AMD Unveils Opteron 6300 Series Processors

AMD unveiled its new Opteron 6300 Series server processors based on its next-generation  “Piledriver” core architecture.

The 6300 series is designed to boost performance and scalability in virtualized server platforms for private and public cloud deployments, big data systems and high-performance computing (HPC) clusters. It features up to 16 cores per socket, up to 12 DIMMs per CPU and up to four x 16 HyperTransport technology (HT3) links.

"Across global IT organizations, cost-effective, scalable performance is a core requirement to support cloud computing, server consolidation and highly-threaded workloads common in HPC, big data and other areas," said Suresh Gopalakrishnan, general manager, Server Business Unit, AMD. "The key to a winning solution for customers is working with OEMs and other solution providers to minimize TCO with a combination of cost effectiveness and superior performance per watt. AMD Opteron 6300 Series processors are uniquely positioned to be the difference-maker customers are seeking."

Vendor Support

AMD noted that Dell and HP systems based on the Opteron 6300 Series are expected by the end of 2012, while many other systems and platforms are available today from Cray, SGI, and Supermicro as well as AMAX, Appro, ASUS, ClusterVision, Colfax International, MEGWARE Computer, Microway, Penguin Computing, Silicon Mechanics and ZT Systems. AMD’s own “Roadrunner” platform, developed for the Open Compute Project, will be available in the first quarter of 2013.

"Cloud computing, data warehouse systems and HPC clusters are at the top of many CIOs agendas, but many struggle to find the right balance of performance and scalability with price,” said Brian Payne, executive director of Platform Marketing at Dell.  “Our PowerEdge and PowerEdge C server platforms are scalable and designed to integrate the latest technologies from AMD.  The new AMD Opteron 6300 Series provides Dell customers with additional performance gains, lower cost of ownership and improved power efficiency, all of which are hugely beneficial for cloud computing, big data and other high-growth data center applications.”

ZT Systems  announced solutions featuring the powerful new AMD Opteron 6300 Series processors based on the Piledriver core architecture. Joined with ZT’s signature custom engineering, integration and delivery capabilities, these platforms form the basis for precision-fit solutions to the unique technical and business requirements of individual data center customers.

"ZT Systems is pleased to work with AMD in announcing customized platforms featuring Opteron 6300 series processors,” said Brent Miller, ZT Systems' Vice President of Marketing and Business Planning. “ZT solutions powered by these new processors can help our customers benefit from improved server performance and efficiency, while extending platform lifecycles for greater overall cost effectiveness. ZT Systems’ precision-fit design approach coupled with this latest generation of AMD processors provides an attractive option for large data center customers seeking an optimal balance of performance, scalability and cost.”

SGI announced it is upgrading its Rackable servers powered by AMD Opteron processors to be powered by the latest 6300 series processors. AMD 6300 Opteron processors will be offered in the SGI Rackable 2108, a twin-socket, 2U workhorse, Rackable 2112 with 4 twin-socket nodes in a 2U format, and a Rackable H2106 quad-socket, 2U server.

"AMD Opteron processor solutions provide excellent investment return for customers doing scientific research, Cloud computing and product development," said Bill Mannel, vice president of product marketing at SGI. "The AMD Opteron 6000 Series processors have industry-leading core counts that allow clusters to achieve optimal price-performance and power savings."

Cray announced the Cray XE6 and Cray XE6m supercomputers are now available with the new AMD Opteron 6300 Series processor. The Cray XE6 series of supercomputer combines the Gemini system interconnect with powerful AMD Opteron processors and is designed to bring production petascale computing to an expanded base of HPC users.

"Cray supercomputers are specifically designed to allow our customers to easily upgrade their systems so they can take advantage of the latest, most innovative processing technologies while also reducing their total-cost-of-ownership over the life of the system," said Peg Williams, Cray's senior vice president of high performance computing systems. "We believe the new AMD Opteron 6300 Series processors will significantly improve the performance and efficiency for Cray customers upgrading their current Cray XE6 and Cray XE6m systems. We look forward to delivering this capability to our customers."

Supermicro (SMCI) announced it has upgraded its line of A+ servers with the AMD Opteron 6300 Series processors. With dual-processor (DP) and multi-processor (MP) architectures, Supermicro ups the performance bar for data center and high-performance computing (HPC) cluster applications.

"Supermicro, an experienced global player in these markets and a long-standing solution provider with AMD, has a wide range of 2P/4P platforms optimized and ready for our latest processors," said John Williams, vice president, Server Marketing and Business Development, AMD. "The Supermicro platform portfolio coupled with the performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of AMD’s latest offerings enable us to jointly deliver powerful computing solutions to meet the increasing demands of our fast paced data driven society.”