RioWorks HDAMA Dual AMD Opteron

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The Opteron dual-core processors are available recently. Excellent response to the problems of frequency increase faced by manufacturers, the era of the proliferation of cores in processors has just begun. The two main players in the market, AMD as Intel, have thus embarked on the adventure of the dual-core. With its 233 million transistors, it was actually trying to compare this processor with 125 million transistors of Prescott, and the dual-Xeon. The results are very interesting: it's very simple, just turn the pages of this survey to find out gradually and as the dual Opteron crushes all competitors so distressing.

From the perspective of media use, we note that the dual-processor Opteron 275 is placed in front of its competitors, beating the 3.4 GHz dual Xeon and Xeon well ahead of 252. It comes with new Socket thus doubling the cores compared to 6 made available by the CPU Opteron family Istanbul to date on the market, as well as doubling the memory controller becomes quad channel, also gaining support for DDR3 memory up to the frequency 1333 MHz While innovations aim at increasing the overall speed performance, the other AMD has intervened to try to improve fuel economy. Doubling the number of cores without maintaining the same level of consumption than previously practiced would in fact face heightened levels of Maximum TDP is too high, in a context such as server systems has always been very careful balance between speed performance and consumption.

The AMD Opteron 6100, the name of this new family of AMD processors, are the first of the new generation of server platforms that the U.S. manufacturer makes available to its customers and partners, in addition of course to be the first to integrate solutions on the market until to a maximum of 12 cores. AMD works with these structural changes of considerable importance, even with marginal changes in core architecture, new platforms lay the foundation for performance improvements by increasing the number of cores and memory controller with a more sophisticated. It will be starting next years, with the first family of solutions Bulldozer, Opteron solutions that will also benefit from innovations in the future architecture of AMD, destined to find space in desktop systems.

Then find the new Opteron 6100 series CPU some important technologies related to the containment of consumption:

• Power C1E were: integration of state support C1E, with which is called sleep mode when all cores are idle, i.e. waiting for further applications.
• Cool Technology Speed: Allows you to automatically take action on the P-state of the processor when certain levels of temperature, selected by the user are achieved thus reducing the overall consumption of infrastructure, including servers from one side and cooling system from the server farm.
• Advanced Management Platform Link: package of features that can track every instant consumption and efficiency of the cooling system, also speaking from remote prefix P-state processor.
• The DDR3 memory controller is fully compatible with low voltage from 1.35V modules, new standard recently introduced on the market that ensures containment of consumption of memories especially noticeable when there are multiple modules in the system.
• CPU Opteron 6100 debut also coincides with the introduction of new platforms, which AMD has already announced some time the main technical features.

The technical basis of the Opteron 4100 family are the same as seen with solutions Opteron 6100, in fact the CPU Opteron 6100 are composed of two independent daily, connected through HyperTransport links, due to technical features that the die is used to Opteron processor 4100. Opteron 6100 CPUs with 8-core architecture, then integrated on the same day two quad-core package identical to those used for the quad-core Opteron 4100 similar approach for the solution to 12 core Opteron 6100 CPUs than 6-core Opteron 4100. A sharply differentiate the two platforms are the socket connection: G34 processors for the Opteron 6100 and C32 for those Opteron 4100. The two platforms are obviously not compatible with each other, so the choice of either will result remain tied to a particular type of processors subject to the possibility of upgrading the cpu from 2011.

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Next year it will present new AMD Opteron processor-based architecture known by the codename of bulldozers, built with 32-nanometer production technology, will be maintained full compatibility with the two new platforms 4000 series and 6000 series but will fundamentally change the architecture processor. To find solutions 6000 series family processors, with the number of cores varies from 12 to 16, while for the solutions we Opteron 4000 series CPUs belonging to the family in Valencia, with number of cores ranging from 6 to 8. Even for cpu Interlagos, like those at Magny-Cours, the constructive approach will provide a multi-chip module design, with two separate day to 6 or 8 core flanked on the same package and linked together through HyperTransport links.

It 'true that the basic architecture of the Opteron Opteron 6100 and 4100, within a single core, is very similar to that of previous generation solutions Opteron Socket F platform, but overall the innovations introduced by AMD are numerous and aim to achieve a higher overall efficiency. For a radically different architectural approach we must await the debut in 2011, the Bulldozer CPU, strong compatibility with the two types of sockets on the market.

Rioworks HDAMA Entry Level

If you look at AMD in the current list of Recommended motherboard for the Opteron 246, so there is barely a year after its launch last April, only eight boards to choose from, and although many more models are commercially available! For server use only three of which are in question here, the candidate of Rioworks offers to the counterparty by Tyan (K8S) and MSI (K8D) the most interesting feature mix.

• Eight memory slots allow a maximum memory capacity of 16GB, ECC Reg PC2700 modules are supported.
• An integrated dual Gigabit Ethernet controller from Broadcom (5702) with fail-over functionality ensures the correct port.
• For the first device and subsequent administration of the integrated ATI XL graphics with 8MB memory goes completely.
• Optionally, the Board is to be had with integrated 4-channel S-ATA controller that supports RAID levels 0,1 and 10 (Promise PDC20319).
• A standard IDE and floppy controller
• Six PCI slots (2x PCI-X 64-bit 100MHz / 2x PCI 64-bit 66MHz / 2 x PCI 32-bit 33MHz)
• Space for two Opterons 246 and up.

The BIOS is socketed and a CMOS Discharge Jumper is also existent. On the back panel is too Spartan: 2x PS / 2; 2xGbLAN, 2x USB 1.1, 1x Serial, 1x VGA. The Board makes on paper and visually a very good impression, it must now prove themselves in reality. AMD's first attack on the multi-market two years ago with the Athlon MP and the associated MPX chipset caused a rather mixed feelings: some "unusual" and incompatibilities were undeniable. That should happen with the Opteron a second time, because the target clientele cannot forgive so quickly here. In addition, the Board had shown so now already one year to mature and the BIOS history, that this was necessary.

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Arima HDAMA

The motherboard in Arima HDAMA Rev.F and Rev.G is a motherboard for the socket type 939th This board can be operated with two AMD Opteron processors. This is a 64-bit CPUs. The board supports or requires Registered Buffered ECC DDR memory. Important here is that each is installed on the benches, the same number of modules. It is recommended to install one same memory in the same series. When modules from different manufacturers are mixed, can cause strange problems. However, this is a general statement that applies to other computer models.

Following operating systems can be operated with this Board:

• Linux (all versions),
• Sun Solaris 10 (The SATA controllers will not be detected),
• Microsoft Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000,
• Microsoft Windows 2003 Server,
• Microsoft Windows XP (32-bit and 64-bit)

Windows Vista and 7 are working due to lack of ACPI compatibility NOT. These would require a BIOS patch, which seems to be no longer available. For Windows 2003 and XP is the version 2.17 is required. The zip files contain the latest available BIOS patch for the Arima HDAMA boards.

AMD Opteron: 64-bit processor from AMD

The main advantages of 64-bit architecture microprocessors are the memory accesses. If you take two identical microprocessor, let one of them is 32-bit, and another - 64-bit, the latter will be able to address much more memory than 32-bit (2 of 64 to 2 in 32). For those customers that limit the amount of addressable memory 32-bit architecture (4 GB), the only solution to Intel's high performance is the Itanium, but if you still need and performance in x86 applications, then Intel will not offer you anything.

Typical applications based on a 64-bit technology, can be regarded as large databases and software design - CAD. If the standard 32-bit system can address a maximum of 4 GB, then the 64-bit addressing computer has at its disposal, at least 16 TB. Keep in mind that large databases today is already far surpassed the 4 GB.

To circumvent the 32-bit limit of 4 GB in Windows 2000 and XP by using the Physical Address Extension (Physical Address Extension, PAE), and industrial architecture of memory (Enterprise Memory Architecture) is allowed to addressing applications up to 8 GB of memory (Advanced Server) and 64 GB Memory (Data Center Server). However, such solutions are not fast, because they use techniques similar to EMS-memory, as in 16-bit computing. In addition, 64 GB is still a limit of 32-bit processors. Applications that require fast access to databases of more than 4 GB or access to the bases above 64 GB in general, cannot do without the use of 64-bit systems.

Opetron

K8 - the world's first and so far only 64-bit x86-kernel support CPU. As for Intel, then for its 64-bit processors the company has developed a single architecture, IA64, in contrast to AMD, which could add 64-bit support in the form of extensions of the instruction set x86, named AMD64. A fundamental difference is that the architecture IA64 is devoid of built-in hardware compatibility with x86 code. Accordingly, to work with applications that have seen the light over the past two decades, the processor (Itanium, Itanium 2 and so on) uses a software decoder. Opteron same hardware can perform a normal 32-bit x86 code. Since the hardware implementation is much faster than the slow software emulation, and then the performance of 32-bit applications will be appropriate.
The other processor operates in two mode: first in compatibility mode, which is designed to run 32-bit programs on 64-bit OS that allows applications while working in Windows (the upcoming 64-bit version) to use the full four gigabytes of memory, not limited to the same two . In these two modes of the processor continues to use the eight standard 32-bit registers EAX, EBX, ECX, EDX, EBP, ESI, EDI and ESP.

The second pruning is designed to work only with 64-bit systems that are compatible with x86-64. It, in fact, realized all the possibilities and advantages of the new architecture. X86-64 architecture extends these eight registers with the prefix R to 64 bits.
In designing the processor, the AMD, figuratively speaking, had two choices: to go long or wide. Increased processor architecture represents an increase in the number of executive units in the nucleus, which would be relevant only when using the processor in a corporate environment, because "broad" core is better suited for parallel computing. However, K8 will work as a desktop processor, which requires high clock speed, so AMD has chosen the first option and decided to lengthen the conveyor.

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Xeon architecture allows achieving higher clock frequencies due to perform less work per clock cycle, so the only comparison criteria may make the price and performance in applications, and not clock speed. Until now has been released K8 clock speed 1.4 GHz, 1.6 GHz and 1.8 GHz, model numbers, respectively, 240, 242 and 244. Several unusual numbering, here the first number denotes the total number of processors that can be used in a multiprocessor environment. The remaining two digits characterize the performance, but how it remains a mystery, of course it is clear that 42 is better than 40. But what made the manufacturer put a label, remains shrouded in mystery.

Physically, the core AMD Opteron is very similar to the old core Athlon. One innovation is to add the Opteron's integrated memory controller, which occupies the space to be allowed in the nuclei of Palomino and Thoroughbred the cache L2. Incidentally, the size of the L2 cache has been increased in the Opteron up to 1 megabyte (16 routes). Opteron - the first processor has a built-in dual-channel DDR memory controller 333, using a tire 144-bit DDR memory. So we have the opportunity to use processors, perform the functions of the Northbridge. The advantages of this technology are as follows: reduction of delays in accessing memory and controller work with higher speed. Not so bad, but if you take into account the development of new memory technologies, in the future you will have to change the processor and motherboard. But the opportunity to disable built-in controller and use the K8 chipset for memory accesses, but then you get the K7 optimized with extended conveyor.

With the release of AMD K8 corrects the situation, offering high-performance microprocessor solution. Instead of paralleling FSB, processors communicate with each other on the interface HyperTransport, serial bus protocol point to point. All the data processor Opteron passes through the interface of HyperTransport and integrated memory controller. To the neighboring processor has direct access to memory, for example, Opteron uses a switch XBAR. And the switch to fully employ 64-bit bus for addresses and commands. Opteron uses three bus width 16 bits, two buses, he communicates with other processors in the third with the other components of the system. Bus bandwidth is 3.2 GB / s in both directions, resulting in total capacity of up to 6.4 GB / s per port HyperTransport. For comparison, Pentium 4 with 533 MHz FSB has a transfer rate of the bus 3,97 Gb / s, but only in one direction.

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AMD Opteron 8 and 12 Core servers

The new technology provided by AMD now has the only server processor on the market that now includes eight and 12 cores, enabling a significant performance increase. All new family belongs to the 6000 series, and lead integrated DDR3 memory controller and improved to support four channels, resembling the architecture of the AMD Phenom processors.

The accompanying SR5690 chipset AMD's new processors have been called code-named Magny-Cours , which allows you to manage everything related to input / output, with the feature HyperTransport 3.0 to optimize the communication between the different processor cores and as PCI Express 2.0. Another great implementation architecture is given by the Direct Connect Architecture 2.0, with which each processor is capable of carrying up to 105.6 Gigaflops (12 cores x 4 32-bit FPU instructions x 2.2 GHz speed.) In addition, aspects such as virtualization and socket compatibility will be improved.

In terms of speed and consumption, the release comes wrapped by nine models Opteron that vary between 1.7 and 2.3 GHz speed. Unlike what his main competitor, AMD maintains the same amount of cache for all processors. In regard to energy efficiency, AMD still has the three families of processors depending on which is to be used. On one side are the HE models, the value of ACP is 60 watts. Above them are the standard models, the value of dissipation is 80 watts. Finally, the SE is the most consumed, and that reach 105 watts. Remember that AMD is indicated in ACP (average consumption), rather than the more common term TDP (peak usage) used by other processor manufacturers.

Since AMD also highlight the work achieved with low latency, by which it is now possible to offer a more energy sustainable. With the so-called C1E state, the interface between the memory controller and HyperTransport 3.0 remains disabled, keeping consumption levels far below normal. Following these launches, AMD plans to the arrival of so-called codenamed Lisbon, 4000 Series server environments input range.

AMD Opteron Gateway Servers

Gateway has recently introduced its latest range of servers. They come equipped with the new AMD Opteron 6100 series and industry-leading technologies that integrate seamlessly with any server environment and easily manage any workload. With the latest platform, based on the latest generation of AMD Direct Connect Architecture 2.0, with up to 48 cores in total in a 4P configuration, the new AMD server line Gateway offers efficiency and productivity.

Tower Server (GT): This series provides stable performance and server level in a tower chassis family. With advanced technologies, these servers will fit perfectly on small and medium-sized companies that need centralized management capabilities and expandability standard, with less regard for the performance of office space occupied.

Server Rack (GR): You have up to four processors and offers manageability and flexibility of E / S to optimize space environments rackmount servers. These servers integrate standard expansion options are very manageable and ensure high availability.

Server Rack multimode (GW): Optimized for efficiency in space and capable of running both independently and in parallel in a format MultiNode 2U Gemini Gateway Series offers the best performance per watt density and fits perfectly high performance computing (HPC), medical imaging, computer simulations academic Internet service providers, etc.

Server Blade (GB): This simple yet flexible system expands as you grow and offers real savings in total cost of ownership (TCO) at all stages of IT management: installation, remote testing, migration and momentum of new services. They also provide greater functionality for large enterprises and high-performance computing environments (HPC) that need to maximize productivity data center space and area for expansion as the business grows.

Utilities to simplify configuration and deployment :

1. Smart Gateway Setup: Easy tool for quick configuration of servers, provides an intuitive user interface and procedures to guide you step by step to complete the installation and implementation process, including Windows and Linux operating environments, RAID and the establishment drivers.
2. Smart Gateway Server Manager: Provides a scalable management solution with unified user interface and intuitive that offers an efficient way to manage the servers. The user interface type dashboard allows professionals to management information systems (MIS) to manage multiple servers, either locally or remotely, in just a few easy steps.
3. Gateway Smart Console: management console is a web-based integrated to monitor system health, alert notification and remote management.

Conclusion :

Who is looking for a very solid board for the server and will use it and share to AMD's new Opteron is struck gold with the Rhapsody Rioworks HDAMA. The equipment is complete for a board of this class, the settings are almost universal. One or the other will miss onboard SCSI, but given the mass of slots on the board and its excellent performance can complement other facilities flexible. Two Gigabit LAN ports are a good thing, one serial port and two USB 2.0 ports for connecting a rich old or newer UPS. A parallel would certainly not hurt, but is probably missing only the very few. What remains is a long term stable and really consistently positive impression. Rioworks has done very excellent work, for in this market segment include maturity and stability more than anything else.

Finally, AMD released a processor that can strengthen its position sufficiently. Architecture Opteron is a threat to the line Intel Xeon. Compatibility with existing x86 applications is a very significant advantage in favor of AMD, as this feature allows a gradual shift to 64-bit systems. Modern 64-bit systems not only provide higher bandwidth, which allows more efficient to store and process high-precision floating-point data, but also provide a more efficient way to work with floating point numbers. Corporate environment only increases: the work of a growing number of companies depends on the use of large computer systems that use large databases. The transition to 64-bit technology would achieve better scalability.