The Opteron 6300 Series of server processors has been unveiled by AMD. Based on the company’s next-generation ‘Piledriver’ core architecture, the processors deliver performance and scalability for virtualised server platforms that are central to private and public cloud deployments, Big Data systems and high-performance computing (HPC) clusters.
Key features include up to 3.5 GHz base frequency and up to 3.8 GHz using AMD Turbo CORE technology; up to 16 cores per socket for scaling in thread-intensive environments; support for up to 12 DIMMs per CPU for up to 384GB memory per processor; and up to four x16 HyperTransport technology (HT3) links at up to 6.4GT/s per link. In addition, AMD-P power management features maximise performance-per-watt across workloads, while giving IT managers more control over their data centre power profiles. It is the only x86 processor to support ultralow voltage 1.25v memory.
Servers from Dell and HP based on the AMD Opteron 6300 Series processors are expected to be available before the end of 2012, with many other organisations announcing the immediate availability of their systems and platforms. One such company, Cray, has announced that its XE6 and XE6m supercomputers are now available with the new AMD Opteron 6300 Series processor. Likewise, Penguin Computing has announced that the processors are now present on its Altus line of rackmount servers, while SGI is upgrading its rackable servers powered by AMD Opteron processors with the latest series. Amax has also introduced its ServMax server solutions, built on the processor.
Further companies making similar announcements include Supermicro, Appro, Asus, ClusterVision, Colfax International, Megware Computer, Microway, Silicon Mechanics and ZT Systems. AMD’s own ‘Roadrunner’ platform, developed for the Open Compute Project, will be available in the first quarter of 2013.
