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Heat is fine if you’re in Tahiti, but it can cause a lot of problems in the data centre: hardware damage, stress on cooling systems, decreased performance, and ultimately higher costs. However, with the world’s ever-increasing demand for computer power, hungry applications demand faster processors – and these traditionally required more power and generated more heat. Conventional theories held that if this cycle continued, processors would have eventually produced as much heat per square centimetre as the surface of the sun.
Fortunately, chip manufacturers have found innovative solutions, such as larger caches, sophisticated algorithms and new process technology. Late last year, AMD introduced its quad-core Opteron™ processing chip, codenamed “Barcelona”, which the manufacturer claims is the most powerful – and power-efficient – server CPU it has ever produced.
To understand what makes the new processor unique, let’s first look at the basic technical aspects. AMD Opteron quad-core processors are designed for optimum multi-threaded application performance. The chip is built with a native quad-core design, featuring four cores on a single die for more efficient data sharing. It features an enhanced cache structure: the Opteron quad-core is AMD's first chip with a built-in level-three cache. Finally, an integrated memory controller helps sustain multi-threaded application throughput.
Specs aside, how can a more powerful chip be more power-efficient too? The new Opteron processors introduce the world’s most energy-efficient x86 architecture, thanks to a variety of new power-saving technologies. These include enhanced AMD PowerNow!™ and innovative CoolCore™ technology, designed to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO), data centre power needs, and cooling costs by lowering the energy consumption of the IT infrastructure.
The bottom line: Opteron quad-core processors provide outstanding processing power, increasing performance-per-watt to improve IT responsiveness while maintaining costs.
HP + AMD Opteron = power, performance, efficiency
As the undisputed leader in Opteron-based servers – more than 37 percent of all Opteron-based servers shipped are HP ProLiant – HP is supporting Barcelona across its x86 ProLiant product line.
ProLiant servers based on AMD’s new quad-core offerings will help businesses increase energy efficiency and introduce or expand virtualisation capabilities in their data centres. AMD Opteron processors can accelerate the performance of virtualised applications and improve efficiency of switching among virtual machines, thereby enabling the hosting of more virtual machines and users per system to maximise the consolidation and power-saving benefits of virtualisation.
And businesses can rely on HP’s balanced ProLiant architecture and unified management strategy to better manage workloads and consolidate their server footprint.
Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors have been incorporated into a variety of HP ProLiant servers, so small and mid-sized businesses are sure to find a server that meets their unique needs:
AMD, AMD Opteron,AMD PowerNow!, AMD CoolCore and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. |
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