Expect AMD Phenom chip in December

Bangalore

September 12th, 2007

Advanced Machine Devices (AMD) has said that its Phenom processor solutions
are expected in December 2007. The quad-core Phenom chip, which shares the same
technology as its quad-core Opteron - code-named Barcelona - is expected to be a
replacement for Athlon 64. The Phenom is most likely to carry the suffix X4,
similar to Athlon.

Earlier, reports suggested that a low quantity would be available this
year-end, with the mass release scheduled for New Year. However, Alok Ohrie, MD
of AMD India confirmed that the Phenom would be available for the desktop market
in December 2007.

AMD also launched its native quad-core 'Barcelona' Opteron processor in the
country, in the presence of its India MD Ohrie and Michael O'Brien, AMD's
director of worldwide commercial channels. The company's partners in India were
also represented at the launch of Opteron, which AMD claimed to match the power
and thermal envelopes of dual-core processors now available in the market.

AMD said the processor provided four efficiencies, viz., system, CPU, power
and virtualization.

Opteron is targeted at the BFSI, telecom, PHC, education and research, ITeS,
PSU, manufacturing, media and entertainment segments. The processor also
provides 4-32 way scalability, AMD said.

The processor provides quad-core solutions for both 2p and 4p systems. Other
X80 technologies call for separate solutions for 2p and 4p systems, requiring IT
departments to manage different environments separately.