(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)
Loading ...A couple of weeks ago at a press event in Sunnyvale celebrating the sixth anniversary of the AMD Opteron processor launch in 2003, we provided details on Direct Connect Architecture 2.0 and our 2010 server platforms code-named “Maranello” and “San Marino”.
Both “Maranello” and “San Marino” will be “AMD on AMD” platforms, meaning they will leverage chipsets developed by AMD. Currently shipping AMD server platforms use chipsets from Nvidia and Broadcom. Both Nvidia and Broadcom will continue to support Socket F platforms through 2010, including upcoming systems based on our six-core “Istanbul” processors.
When asked at the press event about our relationship with Nvidia and Broadcom in the context of our server platforms, Vice President and General Manager of AMD Server Business Unit Pat Patla stated the following: “For 2010, moving forward, the solutions coming out from AMD will be AMD and on AMD at this time. We don’t expect to see new chipsets from NVIDIA or Broadcom for server implementations in 2010.”
Unfortunately, this led to some speculation that there were licensing issues between AMD and Nvidia. At no time did AMD offer any comment related to future server processor licensing agreements with Nvidia or any third-party chipset provider.
Dating to the ATI acquisition in 2006, the long-term AMD plan remains consolidating on our own chipsets for future server platforms. As such, it was a mutual business decision between AMD and our third-party server chipset providers that they would not develop chipsets for future AMD server platforms. This was a decision specific to the server business unit.
We are very excited about the opportunity to bring new platform-level innovations to the x86 server market later this year, starting with our “Fiorano” and “Kroner” platforms in the second half. Some of those new features include:
- IOMMU – Increased performance through enhanced I/O and improved security through hardware isolation of VMs
- HyperTransport 3 – Increased platform-level I/O bandwidth
- PCI Express Gen 2 – Optimized for Accelerated and Stream computing environments
(4.20 out of 5)
#1 by Adi - May 11th, 2009 at 19:55
Hmm, I think it is better for customer to get more choices for chipsets for server platform. I think AMD had a good job to develop their server chipsets. More choices for the customer are better. Customer will think the value of each chipsets and make decision what they think its fits to their needs. More features that added in the chipsets will be more better with prices ratio.
#2 by Danieljohnson - May 12th, 2009 at 07:59
That’s really nice to hear.
For years servers based on microprocessors from Advanced Micro Devices relied on core-logic sets from Broadcom and Nvidia Corp., however, when AMD releases its next generation Opteron processors, it will not allow any third-party chipsets to emerge and will rely solely on own chips.
#3 by Phil Hughes - May 12th, 2009 at 08:50
Agree with your points regarding choice. AMD has always been and continues to be a firm believer in choice. However, this decision was not solely AMD’s but rather a mutual business decision between AMD and Broadcom and Nvidia.
Please note that at no time have we said that we wont work with 3rd party server chipset providers, we just don’t have any plans to at this time in the context of our next gen server platforms.