AMD has announced the latest generation of its workstation and server processors; the Opteron 4000 and 6000. They are accompanied by two new platforms based on the C32 and G34 sockets.The Opteron 4000 series, codenamed Lisbon, is the entry level processor and is aimed primarily towards single- or dual-socket workstations. They are manufactured on a 45nm process, and feature 128KB of L1 cache and 512KB of L2 per core, and another 6 MB of shared L3 cache. They mount on the new C32, and 4 and 6 core versions exist. Prices should range from $99 to $455.
The Opteron 6000 series, codenamed Magny-Cours, is directed at the middle- and high-end market. They mount only on the socket G34. These processors embody the same principle that Intel used with its Pentium D and Core 2 Quad series; two dies in the same package, and models for virtually any need. We therefore find 8- and 12- core versions in this range. However, to maintain a reasonable thermal footprint, the clock frequencies have been lowered somewhat. The processors utilise a dedicated Direct Connect 2.0 interface, which enables rapid data exchange and largely offsets the lowered clock speeds. Their dual memory controllers also enable the Opteron 6000 to support twice as many memory slots as the Opteron 4000, that is to say 4 channels and 12 slots. These processors will sell at $266 to $1386.
Among the characteristics common to both processor series, we find the 45nm manufacturing process and the caches embedded in each chip. These new Opterons are also the first to support DDR3-1333 (1.5V) and DDR3-1066 LV (1.35V) RAM. We should see support for DDR3-1333 LV relatively soon. The 4 Direct Connect 2.0 links in each chip operate from 4.8 to 6.4 GT/s and the link between the two chips in the Magny-Cours series processors is facilitated by HyperTransport 3.0 technology. Due to the 45nm manufacturing process, the maximum per-core frequency of these chips will be 2.4 GHz. Moving from 6 cores clocked at 2.1 GHz to 12 cores will result in a new, reduced clock speed of 1.7 GHz. This is due to heat buildup issues.
If a single processor from the 4000-series won't let you run BigAdv projects, then the reasonable prices should at least enable a lot of folders to affordably switch to dual socket machines to get involved in these projects. The relatively low price of the Opteron 6000 series processors should also help to bring 8- and 16-core machines into the (upper) mainstream. Folding@Home performance remains an unknown quantity at this point, but the performance-to-price ratio could prove to be promising, thanks to AMD aggressive pricing schemes.
Source: PCInpact (in French)
KaySL
On: 03/30/10
