Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has demonstrated the
company's first dual-core microprocessors.
Dual-core processors, set to hit the market next year, offer
improved performance over single-core chips, especially in
multithreaded applications.
AMD's demonstration included a Hewlett-Packard Proliant DL585
server running four dual-core Opteron processors.
An updated Basic Input Output System (Bios) - the interface
between a computer's hardware and operating system - was all that
was required to get the four-way server up and running with the
dual-core chips, AMD said.
The chips, which contain two processor cores and 1Mbyte of level
2 cache for each core, use the same 940-pin socket used by AMD's
single-core Opteron processors manufactured with a 90-nanometer
process, said the company.
This compatibility will allow HP, Sun Microsystems and IBM to
incorporate dual-core Opterons in existing systems that are
designed for the Opteron, AMD said.
In addition, users will be able to upgrade existing systems that
are compatible with the 90-nanometer single-core processors to
dual-core chips.
The dual-core Opteron chips, which were produced using a
90-nanometer process, are expected to be available commerically by
the middle of next year.
The company plans to make available dual-core chips that are
designed to be used in servers running from one to eight
processors.
Dual-core processors designed for desktop PCs will be made
available during the second half of 2005.
AMD rival Intel also plans to make available a full range of
dual-core processors in 2005.
Sumner Lemon writes for IDG News Service