5690 in NEC Express5800/R120b-1 server, 96GB (12 x 8GB DDR3-1333) memory, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP1, Intel C++ Compiler XE v12.0.3.174

[x] The results for AMD Opteron™ processor Model 6282 SE are based upon data submitted Transaction Processing Performance Council as of November 11, 2011. The other results stated above reflect results published on www.tpc.org as of November 11, 2011. The comparison presented above is based on the best performing two-socket servers using AMD Opteron™ processors Model 6176 SE and 6282 SE and Intel Xeon processors Model X5690. For the latest TPC-C results, visit www.tpc.org. 1207982 tpmC using 2 x AMD Opteron™ processors Model 6282 SE in HP ProLiant DL385 G7 server, 512GB memory, Microsoft® Windows Server® 2008 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition, Microsoft® SQL Server® 2005 Enterprise x64 Edition SP3

[xi]Highest VMmark score for blade servers using 2 Host configuration with the BL685c G7 system – 28% higher score with 17% more VMs than the BL680c G7 running 10-core Xeon