AMD to launch 64-bit Opteron in April
ENT News | at | by Mike
Chipmaker AMD will launch its 64-bit server and workstation processor, the AMD Opteron, on April 22 in New York City. The launch date synchronizes the alternative to Intel's 64-bit Itanium family with the first general release of a 64-bit Windows server operating system. AMD's Opteron processor is built to use the same x86 instruction set that AMD and Intel 32-bit processors use. The approach contrasts with Intel's decision to use an entirely new instruction set for its Itanium processors. AMD's chips will perform better with 32-bit applications, which Intel must run with an emulator that extracts a performance penalty. Intel's 64-bit processors have been on the market since mid-2001. Shortly after AMD's launch of its first generation of 64-bit processors, Intel is expected to roll out its third generation of Itanium chips.