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AMD Releases 6-Core Istanbul Ahead of Schedule

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US | B 33 comments

Istanbul is here.

AMD’s ‘Istanbul’ Opteron CPUs are now shipping ahead of schedule. AMD claims the processor will produce 34 percent more performance than the existing "Shanghai" quad-core processor at the same power requirements.

Originally, the 45-nm Istanbul had been scheduled to ship later in the year, but AMD president and CEO Dirk Meyer said that the company decided to "pull in" the timetable.

The  six-core server processor integrates with two-, four- and eight-socket servers using AMD’s Direct Connect Architecture

AMD said that systems based on the six-core Opteron processors are expected to be available beginning this month from Cray, Dell, HP, IBM and Sun Microsystems. HE, SE and EE versions are planned for the second half of 2009.

AMD listed the following as key features of its latest Opteron:

  • Six true cores
  • HyperTransport Technology Assist (HT Assist)
  • Increased HT3 bandwidth
  • AMD-P power management technologies
  • AMD Virtualization (AMD-V) technology
  • Same power/thermal ranges as Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors

So, what’s next for the Opteron? Look out for 12 cores in 2010 and an even more impressive 16 cores by 2011.

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Top Comments
  • 16 Hide
    ohim , June 2, 2009 12:13 PM
    TindytimAdding 33.3% more cores increases the performance by 34%? WOW!I'm seriously wondering if they didn't just pull that number out of their asses based on the number of cores, or if they did any extensive testing.

    i wonder if you did some extensive search on their claims or you just pulled your comment out of your ass ?
  • 11 Hide
    mirkos , June 2, 2009 12:51 PM
    Having a 4 core processor and udgrade it to 6-core is a 50% upgrade not 33%. So we have a boost of 50% more cores and 34% boost in performance. Correct me if I'' wrong! Nevertheless it seems to be a very good product that will press more the cost for the 4 core processor
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  • 16 Hide
    ohim , June 2, 2009 12:13 PM
    TindytimAdding 33.3% more cores increases the performance by 34%? WOW!I'm seriously wondering if they didn't just pull that number out of their asses based on the number of cores, or if they did any extensive testing.

    i wonder if you did some extensive search on their claims or you just pulled your comment out of your ass ?
  • -7 Hide
    apmyhr , June 2, 2009 12:17 PM
    TindytimAdding 33.3% more cores increases the performance by 34%? WOW!I'm seriously wondering if they didn't just pull that number out of their asses based on the number of cores, or if they did any extensive testing.

    Very good point. Both are 45nm, so how can they add 2 cores and keep the same TDP while adding more than the theoretical possible of 33.3% performance?
  • -8 Hide
    Tindytim , June 2, 2009 12:19 PM
    ohimi wonder if you did some extensive search on their claims or you just pulled your comment out of your ass ?

    What research? No one has their hands on this processor yet, other than AMD. And AMD hasn't gone into detail on how it achieved those numbers.

    I said "I wonder" because I have no idea, simply the fact that they got that percentage is what I find curious. The scaling in performance is rarely that large when adding cores.
  • 1 Hide
    ohim , June 2, 2009 12:25 PM
    wait and time will tell ;)  maybe they left out the part where they changed a bit the core architecture, or against what they chose to compare performance since we all know the intel adds up to 85% more performance in multimedia(compared to what ??) buy intel now ... etc :)  marketing stuff :) 
  • 8 Hide
    armistitiu , June 2, 2009 12:49 PM
    TindytimWhat research? No one has their hands on this processor yet, other than AMD. And AMD hasn't gone into detail on how it achieved those numbers.I said "I wonder" because I have no idea, simply the fact that they got that percentage is what I find curious. The scaling in performance is rarely that large when adding cores.

    How about we all learn some math before we post. 2 more cores mean 50% more cores right?(50% * 4 =2) So the theoretical maximum performance gain is 50%.
    It's 34% because not all applications use 6 threads.
  • 11 Hide
    mirkos , June 2, 2009 12:51 PM
    Having a 4 core processor and udgrade it to 6-core is a 50% upgrade not 33%. So we have a boost of 50% more cores and 34% boost in performance. Correct me if I'' wrong! Nevertheless it seems to be a very good product that will press more the cost for the 4 core processor
  • -8 Hide
    ohim , June 2, 2009 12:52 PM
    armistitiuHow about we all learn some math before we post. 2 more cores mean 50% more cores right?(50% * 4 =2) So the theoretical maximum performance gain is 50%.It's 34% because not all applications use 6 threads.

    4 cores out of 6 means 66.6% so the 6 core CPU has 33.4% more power :) 
  • 0 Hide
    TheMan1214 , June 2, 2009 1:05 PM
    armistitiuHow about we all learn some math before we post. 2 more cores mean 50% more cores right?(50% * 4 =2) So the theoretical maximum performance gain is 50%.It's 34% because not all applications use 6 threads.


  • 6 Hide
    apmyhr , June 2, 2009 1:26 PM
    armistitiuHow about we all learn some math before we post. 2 more cores mean 50% more cores right?(50% * 4 =2) So the theoretical maximum performance gain is 50%.It's 34% because not all applications use 6 threads.

    Crap, your right. Thanks for making us feel dumb.
  • 6 Hide
    vertigo_2000 , June 2, 2009 1:56 PM
    lol... basic math eludes some.

    Gave me my morning laugh early today! :) 
  • 1 Hide
    matt_b , June 2, 2009 2:24 PM
    ohim4 cores out of 6 means 66.6% so the 6 core CPU has 33.4% more power

    4 out of 6 cores is 66.7% represented as a fraction. Going from (keyword being increase) 4 to 6 cores is a 50% increase. We are comparing the gains of increasing core quantity from 4 to 6 cores here.

    vertigo_2000lol... basic math eludes some.Gave me my morning laugh early today!


    Dyslexia of the mind maybe?

    These are also server chips, so they are geared for low power and maximum throughput when implemented within a network of similar hardware. The 34% is believable given what they run is capable of using these chips' full potential.
  • 1 Hide
    grieve , June 2, 2009 2:39 PM
    Well i won't show off my math skills...

    I think this is great news for AMD, I hope the processor does have a 33.4% increase.
  • 0 Hide
    ohim , June 2, 2009 2:44 PM
    Matt_B4 out of 6 cores is 66.7% represented as a fraction. Going from (keyword being increase) 4 to 6 cores is a 50% increase. We are comparing the gains of increasing core quantity from 4 to 6 cores here. Dyslexia of the mind maybe?These are also server chips, so they are geared for low power and maximum throughput when implemented within a network of similar hardware. The 34% is believable given what they run is capable of using these chips' full potential.

    i know but it`s funny how a simple thing can fuk up your mind and at some poing you don`t know which one is wich :D 
  • -1 Hide
    Anonymous , June 2, 2009 2:50 PM
    I can't wait to show my friend all of what's been going on in the technology space. He's been away for almost 2 years serving a mission, and has no idea about i7, physics and gpgpus etc. I'm trying to think of how best to blow his mind :p 
  • 3 Hide
    seboj , June 2, 2009 3:04 PM
    The Istanbuls have 6 cores.
    6 was the number of main characters on the show Friends.
    Friends had Matthew Perry as one of the characters.
    Matthew Perry starred alongside Bruce Willis in 'The Whole Nine Yards'.
    Bruce Willis starred in '12 Monkeys' with Brad Pitt.
    Brad Pitt starred in 'Sleepers' with Kevin Bacon.

    6 degrees to Kevin Bacon! HOOWAH!
  • 5 Hide
    Gin Fushicho , June 2, 2009 3:07 PM
    Wait... if they released it already... then that means they jsut beat intel to the 6 core.

    ....

    OWNED!

    I still want an i7. ;-;
  • 1 Hide
    ceteras , June 2, 2009 3:26 PM
    ohim4 cores out of 6 means 66.6% so the 6 core CPU has 33.4% more power

    You said 4 cores out of 6. This means the reference is the 6 cores.
    So the 6 core has, according to your calculations 0% more power (the reference is itself).
    I can't believe we are discussing this on THG.
  • 3 Hide
    zodiacfml , June 2, 2009 3:45 PM
    you should not bother with any figure....performance depends on the software.
  • 1 Hide
    Gin Fushicho , June 2, 2009 3:47 PM
    zodiacfmlyou should not bother with any figure....performance depends on the software.


    100% agreed. Software is still lagging behind.
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