AMD CPUs Used in "Predators" Special Effects

AMD said Friday that Troublemaker Studios, the film production company behind the just-released "Predators" movie, used its technology to generate the special effects and animations. More specifically, the studio used six-core AMD Opteron processors and ATI FirePro GPUs to get the job done.

Troublemaker was founded (and owned) by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and producer Elizabeth Avellan in 1991. It's special effects division--Troublemaker Digital--generally uses AMD products for a good deal of its projects.

"With a long history in the movie making industry, Troublemaker Studios is using AMD technology to push the envelope of digital moving making and special effects in several blockbuster films," AMD said in a press release. "In addition to 'Predators', Rodriguez has looked to AMD technology to create six of his movies, including 'Shorts', 'Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams', 'Spy Kids 3D: Game Over', 'Planet Terror', and 'Sin City'."

AMD said that Rodriguez plans to "deploy" AMD technology as the digital hardware backbone for his next movie currently in production, "Machete." The movie is expected to hit theaters on September 3, 2010.

Unfortunately, hardware specifics--such as the actual setup of the rigs used at Troublemaker--wasn't provided. Still, it's interesting to know what's powering the visual candy we see at the movies.

Predators is slated to hit theaters Friday, July 9 (today), and is said to be to "Predator" what "Aliens" is to "Alien". We'll see.

  • jonpaul37
    meanwhile, Nvidia Stock keeps sliding into nothingness... I REALLY wish Nvidia & AMD would team up and compete with the evil blue Intel...
    Reply
  • hellwig
    Pixar used to use AMD processors until the Core-2 line came out. For server farms it just makes sense. You want the biggest bang for your buck, and AMD is pretty darn good in that segment.

    I am interested in that Machete movie: "When you hire him to kill the bad guy, make sure YOU aren't the bad guy!". Classic line from that faux trailer.
    Reply
  • ubernoobie
    does that mean every other movie was made using intel? im actually quite interested
    Reply
  • Ugh what no Opterons?
    Reply
  • Pyroflea
    This just in: I run Intel for checking Tom's!
    Reply
  • enzo matrix
    jonpaul37meanwhile, Nvidia Stock keeps sliding into nothingness... I REALLY wish Nvidia & AMD would team up and compete with the evil blue Intel...What do you think this is? Gang wars?
    luc vrUgh what no Opterons?
    used its technology to generate the special effects and animations. More specifically, the studio used six-core AMD Opteron processors and ATI FirePro GPUs to get the job done.
    Reply
  • tokenz
    So by the way it sounds they buy new after every movie? Cause I could sure use a cheap server farm. Let me know when they throw them out.
    Reply
  • segio526
    Oh sweet, I didn't know he was actually going to make Machete!!!
    Reply
  • bison88
    AMD couldn't have done a better PR campaign for their technology themselves.

    However, I am dismayed they are behind the movie "Machete" which seems to be an effort to exploit the Arizona Immigration Bill and launch a race war in this country. A movie about a bunch of Mexican-Americans killing white people and then white people in turn killing Mexicans just doesn't sit well with me. Hollywood always has this sick political agenda no matter whose the actor or what the story line curtails.
    Reply
  • dragonfang18
    Too bad this remake doesnt have Arnold...
    Reply