AMD has introduced a new server platform, combining its six-core Opteron processor with its new chipset to address the needs of data center workloads. This new platform and the platform specification codenamed ‘Kroner’, enables the benefits of unified processor and chipset technology.
According to AMD, the low power ‘Kroner’ twin server design specification offers additional platform elements such as voltage regulation and the ability to remotely set power caps, to help further drive down power consumption for hyperscale customers.
The company claims that new chipset technology can help improve performance of virtualisation and HPC workloads with PCI Express 2.0, HyperTransport 3 technology and advanced AMD Virtualization (AMD-V) technology and AMD-P features, including IOMMU support. In addition, the unified platform can improve design efficiency, technology integration, and enable enhanced platform features among CPUs, chipsets and GPUs.
The platform concerns three different chipsets, namely the SR5690, SR5670 and SR5650 introduced earlier this week, to cater different markets. John Fruehe explained in the company blog that each chipset has different numbers of PCI Express lanes, different power consumption and different pricing, allowing our partners to customise their platforms around these different offerings.
Additional OEMs are expected to incorporate the new AMD server chipset into their systems based on the upcoming AMD Opteron processor variant currently codenamed ‘Magny-Cours’ in the first quarter of 2010, the company added.
Patrick Patla, vice president and general manager of server and embedded Business at AMD, said: Our focus is to deliver on the aspects of a server platform that directly impact the IT manager – improved performance on key workloads and virtualisation, and low overall power consumption.
This new platform and the platform specification codenamed ‘Kroner’ allow our OEM customers to deliver unique solutions to solve a particular datacenter problem. And they can recognise development and time to market value because of the consistency and commonality across our product generations.
