AMD launches Barcelona chips for one-socket systems

CHIMPZILLA launched its latest line of quad-core Opteron processors for single-socket systems yesterday.

These newest AMD chips in the Barcelona family are models 1352, 1354 and 1356, rated at 2.1GHz, 2.2GHz and 2.3GHz speeds, respectively.

Processors limited to one-socket applications apparently don't have the additional circuitry needed to support non-uniform memory access that spans more than a single processor chip.

However, in common with other quad-core Opteron lines, the 1300 series supports AMD's Enhanced PowerNow and Rapid Virtualization Indexing technologies, along with its Direct Connect Architecture that eliminates front-side bus bottlenecks.

The single-socket processor line targets workstations and low-end servers, but one-socket chips are also deployed in the massive processor arrays that power supercomputers.

HP said it will use AMD's 1300 series processors in its XW4550 workstations and ML115 servers. Dell said its entry-level T105 server will also use the 1300 series chips.

AMD also mentioned that Cray is using its new 1300 series processors to more than double the performance of its "Jaguar" XT4 supercomputer to 260 teraflops at the US Oak Ridge National Laboratory. µ