Loading ...Brad Pitt’s brother isn’t the only one to live in the shadows of a more famous sibling. The latest AMD OpteronTM 1000 Series processor, codenamed “Suzuka”, was launched in the shadow of its 6-core bigger brother, the Six-Core AMD Opteron processor codenamed “Istanbul.”
The AMD Opteron 1000 Series processor is designed for applications that are driven by cost or power concerns more than scalability. In the past, this meant a single core in a single socket, but in today’s multi-core world, this means four high performance cores in a single socket.
Typically, these processors are used in web servers, small business servers, workstations and even cloud computing. The flexibility of four cores and a low cost infrastructure gives customers an edge when designing for a cost-effective or power efficient platform.
With speeds of 2.5GHz, 2.7GHz and 2.9GHz, these single-socket processors pack a punch. It’s based on the same core as the Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor codenamed “Shanghai,” so all the great features that you find in “Shanghai” are also in “Suzuka.”
One of the best parts about my job is that I have access to all the processors that I could ever want for testing. My server at home migrated from a dual-core AMD Opteron Model 185 processor to a new system board with a quad-core “Budapest,” which is a 2.3GHz processor based on the same core as “Barcelona.”
Recently, I upgraded that server to a pre-production “Suzuka.” I went from a 2.3GHz quad-core with a 2MB cache to a 2.9GHz quad-core processor with a 6MB cache. I saw an increase in performance, but amazingly, because Suzuka is on AMD’s 45nm process, I actually saw a decrease in total server power draw of about 10 watts. A performance increase, a big drop in power consumption – that makes the performance per watt story even better.
All I needed was a BIOS flash – the processor just dropped right into the same AM2 socket. The entire process was 5 minutes, and that included digging around under the sink to find some rubbing alcohol to clean the thermal paste off of the old processor. This incidentally, was the same process that you would have to go through in updating from a Rev F dual core processor to a “Budapest.”
Many may not know that our code names are derived from Formula 1 race tracks. Suzuka is a race course in Japan; recently it had been renovated and was re-opened in April of this year, just about the same time that we were finishing up the final touches and releasing our own “Suzuka.”
One of the biggest races at Suzuka is the 1000Km endurance race. A 1000 kilometer race? Sounds like the perfect compliment for an AMD Opteron 1000 Series processor. Both are designed for the long haul.
John Fruehe is the Director of Business Development for Server/Workstation products at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.
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#1 by Hecgui - July 1st, 2009 at 00:57
Good article, but I think that you meant “2 MB” instead of “2 GB” cache.
#2 by John Fruehe - July 6th, 2009 at 15:30
Thanks for the catch, I have updated the blog.
#3 by Marcos Elias - July 1st, 2009 at 09:29
The final version will use AM2 or AM3 socket?
#4 by John Fruehe - July 6th, 2009 at 15:31
It can fit in either an AM2 or an AM3 socket.
#5 by Rod Brenzuela - July 12th, 2009 at 14:10
Sir, what is fastest in AMD Quad Cores?
#6 by John Fruehe - July 14th, 2009 at 10:25
The fastest 75W ACP parts are 2.9GHz. The fastest 105W ACP parts are 3.1GHz.
#7 by Rod Brenzuela - August 23rd, 2009 at 10:39
uh.. sir john. i have no idea what ACP is.. back to my question, what is the fastest AMD quad core processor?
#8 by John Fruehe - August 24th, 2009 at 14:47
ACP is Average CPU power. It is a different measurement than TDP. For AMD, TDP = max power, ACP represents what the typical customer will see under heavy workloads. This is different than our competitor; their TDP = a more typical load and there is a “max power” that they do not really publish to the market (I believe as a developer they will share it from you.)
That difference in how TDP is interpreted can be confusing for customers, so we took the customers’ suggestion and published ACP to show what a typical stressed environment would look like because few, if anyone, gets close to seeing TDP consumption on AMD servers.
#9 by Rod Brenzuela - August 23rd, 2009 at 10:40
i mean, phenom x4s? or???
#10 by John Fruehe - August 24th, 2009 at 14:49
If you are only looking for the highest clock speed, the Phenom 965 has a 3.4GHz clock speed, butI know less about that processor because I deal with servers. It is a “black edition” which allows you to overclock as well.
#11 by SocketMan - September 7th, 2009 at 00:17
That’s great news many thanks.
I’ve been looking forward adding a 45nm Opteron to the other 2 (165 & 1210).
Two questions please:
It’s been 2 months since the launch,where can I buy a “”Suzuka”" Opty in Canada?
Have not seen any in retail.
Is IMC different (revision) from the one in
Phenoms? The NB frequency is 2200mhz up from
2000mhz
#12 by John Fruehe - September 8th, 2009 at 15:59
The memory controller is very similar to the one the the Phenom processors as they share a common architecture. I can’t say where the products are sold in Canada but I can say that our distributors should have full access, so if you do not see them at the places you normally buy server processors, be sure to ask, they should be able to easily order them.
#13 by SocketMan - September 12th, 2009 at 22:06
Good news & bad news:
Upon further investigation – these cpu’s are
available for Special Order but the price tag is somewhat high (in relation to the other AM3 cpus that come with higher operating frequencies)
@189$ (on AMD’s price list)/200 minimum at any r/e-tailor for the 1381 (lowest part).
There are also many 135x opterons
out there @ a much lower $. – basically competing
with 138x.
Now skipping forward to next year
Is there any hope for AMD enthusiasts world wide that there will be dual c32/g34 motherboards made with their “needs”
(OC headroom,voltage/tweaking options,multiple PCIe slots etc.,) in mind ?
I realize that it (c32/g34) is a server platform,however why not kill 2 rabis with one shot?
There are many interested in 2P solutions – espicially if it’s priced competitively,besides the “usual server people” market.
The number of distributed computing projects (like folding at home) is increasing,so as the depend
for more CPU cores/PCIe slots per motherboard.
2P enthusiast systems with 2×6 (12 cores Lisbon) should be very competitive even VS the upcoming i9. An asymmetrical answer.
In other words will AMD bring back “FASN8 v2″ ?
#14 by John Fruehe - September 14th, 2009 at 14:55
These products are focused on the server market, so they are going to have a higher price. If you are looking for a server, then knowing that you have a product rated for high utilization in a 7×24x365 environment for multiple years is a big benefit. As well as certification of server OS’s and server-level support. If you are using the system for productivity applicaitons, our Phenom processors will give you higher clock speed and lower price.
The server processors are not targeted at enthusiasts, so I do not believe that you will see desktop-class products based on these processors. Especially due to the fact that most desktop workloads don’t fully maximize the 4 cores that are available today, adding more cores (which will generally reduce the clock speed and increase the price) might not be the best solution for desktop customers – but will be welcome for server environments where having 24+ threads active at one time would be a big benefit.
#15 by SocketMan - September 12th, 2009 at 22:12
Forgive the typos pls.
#16 by John Fruehe - September 14th, 2009 at 14:56
Typos always forgiven. You should see me try to spell in German – I am a mess
#17 by Alex - September 17th, 2009 at 14:09
In everyday applications how would these compare with their Phenom II X4 counterparts? Also, do these lack the 3DNow! extension?
#18 by John Fruehe - September 19th, 2009 at 03:10
If you are using “everyday” applications then I recommend the Phenom products that are really optimized for productivity applications. The Opteron products are targeted at server applications.
#19 by Alex - September 22nd, 2009 at 08:14
How about for a workstation environment? Would an Opteron or Phenom be more suited?
#20 by John Fruehe - September 22nd, 2009 at 08:54
Workstations tend to fall in the middle, but the key for them is the software certification. Most workstation users focus on a single application. I would check with your applicaiton vendor about what workstations have been certified for that application.