"Istanbul", no we are not talking about the place that is on the world map. We are talking about the world’s first six-core server processor with Direct Connect Architecture for two-, four- and eight-socket servers that has been released by the AMD. By and large, Istanbul is essentially a quad-core "Shanghai" processor with two additional cores added to the die. Istanbul is compatible with the existing Socket F infrastructure, so it's an easy drop-in upgrade for existing servers. So long as your Socket F motherboard supports dual power planes, all that's required for an Istanbul upgrade is a quick BIOS flash and a chip swap.
Six-Core AMD Opteron processors “Istanbul” extend AMD’s commitment to offering server customers superior value at every price point with unmatched platform flexibility.Across a single platform, AMD can address the need for more cores and greater scalability with the new Six-Core AMD Opteron processor and offer a cost- and power-efficient solution with Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors.Patrick Patla, vice president and general manager, Server and Workstation Business, AMD said,"Based on close collaboration with our customers, we believe there is a clear value shift changing the economics of the server market.The new Six-Core AMD Opteron processor meets the increasing need for a combination of low total cost of ownership, superior performance-per-watt and scalability. Simply put, Six-Core AMD Opteron processors deliver top-line performance that’s bottom-line efficient.”The new CPU can be used in 2P, 4P and 8P configurations. AMD also claims that the Opteron 2435 is the ‘industry’s only six-core processors with Direct Connect Architecture’, which is a swipe at Intel’s six-core ‘Dunnington’ Xeon 7400-series which has to use a single shared memory controller in the Northbridge.
Over the next few weeks, systems will begin to creep out from Cray, Dell, HP, IBM and Sun Microsystems, and support from motherboard and infrastructure partners will follow suit. Also of note, HE, SE and EE versions of the six-core AMD Opteron processor are planned for the second half of 2009. The new Six-Core AMD Opteron processor has up to 34 percent more performance-per-watt over the previous generation quad-core processors in the exact same platform.
To get the six-core chips even fit into existing power envelopes, AMD has dialed back clock frequencies slightly, which is why the company cites a general performance boost of around 30% when going from a Shanghai Opteron to an Istanbul depending, of course, on the workload.The Opteron 2400-series can be deployed as a single CPU or in systems with 2,4 or more sockets and is set to range from $445 to $1,019 per CPU. The 8400-series can only be installed in multi-CPU motherboards and will range from $1,514 to $2,649.
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