AMD issued a press release today stating that the next-gen 64bit processor technology - code named Hammer - was presented to the public. ''Great architectures are built on strong foundations, and ?Hammer? is rock solid. Based on AMD?s x86-64 technology, the ?Hammer? processor will be the industry?s first and only 64-bit processor for x86 computing, and is designed to offer unparalleled performance on both 32-bit and 64-bit software,'' said Ed Ellett, vice president of Marketing for AMD?s Computation Products Group. ''Beyond performance, ?Hammer? will give users a smooth migration path to the 64-bit software of tomorrow, all the while preserving the billions of dollars of today?s 32-bit software applications.'' ?Hammer? processors are expected to be AMD?s first x86 processors to have a fully integrated DDR memory controller and ?Hammer? processor-based solutions are expected to be the first to incorporate a full HyperTransport? technology-based chipset. Both technology advancements help remove bottlenecks and speed the flow of information through the PC. The ?Hammer? processor family will also be extremely versatile, with processor versions planned to power systems from thin-and-light notebooks to 8-way enterprise servers. AMD?s demonstration featured ?Hammer? running both a 64-bit Linux and 32-bit Microsoft® Windows® operating system. The AMD ?Hammer? processors were manufactured on 0.13 micron, Silicon on Insulator (SOI) technology, which together enable higher performance and lower power consumption. ''?Hammer? remains true to AMD?s traditions. We?re innovating within industry standards, innovating with compatibility, and innovating with users in mind,'' said Fred Weber, Chief Technical Officer of the Computation Products Group of AMD. ''Because it is based on the long-established x86 instruction set architecture, software developers, engineers and IT personnel don?t have to start over from scratch.'' AMD expects to begin shipping the first version of the ?Hammer? family of processors at the end of 2002. Source: AMD