DailyTech - AMD Launches Business Class Computer Initiative

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IT AMD Launches Business Class Computer Initiative
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - April 28, 2008 11:10 AM

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18 comment(s) - last by DeepBlue1975.. on Apr 28 at 5:32 PM

HP's dx2400/dx2450 AMD Business Class desktop (Source: Reuters)

New Business Class computers will have configurations with 24-month stability and longevity

AMD has been handed a beating in the marketplace from rival Intel and the company is looking to take back some of its lost market share and pull out of the cycle of reporting quarterly losses. To help facilitate this transformation into profitability, AMD today announced a new Business Class initiative.

The AMD Business Class systems will use AMD’s Phenom X3 triple-core processors, Phenom X4 processors, and the dual-core Athlon X2 processors. All of the processors can be coupled with the AMD 780V chipsets and will have the option of ATI Radeon HD 3000 series discrete graphics for more performance.

AMD says that the Business Class machines will also be compatible with non-AMD graphics cards and chipsets as well. The first systems launched under the Business Class initiative will be desktop systems with notebooks based on the AMD Puma platform coming later.

“IT decision-makers have a broad range of commercial client solutions to choose from and it is not always clear which systems deliver the best business value,” said AMD president and COO Dirk Meyer. “At its heart, AMD Business Class processors are based on the same innovative technology that powers the world’s most advanced servers. Our solutions are designed to give commercial customers the assurance that platforms are designed with their business in mind to help get more from their computing infrastructure, longer.”

AMD will be selling its Business Class systems via known computer makers like Dell, HP, Acer, Lenovo and more. One of the first Dell systems under the new initiative will be the OptiPlex 740. Darrel Ward, director of Dell Product Group said in a statement, “Dell continues to focus on simplifying IT, delivering business desktop solutions that help eliminate the hassles and high cost of technology transitions. The Dell OptiPlex 740 with AMD Business Class technology and AMD Phenom processors takes that commitment to another level with systems that are extremely manageable, stable and energy efficient.”

This new Business Class initiative promises large corporations deploying hundreds, thousands or more computers the ability to deploy systems today and know that for the next 24-months AMD will continue supporting the exact same configuration.

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what exactly?

By Gul Westfale on 4/28/2008 11:38:34 AM , Rating: 1

what exactly is "business class" other than a sticker on the case? it's nothing more than a marketing initiative from AMD, there is nothing new or exciting here, just a different case sticker... of course, intel did the same with centrino, but this reeks of desperation. i'm seriously considering getting a core2 for my next upgrade rather than another AMD chip, and case stickers will not influence my decision in any way, only performance and price will. i imagine it's no different for people who run a business.

RE: what exactly?

By joemoedee on 4/28/2008 11:53:36 AM , Rating: 3

Essentially the big selling point is the 24 month support cycle. Many contracts, especially Government, hinge on product availability for X amount of time.

Whereas with many computers, upgrading from motherboard A to motherboard B isn't a huge deal due to failure, on a lot of Government contracts I've seen its absolutely vital for the items to be available for the next 12-24 months.

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RE: what exactly?

By System48 on 4/28/08, Rating: -1

RE: what exactly?

By DASQ on 4/28/2008 12:03:14 PM , Rating: 4

Leftover stock != Dedicated availability.

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RE: what exactly?

By Locutus465 on 4/28/2008 12:05:10 PM , Rating: 5

If it's BS from AMD then Intel is spreading the same BS because they have equivilent programs.... This is just another name for "Stable Platform" I.E. we the chip manufacturer are putting this platform out there for you so you the business can feel assured that your desktop purchase will run trouble free for at least 2 years before becoming irrelivent by newer software/hardware.

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RE: what exactly?

By System48 on 4/28/2008 1:16:47 PM , Rating: 1

My point is that hardware manufacturers don't really have control over OEM decisions. From what I've seen most companies get a 3 year lease on equipment and have stagger upgrades to new systems year by year. Intel and AMD are both guilty of making this seem important when there's really never been a problem in the past. Programs like these are really only usefull on the server side.

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RE: what exactly?

By Locutus465 on 4/28/2008 1:48:30 PM , Rating: 3

Except that under these programs all PC's will also have the same set of hardware profiles making administration easier... Yes, with a responsible IT staff you can create your own stable computing platform, but these initives help eliminate the uninformed new employee factor, not to mention help companies make better buying choices as far as getting a reliable system that will perform adiquatly for a number of years...

Again, a good IT staff can do all of this on their own, but not every company is so blessed. Not to mention these programs go a long way to giving the bosses in any given company the warm fuzzies which help AMD and Intel sell hardware and the lives of lower level IT folk a little easier when making purchasing requests.

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RE: what exactly?

By Obujuwami on 4/28/2008 12:38:01 PM , Rating: 3

Exactly!

I work for a school district and uniformity is something that we need to keep our schools up and running. We are an HP shop primarily and have just switched over to AMD cores but this news will keep us very happy as: our new images will be forced to incorperate new drivers less frequently; we can learn the quarks of the system; and we can plan for long term upgrade/replacement programs.

This is good news from and for AMD. Anyone that says its not obviously does not work in an IT environment where this news is relevant.

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RE: what exactly?

By crystal clear on 4/28/08, Rating: -1

RE: what exactly?

By DeepBlue1975 on 4/28/2008 5:32:29 PM , Rating: 3

OEM market and corporative environments are the most profitable business for chipmakers, not ultra high end CPUs and the likes.

For your average administrative employee doesn't matter if his computer is 20% faster or slower, as much as it does having the machine ALWAYS WORKING, and that's what this program aims to facilitate to potential buyers.

I don't buy AMD / ATi by now because as a single user I crave for high performance and Intel + Nvidia is giving the best on those terms to me, but if I were a company needing hundreds of PCs for my personnel, programs like this one would be very attractive to me.

The only problem for AMD with this kind of initiative is if they indeed can provide a better value for customers than what Intel is already doing through similar strategies, and, specifically, which options will have the better reception among the OEMs.

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RE: what exactly?

By Locutus465 on 4/28/2008 11:57:30 AM , Rating: 2

It's the new marketing name for AMD's "stable platfrom"... Basically unlike enthusiests business don't like to upgrade every 6 months when new stuff comes out, they want to feel assured that their PC purchases will last at least 2 years... So both AMD and Intel spend a lot of time putting together these packages of computers that should have enough horse power and stability to last at least 2 years before needing to be replaced.

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RE: what exactly?

By xti on 4/28/2008 12:10:35 PM , Rating: 2

enthusiast markets maybe pay enough bills to keep the lights on all year long @ sunnyvale.

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RE: what exactly?

By 325hhee on 4/28/2008 12:50:36 PM , Rating: 2

Business class is longer warranties, so if, say Dell sells company X an AMD business class computer, and the board fails, the Dell techs can't fix it, they'll get a brand new board from AMD, at no cost for an extra year, over the standard 1 yr that regular consumers buys.

That's the main difference, and of course they have a different tech support number, with a knowledgeable tech on hand, instead of your generic guy read from the script, is the power on, did you check your plugs etc.

That tech support alone is worth it, hell I wish I was able to utilize that tech service instead of calling and saying, just bump me up to level 3 tech, I already know what you're going to ask and yes I've done it already. 30 min hold time? I'll take it.

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Go AMD

By scorpio1980 on 4/28/2008 11:37:52 AM , Rating: 1

With all their financial trouble, this is a shot in the arm for AMD. Will there be light at the end of the tunnel ? I hope so, because I don't want to see an Intel CPU monopoly.

RE: Go AMD

By pattycake0147 on 4/28/2008 11:49:50 AM , Rating: 2

They will have the 780V chipset as apposed to the 780G chipset, for lower power requirements. Apart from that I don't see any real difference.

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RE: Go AMD

By adanan on 4/28/2008 12:37:15 PM , Rating: 2

Have a little more faith in them.

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Dell

By Sulphademus on 4/28/2008 11:44:24 AM , Rating: 2

I thought Dell was taking AMD boxes off of their website?

Also, the 740 has been out for over a year and runs AMD cpu's (the 745 is the Intel model). So I'm wondering what's new? They just replaced the 745 with the 755 so wouldn't a new AMD platform call for changing the system to a new name like "750"?

AMD & Intel, I love you both.

By Hexus on 4/28/2008 12:12:09 PM , Rating: 2

I like it. AMD used to be the processor or choice hands down for performance PCs and high end gaming, now that Intel is giving them a hell of a run for their money, they're expanding to other stable sources of business platform contracts and I hoping it stirs up some good competition.

One company does something, the rival follows, repeat, inovate, outclass, and in the end I get more advanced technology.