Phenom II vs. Opteron or Opteron 64

etk

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Oct 23, 2010
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You can't look at architecture in a vaccum. The integrated memory controller and other goodies on the phenom II is great, but would not have been realistic on older processes, because of the increase in thermals and die size it would create.

Phenom II is the newest, includes the largest instruction set, newer technologies, and the best process. It sits in the mid to mid-high end PC market.

Operon and Operon 64 are older, and are ran on older processes. As server chips, they were optimized for the best performance per watt, which they excelled at (on their process, which was BULK SOI at probabaly 90 or 130nm)

For their Time, the Operon's were a better chip, as they were competitive at the top end of the market, all the way down to the low end. Edit: of the server market.
 

pepperman

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Sep 15, 2009
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819105272

Opty's are still relevant, but it depends on which generation you're looking at. Also, it might be interesting to note that when AMD develops a new architecture, it is usually implemented as an Opteron CPU, and after 6 months or so, a new desktop line is released featuring nearly the same architecture as the Opty.

As etk stated, Opty's are meant as server and high-performance workstation chips (and they excel in those roles), where Phenom II and Athlon II are meant for the desktop market.