AMD announced today AMD Opteron as brand for their next-generation server and workstation processors. Shipments of the AMD Opteron processor are planned to begin in the first half of 2003. AMD Opteron processors will mark AMD's entry into 64-bit computing enterprise market. AMD Opteron formerly code-named SledgeHammer will mark the birth of AMD's K8 series. The AMD OpteronTM processor is based on AMD?s 8th-generation processor core, which will represent the landmark introduction of the industry?s first x86-64 technology. The AMD Opteron processor is designed to provide investment protection, running existing 32-bit applications with unsurpassed performance, and offering customers a seamless transition to 64-bit technology. The AMD Opteron processor will also incorporate the breakthrough HyperTransport? technology, which helps to eliminate or reduce system bottlenecks, enable better efficiency, and increase throughput to improve overall system performance. With three HyperTransport interconnects, the AMD Opteron processor will be able to provide up to 19.2 gigabyte/second aggregate bandwidth for server systems, which is up to six times the throughput of the majority of today?s server processors. In another key milestone, AMD announced today it is collaborating with Microsoft to incorporate 64-bit support for the future 8th-generation AMD Athlon and AMD Opteron processors into the Windows® operating system. AMD Opteron processors are also planned to be supported by 64-bit operating systems from major Linux vendors. "The origin of the AMD Opteron brand name means, simply, the best. In choosing this name, AMD is conveying that the processor will give users the option to run either 32-bit or 64-bit applications, with optimal performance on both," said Ed Ellett, vice president of marketing for AMD?s Computation Products Group. Building on the established brand equity of the AMD Athlon? brand, 8th-generation processors for desktops and notebooks are planned to build upon the AMD Athlon brand name. Shipments of AMD?s 8th-generation AMD Athlon processor for desktops are slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2002. "At Microsoft, our vision for 64-bit computing is a highly scalable and affordable platform that is easy to deploy, easy to manage and easy to develop applications for," said Dave Cutler, Sr. Distinguished Engineer, Microsoft?s Windows Team, and one of the world?s foremost software architects. "AMD?s 8th-generation architecture gives customers great 32-bit performance and 64-bit capabilities on a single system. Together, AMD?s 8th-generation processors and Windows should provide customers a flexible platform and a compelling value proposition." Source: AMD