AMD Announces Model Number Strategy for the Upcoming AMD Opteron™ Processor

March 13, 2003

AMD is making the following announcement regarding the model number strategy for the upcoming AMD Opteron™ processors. The purpose of the announcement is to build awareness and familiarity with the model numbers prior to the product launch on April 22, 2003 in New York City.


When AMD launches the 64-bit AMD Opteron™ processor for servers and workstations, AMD will introduce a new 3-digit model numbering strategy for these processors. The current model numbering plan for AMD Athlon™ processors is not changing.

AMD designed the AMD Opteron processor model numbers to communicate the scalability of each series and the relative performance within that series.

The first digit in the model number communicates scalability, and represents the maximum number of processors supported by that model number:



AMD Opteron processor 100 Series (Example: Model 1XX) = 1-way server

AMD Opteron processor 200 Series (Model 2XX) = 2-way server

AMD Opteron processor 800 Series (Model 8XX) = supports up to 8-way servers


The second and third digits communicate relative performance within each product line:


Example: Model 244 will offer higher performance than Model 242.

Model numbers are not directly related to frequency.

AMD started numbering the last two digits at 40. This gives AMD flexibility to describe AMD's server processor performance without potentially confusing end users by starting at 10, 20, or 30, because users might mistake "Model 224" with a 2.4 GHz processor.


AMD developed its model numbering strategy in consultation with end users and customers. AMD found that most enterprise users of server technology understood the design of the 3-digit model number strategy and responded favorably to its clarity. They could also distinguish that the AMD Opteron processor model numbers do not directly refer to frequency, or clock speed, which have less relevance to advanced server applications.

The AMD Opteron processor model number strategy extends AMD's efforts to change end users' focus from frequency to application performance. With such architecture enhancements as a 64-bit processor core, an integrated high-bandwidth memory controller, and HyperTransport™ technology links for easy multiprocessor scaling, AMD expects the upcoming AMD Opteron processor will be among the highest performing server processors available. AMD will provide benchmark data at launch to demonstrate how the AMD Opteron processor compares to other server processors on both 32- and 64-bit applications.



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