AMD confirms INQ's Opteron model labelling scoop

AMD SEEMS TO HAVE officially confirmed what the Mageek already knew: its Opteron processor will sport a 3-digit label as a model number and that number will "communicate the scalability of each series and the relative performance within that series".

In a statement today, the chipmaker confirmed our stories here and here concerning the model numbers. It says the first digit in the model number communicates scalability, and represents the maximum number of processors supported by that model number. For example, an Opteron processor 100 Series is a 1-way server, while a 400 series would be a 4-way server.

"The second and third digits communicate relative performance within each product line," the company states. So, "model 244 will offer higher performance than Model 242". The model numbers are not directly related to frequency, the company states. It says it started numbering the last two digits at 40 to avoid confusing end customers who might mistake, say, "Model 224" for a 2.4 GHz processor.

AMD says it wants to move away from the megahertz race and concentrate on performance issues, like Opteron's "64-bit processor core," its "integrated high-bandwidth memory controller, and Hypertransport technology links for multiprocessor scaling".

AMDMB.com found the full statement and posted it here. µ

Also see
AMD to position Opteron against IBM, Dell offerings
How AMD will sell Opterons against Intel chips