Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Advanced Micro Devices - Moderated (AMD) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rob S. who wrote (14161)	10/16/2000 1:28:30 PM
From: Rob S.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 275872

Oct. 13, 2000 (Electronic Buyers News - CMP via COMTEX) -- San Jose - Advanced Micro Devices Inc. last week unveiled its long-awaited dual-processor architecture for thin-client servers as the company officially took the leap into this Intel-dominated market. The announcement, made at the Microprocessor Forum here, demonstrated the company's continuing movement into higher-performance sectors of the microprocessor market, following respective successes with the Duron and Athlon CPUs at the lower and upper tiers of the PC space. "After starting with Athlon, this [server technology] is our latest progression," said Bob Mitton, AMD's division marketing manager for server products, who predicted the architecture will show up in merchant servers in the first half of 2001. While the dual-processor configuration represents a move toward more complex computing platforms, the company is nevertheless grazing at the low end of the server market, according to Linley Gwennap, an analyst at the Linley Group, Mountain View, Calif. "We're talking about dual processors where there are a lot of volumes but not many margins," Gwennap said. "If you have a little file server in your office, their technology is okay, but if you want a high-reliability box, it's not there." But AMD's move into processor servers is a stepping stone toward higher-margin products, Gwennap said. "This application is certainly a higher-margin sector than PCs," Gwennap said. "But the server market is a big hill to climb." IDC, Framingham, Mass., said 1.9 million dual processor servers were sold last year, and expects that figure to rise to 2.3 million units in 2000. AMD's dual-processor architecture is geared for X86-based servers using a combination of the Athlon processor, AMD-760 chipset, and double-data-rate SDRAM. The system helps eliminate bottlenecks related to existing X86 multiprocessing systems through its L2 cache architecture and two 266-MHz frontside buses, AMD said. In addition to supporting Windows-based operating systems, the double-processor architecture is compatible with Unix-based systems, according to the company. But how will the architecture stack up against Intel's dual-Pentium-processor engine? "While Intel is trying to out-position us, they're really offering dual processing based on their Pentium III, which is an old technology compared with the Athlon," Mitton said. "You'll have to wait until 3Q or 4Q for their new dual-processor technology, which will also be very expensive." Intel declined to comment on AMD's double-processor technology, stating that it doesn't speculate on competing products. AMD reportedly is looking to transition its X86 architecture to 64-bit processing to suit higher-end servers. For these applications, AMD will face a challenge bringing its Windows-based platform against a firmly established Unix market already served by the likes of Compaq, IBM, and Sun Microsystems. ebnonline.com By: Bruce Gain Copyright 2000 CMP Media Inc.