AMD ANNOUNCES "AMD ATHLON 64" AS BRAND NAME FOR NEXT-GENERATION DESKTOP AND MOBILE PROCESSORS

Hexus.net UK ^ | Nov 19, 2002 | AMD Press Release from Comdex

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Hexus.net Press Releases

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Company: AMD

Title: AMD ANNOUNCES "AMD ATHLON 64" AS BRAND NAME FOR NEXT-GENERATION DESKTOP AND MOBILE PROCESSORS

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- Upcoming AMD Athlon 64 processor will bring simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing to desktop and mobile users -

LAS VEGAS - NOV. 19, 2002 - At Comdex, AMD (NYSE:AMD) today announced it has selected "AMD Athlon 64" as the brand name for its next-generation processor for desktop and mobile PCs, formerly code named "Clawhammer."

The upcoming AMD AthlonÔ 64 processor is expected to be the industry's first and only 64-bit, x86 PC processor for desktop and mobile computing. Desktop and mobile PCs built on the AMD Athlon 64 processor will be able to run 64-bit applications at full performance and simultaneously run 32-bit software applications with no performance penalty. It will enable the benefits desktop and mobile PC users want such as quicker loading of applications and better multi-tasking. Users will enjoy vivid realism and richer sound on digital entertainment such as games, streaming video and audio, DVDs and music.

"The 'AMD Athlon 64' brand name builds on the familiarity and reputation of the AMD Athlon processor and immediately conveys to customers the performance and technical superiority of its 64-bit computing capability," said Ed Ellett, vice president of client business segment for AMD's Computation Products Group.

Customer requirements are leading straight to 64-bit computing: more powerful and data-intensive applications; the phenomenal growth of data
that must be collected, analyzed, stored and managed; and the decreasing price of memory devices.

"There's unstoppable momentum building towards 64-bit computing because it will overcome the inherent limitations of 32-bit systems," said Ellett. "The upcoming AMD Athlon 64 processor will bring the performance benefits of 64-bit computing within reach of all desktop and mobile PC users."

Another benefit of AMD's solution is investment protection. When customers are able to buy an AMD Athlon 64 processor-based system, they will buy a PC with a future. Their technology investment will be able to meet their computing needs for years to come.

"Neither PC consumers nor application developers want to start from scratch," said Ellett. "They want backward compatibility to protect current investments. The upcoming AMD Athlon 64 processor is built on existing standards, enabling investment protection and lower total cost of ownership and development."

The AMD Athlon 64 processor will include a number of technology innovations that provide these benefits. A highly scalable system bus using HyperTransport(tm) technology is designed to provide more than one and a half times the throughput of other competing technologies. And an integrated memory controller that will boost performance by directly connecting the processor to the memory and dramatically reducing memory latency.
In April, AMD announced "AMD Opteron" as the brand name for its enterprise-class processor for workstations and servers, formerly code named "SledgeHammer."

Systems featuring the upcoming AMD Athlon 64 processor are planned to be available in late first quarter 2003 or early second quarter 2003. Systems featuring the upcoming AMD Opteron processor are planned to be available in the 1H03 for the server and workstation markets.

About the AMD Athlon 64 Processor
The upcoming AMD Athlon 64 processor will mark the introduction of the industry's first 64-bit, x86 technology implementation for desktop and mobile PCs. The AMD Athlon 64 features a high-speed, scalable system bus using HyperTransport technology, which increases overall performance by removing or reducing I/O bottlenecks, increasing bandwidth and reducing latency. The AMD Athlon 64 processor will include an integrated memory controller, which can boost performance by directly connecting the processor to the memory and dramatically reducing memory latency.

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More than just for servers, good news for home users!

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OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[Incorrigible]

This is a very, very interesting chip. The transition for 32bit software is much easier than with Intel's Itanium line up. This is real competition for Intel.

[Zathras]

FYI: The Comdex demo of Oberon was running at 1.4Ghz.
Sounds like AMD has alot of work to do before its ready for primetime.

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I think Intel has some serious competition now!

[BOBTHENAILER]

I read an article that said this was a make or break company maker for AMD. Commensurate stock run-up?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Yes, this is make or break for AMD. !

Not a sure thing for investors!

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AMD Announces Planned $300 Million Public Offering Of Convertible Senior Notes

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SUNNYVALE, CA - NOVEMBER 19, 2002 - AMD (NYSE: AMD) announced that it is filing today a prospectus supplement with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the Company's planned public offering of $300 million of convertible senior notes, which will be convertible into the Company's common stock. The Company expects that the underwriters will also have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $45 million of convertible senior notes to cover over-allotments.

The offering will be made pursuant to a prospectus supplement under the Company's existing $2 billion shelf registration statement. Banc of America Securities LLC and Salomon Smith Barney are the joint book-running managers and Merrill Lynch & Co. is the co-manager for the offering. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and working capital.

Copies of the prospectus supplement relating to the notes may be obtained from Banc of America Securities LLC, 9 West 57th Ave., New York, New York 10019; Salomon Smith Barney, 390 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013; or Merrill Lynch & Co., 4 World Financial Center, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10281.

[awestk]

This is not "competition", really, in the way that INTC intended. Intel has no official plans (made public anyway) to bring 64-bit systems to the consumer desktop. So really, if you are interested in an Athlon 64, there is NO competition.

[RLK]

FYI: The Comdex demo of Oberon was running at 1.4Ghz.

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1.4 gig is fast enough for almost anything.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Thanks a million for the info

[Zathras]

Not for a server chip on SOI.
This thing will be very expensive to manufacture and if they find themselves on the low end performance wise vs Intel, Intel will fab AMD into oblivion.
AMD has only one fab able to build Oberon which is an older 8" fab in Dresden.
Intel is launching 4 12" fabs right now.

Just going from 8" -> 12" reduces your costs 30%.
It is also clear AMD has a process problem. When they created their 2800+ part, instead of fixing the speed paths they added 3 more metal layers moving the total to 9.

When it comes to semiconductors, the cost of manufacturing is everything.

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Computer & Control Solutions Inc. (CCSI) Announces Clusteron™



Atlanta, GA -- November 18, 2002 --Computer & Control Solutions, Inc. (CCSI) today announced its CLUSTERON™ high-density Super Cluster Computer at the SC2002 high performance computing show in Baltimore, MD.

The CCSI Clusteron is a coordinated rack and Dual CPU server (Node) solution, with integrated cooling system, designed to support AMD Athlon™ MP processor technology. The CCSI Clusteron™ is designed for supercomputing applications, high density server installations, Beowulf clusters and other computation-intensive applications.

“The Clusteron™, with CCSI Hexa-Side™ cooling, has excellent air flow management to insure Thermally Correct™ processor cooling. Automatic air dampers maintain the correct air flow when a node is removed. CCSI has engineered its Clusteron™ systems to run extremely cool and deliver full performance in the most demanding applications,” says Rockney Alavi, president of CCSI.

Each node in a Clusteron™ cluster has all ports and connections front-accessible, so rear access is not needed – allowing the Clusteron™ to be mounted back-to-back or against a wall. The Clusteron™ cabinet is 24” by 24”, with a footprint of just 4 square feet. In a 10’ by 12’ room, you can install 18 Clusteron™ cabinets vs. 5 standard racks; if each rack is populated with 40 nodes, you can house up to 720 Clusteron™ nodes vs. 200 nodes in the standard racks (3.6 times greater density, plus superior cooling). Circuit breaker power distribution panel and Baseboard Server Management Unit are mounted in the enclosure, along with integrated cable management and wiring trough, air filters, and many more features.

“CCSI’s Clusteron provides our customers with an AMD Athlon MP-based supercomputing system. AMD Athlon MP processors can reduce computing cycles, allowing customers to achieve more work in less time,” said Ed Gasiorowski, director of developer relations for AMD’s Computation Products Group. “AMD processors can offer cluster computing customers increased speed, performance and reliability.”

The Clusteron™ will be on display in AMD’s booth #1544 and CCSI’s booth #2022 at SC2002 trade show in Baltimore, November 18, 2002.

Clusteron™ is a trademark of CCSI. CCSI manufactures rackmount solutions in Atlanta, GA, and has been a leader in rackmount technology for 20 years. Visit us on the web at www.athlonclusters.com and www.rackmountequipment.com.

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Now here is some serious computing for my office:

[KellyAdmirer]

AMD may have tremendous problems as a company, but it does make good chips. Intel needs the competition. Looking forward to getting one of the new chips after they have been out a while and become reasonably priced.

[RLK]

Servers aren't everything. I still use DOS and BC7 BASIC professional development system for real time data acquisition and processing with ongoing graphics output. It will run many A/D acquisition cards into the ground. I can do virtually any scientific calculation task with this programming system. I'd be happy with with a 32 bit system if it had comparable programming support and used expanded memory and 24 digits. The problem is with Microsoft, not present computer limitations. A fully utilized 64 bit system running at one gig would bive me more power than a Cray if there were old style utilitarian tightly written programs for it.

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Here is a link on the negative side:

AMD Has Fallen and It Can't Get Up

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

A little help for someone in the market for a PC in the next few months...is it worth waiting until late next year for the Hammer to drop, over, say, buying in at the higher-end 333 MHz FSB Athlons??

[Britton J Wingfield]

Get the best one you can now, and make sure it has some room to grow. Waiting for a better/cheaper chip pretty much means waiting forever, since a better chip is always comign up.

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It always depends on your personal variables.

What do you need or want!

And what is the budget!

And how will you use it!