AMD to launch 6 and 12 core processors in 2010

AMD has revealed its processor roadmap out to 2010, including its first 45nm processors and six- and twelve-core processors.

The chip company expects to produce its first 45nm processors in the second half of this year. The quad-core server processor, codenamed ‘Shanghai', will be part of the AMD Opteron brand, and will boast around 25% performance increase on AMD's current 65nm Opteron quad core processors.

By the second half of 2009, the company plans to ship its first 6-core server processor, codenamed ‘Istanbul', which will fit the Socket F1, to allow manufacturers to preserve platform investments and increase system performance-per-watt.

The next step up for AMD processors will be with the move to Socket G34 platform, in the first half of 2010, with 6-core ‘Sao Paolo' and 12-core ‘Magny Cours' processors, which will incorporate DDR3 memory and an additional HyperTransport 3.0 link.

Randy Allen, corporate vice president and general manager, Server and Workstation, AMD commented: "Based on input from our OEM partners, AMD is updating its server roadmap to strengthen its alignment with end-customer priorities. Today's roadmap updates support AMD's long-standing goal of meeting our OEM partners' demands for platform longevity while driving increased performance-per-watt and more advanced virtualization features and functionality."