DailyTech - New AMD Opterons, Price Cuts Tomorrow

Submit News

Hardware New AMD Opterons, Price Cuts Tomorrow
Kristopher Kubicki (Blog) - February 5, 2007 11:12 AM

25 comment(s) - last by just4U.. on Feb 6 at 7:05 PM

AMD's Opteron 2220 SE processor - Image courtesy Newegg

More high end server components on the way

Tomorrow AMD is expected to release its new x220-series and x218 HE-series Opteron processors. Both series are 90nm revision "F3" stepping dual-core processors.

Like other Opteron families, the 8000-family and 2000-family will utilize the Socket 1207 interface while the 1000-family Opterons will use the Socket AM2 interface. The x220-series processors feature a 2.8GHz core clock and 1MB L2 cache per core. AMD's guidance lists this CPU inside a 95W thermal power envelope.

The x218 HE, or high efficiency, series processors are low-TDP versions of the dual-core x218 processors already available today. The new processors feature 2.6GHz cores and 1MB L2 cache-per-core, but operate at less than 68W TDP.

The new revision "F3" is also featured on the Athlon 64 FX 70-series and the 3.0GHz Athlon 64 X2 6000+. AMD launched its FX 70-series processors back in November 2006 but the Athlon 64 X2 6000+ is still under embargo for several weeks -- not that you can't buy it at Newegg today.

The Opteron 2220 SE series processor entered the retail channel several months ago, but with low availability and high prices. AMD claims the Opteron 8220, 2220 and 1220 (non-SE versions) will launch with an MSRP of $1,500, $700 and $550 respectively. Corporate guidance also claims the Opteron 8218 HE, 2218 HE and 1218 HE will launch with MSRPs of $1,340, $610 and $430 respectively. The new MSRPs should bring the price down on any Opterons that are already in the channel.

The x220 series features the same memory controller as the FX 70-series enthusiast processors. DailyTech previously demonstrated that AMD's FX 70-series motherboard will quite happily accept Opteron processors and run non-registered memory. This trick has no practical application yet as FX 70-series processors are considerably cheaper than the Opteron counterparts, but it does suggest the opposite possibility -- that AMD FX 70-series processors will work in Opteron 2200-series motherboards.

Comments

Threshold

Username
Password
remember me

This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

Old New Opterons

By Regs on 2/5/2007 12:23:18 PM , Rating: 5

I applaud that AMD is trying to make everything compatible but I really wish they continue to make cheap 939 X2s.

Not a lot of people are going to upgrade to a AM2 with Core out. Not unless they are banking on the K8L that seems to be looking at a 4th quarter release right about now.

RE: Old New Opterons

By Mitch101 on 2/5/2007 12:39:13 PM , Rating: 3

I agree I am sitting out the entire AM2 because of talks of AM2+, Socket 1207, PCI-E2, and DDR3 for the Motherboards.

Even though an AM2 will work in an AM2+ socket will it still use DDR2 or will they go DDR3? Will PCI-E2 add any benefit to warrant waiting as well?

Too much uncertainty in the AMD channel for me as of late.

An would it have really killed them to make higher end 939 chips? Its not that we hit a multiplier or speed limit on 939 that I am aware of. Marketing needed DDR2 more than consumers needed it. Even with Conroe DDR works as good as DDR2 so DDR2 is basically more marketing hype than help.

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By Furen on 2/5/2007 12:47:00 PM , Rating: 2

The memory you will need will be determined by the motherboars. AM2 and AM2+ will both use DDR2 (since the slots on the mobo will be DDR2 slots). AM3 will use DDR3 only but, supposedly, an AM3 CPU should be able to slip into AM2 and AM2+ motherboards.

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By davegraham on 2/5/2007 12:51:51 PM , Rating: 3

AM3 processors will retrofit to AM2/+ but will only operate within the design parameters of that particular board.

for example:
the dual plane power topology that AMD is going towards requires a compatible mainboard. However, processors will be able to work on a unified power plane mainboard as well as the dual plane boards.

HT links will only run at the speed of the inserted devices. an HT3.x compliant processor will run at HT1.x on an AM2/+ board and 3.x on a compliant mainboard.

*shrug* it's better than blowing extra socket revisions and pissing off a wider portion of the market.

cheers,

dave

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By Mitch101 on 2/5/2007 1:18:16 PM , Rating: 2

Thanks everyone for the info.

When is AM3 scheduled to make its debut?

Im under the impression that PCI-E2 will have a different socket or extended socket of PCI-E. My concern is the abandoned treatment previous parts might have before thier time has really expired. For example my Radeon 9800 AGP still plays a lot of todays games very well but I had to upgrade to PCI-E. I would like to see some consistency on upgrading and not having to buy new ram and video card every time I am looking for a speed increase on the CPU/Mobo combination. Especially since it seems we will go SLI with up to 3 cards 2 for video and one for physics. It becomes way to pricey to upgrade because your forced to buy a new system. Same thing happened with my Geforce 4200 I think they lowered the voltage on the AGP slot and I had to upgrade to the Radeon at the time because it wasnt compatible.

I guess my question is PCI-E really needed or is it marketing hype again pushing us all to buy new video cards when the bandwidth of PCI-E hasnt been reached at all.

It would be nice to see a timeline of all the upcomming changes that are going to happen in the near future.

Also are any or all of these sockets quad core capable?

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By davegraham on 2/5/2007 1:33:31 PM , Rating: 2

AM3 will debut at the end of this year (iirc) and will be concurrent with platform ddr3 launches.

PCIe-2 MUST MAINTAIN backwards compatibility with 1st gen. PCIe components. It should mention this in the working group notes for the PCIe consortium. It's ALSO a transport mechanism for component interconnects (i.e. NB to SB) which can utilize a different fabric (per se) than the physical interface.

PCIe is needed for high bandwidth devices (i/o subsystems especially where the effect is already seen).

there will be a quad core for AM2 and Socket F. more later. :)

cheers,

dave

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By Xenoid on 2/5/2007 4:57:17 PM , Rating: 2

I'm upgrading both of our family computers at the end of April. I couldn't justify moving from Socket A/762 or whatever Intel was to a 754/939/AM2. The cost was only about $150CAD cheaper than a C2D and plenty slower.

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By davegraham on 2/5/2007 12:49:02 PM , Rating: 2

It's really not all that difficult.

AM2 processors will always use DDR2. period. PCIe-2 is higher bandwidth. Period.

there's nothing uncertain in the channel at all. Any particular part you want to know about, lemme know. I live in the channel and would be HAPPY to help lessen the confusion.

People would've bitched to no end about AMD not supporting DDR2 if they would have stayed with DDR. Trust me, everyone wants what feels best to them NOW, versus what is best for the market in the long term. *shrug*

cheers,

Dave

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By dgingeri on 2/5/2007 1:13:38 PM , Rating: 2

My current socket 939 Opteron 185 performs well enough that I may even let it sit until early 2008 before I upgrade. I see no need to upgrade to either Core 2 or AM2 currently. The performance differences are too small, and likely will stay that way for another year.

I do, however, think it would be a mistake on AMD's part to expand on the available socket 939. They have already quit manufacturing socket 939 chips, as they should.

The processor industry is just moving so slowly lately. I remember the days when I'd get a processor upgrade for one reason or another about every 9 months, but since the release of the Athlon 64, the performance leaps per generation just haven't been that great. Even dual core was kind of lack-luster because most things don't take advantage of it. I hope someone actually brings a significant performance benefit to the table pretty soon.

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By jay401 on 2/5/2007 1:27:51 PM , Rating: 2

Seriously, I'm still running 939 and have no plans to upgrade again until key hardware fails. They should still be releasing X2 cores for it, but instead they'd rather suck $$$ and force everyone to upgrade. No thanks. I think I'll just by a Core2Duo based system next time around rather than mess around with AM2 or whatever.

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By davegraham on 2/5/2007 1:36:01 PM , Rating: 2

and intel hasn't forced the same changes? please don't turn a blind eye to 'the other side' based on what you feel is greediness. These are SERVER processors developed for a specific clientele with needs that supersede what you mention below. Again, AMD and Intel make more money off of the enterprise market than the desktop/prosumer market.

cheers,

dave

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By fic2 on 2/5/2007 3:09:13 PM , Rating: 2

I agree with both posters. I have S939 system and don't feel the need to upgrade the cpu. If I did there isn't much out there that if I wanted to keep mb/memory. Because of this if I did upgrade I would probably go to a core2duo system since I would have to buy DDR2 memory anyway. Might as well get the best cpu out now. If AMD would keep producing S939 cpus they would get my money.

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By encryptkeeper on 2/5/2007 3:59:32 PM , Rating: 1

Man, I really hope you never get to do any business planning. AM2 didn't come along to gouge customers, it was to adopt DDR2 (which people complained about 939 NOT supporting) and to make a unified socket. Seriously, you can get ANY AM2 processor and have it work on ANY AM2 board (except an FX series on a k9mm-V or something like that). Motherboard vendors LOVE it because now their inventory is simplified by using one socket. Fuck man, they can't supply AM2 chips as it is and you want them to supply 939?

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By encryptkeeper on 2/5/2007 3:42:30 PM , Rating: 2

I really wish they continue to make cheap 939 X2s

AMD can't adequately supply the channel as it is and you think they should have continued production on the 939 processors? That would be like saying Intel should have kept producing 478 Processors. I know there wasn't much performance increase on AM2 vs 939, but if there isn't a performance increase, quit whining and buy an Intel upgrade, or be happy with AM2 until AM3 comes out (since you'll be able to use AM3 processors with AM2 boards).

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By davegraham on 2/5/2007 4:03:56 PM , Rating: 2

I agree somewhat with your sentiments but, to be frank, it's been less of an issue server-side than desktop side. I've always been able to grab stock on Opteron 2000/8000 parts (since 8/2006) without any issue. :)

dave

Parent

RE: Old New Opterons

By JimFear on 2/6/2007 7:58:09 AM , Rating: 2

K8L = K8 Low Power = Turion

What we're wainting for is K10

Parent

Socket F (1207) Is Here To Stay

By jpeyton on 2/5/2007 6:28:11 PM , Rating: 2

I'm not sure what made you guys think AMD is going to abandon Socket F anytime soon.

Their roadmaps clearly show Socket F support until the beginning of 2009.

Socket 940/939 had a long lifespan as well.

If you guys want the definition of "greedy", look at Intel and how many times they try to push new chipsets.

When Socket T (775) was introduced by Intel, it was compatible with their Pentium 4 (Prescott) line. When Intel released the Pentium D (in the same Socket T package), it was coupled with a new chipset, meaning that your current Socket T motherboard wasn't compatible.

Then when Core 2 Duo came out (again, in the same Socket T package), it required another chipset yet again. Pentium D motherboards were not compatible.

Intel makes huge amounts of money charging a premium for their chipsets, so don't be surprised when you'll need a new motherboard when Penryn is launched.

On the other hand, AMD has publically stated that Barcelona will only require a BIOS update to run on current Socket F motherboards, and future CPUs will be backwards compatible.

RE: Socket F (1207) Is Here To Stay

By just4U on 2/6/2007 12:29:13 AM , Rating: 2

A quick note here on C2D.. even tho it's probably not all that relevant to all of you who are holding off. on either am2 or c2d.

I was in the proccess of rebuilding my two system's at home. I went with a dual core X2 3800 on one.. Was decent enough overall I liked it! I also decided to give Intel a go with their c2d's on the second system and went with a 6600.

You know .. I never actually expected it but I really noticed the difference from the X2. For me it was like moving from a older P4 to a A64. I was sorta stunned by that.

So since some of you have mentioned your holding off.. By the time you DO upgrade .. I can just imagine the increase your going to see.

By the way. DDR2 is evil. :( So many compatibility issues in the PC6400 line. The local shop I deal with carries a extensive line of memory modules and you can pretty much put a big X next to 80% of them as it does not work right with the board you choose. I don't know who's to blame but it sure makes things difficult.

Parent

RE: Socket F (1207) Is Here To Stay

By jpeyton on 2/6/2007 1:19:12 AM , Rating: 2

You will definitely notice a difference when you're comparing a $90 X2 3800+ to a $300 C2D E6600.

Parent

RE: Socket F (1207) Is Here To Stay

By coldpower27 on 2/6/2007 9:01:32 AM , Rating: 2

Since when was X2 3800+ 90USD? Were talking a 135USD vs a 316USD processors, and since the E6600 is about the 2.8GHZ X2 level there is a sufficient difference to notice.

Parent

RE: Socket F (1207) Is Here To Stay

By just4U on 2/6/2007 7:05:01 PM , Rating: 2

Actually the 3800+ X2 is over clocked, but that wasn't really my point.

I have the opportunity to work with alot of different ranged cpu's. To be perfectly honest while there is sometimes a noticable gain (depending upon the cpu ofcourse) it's not marked substantially. Let's be fair here...

It's much easier to see improvements on your new machine if you go back to your old one to note the differences.

With the C2D it was instant. I recognized the improvements in every area so it was significant... and I was not expecting that at all.

My point to my post tho was that if there was such a dramtic increase in the processor I use then for those of you that are holding off (as stated in your posts) for say another 6months to 2 years .. your really going to be surprised as I can just imagine how things can improve for both amd and intel by then.

Parent

a few clarifications...

By davegraham on 2/5/2007 12:06:27 PM , Rating: 2

1.) The picture shown is of a 2220SE "F2" stepping processor. Pictures will be updated tonite with an "F3" stepping processor. Just a quick note.
2.) The part # being released tomorrow is the OSA 2220, not the OSY 2220. the OSY (SE) part has been available since August of 2006.

cheers,

dave

RE: a few clarifications...

By crimson117 on 2/5/2007 2:07:51 PM , Rating: 2

Typo:

"AMD's FX 70-series motherboard will quiet happily accept Opteron processors"

should be

"AMD's FX 70-series motherboard will quite happily accept Opteron processors"

Parent

Good ol AGP Still

By Blood1 on 2/5/2007 4:16:46 PM , Rating: 2

I'm glad I'm sticking with my Socket A 2400Mhz system with my X850XT Still. Can't deal with buying another last model mother board and then it's discontinued next month again...
=)
I'm stilling with AGP for another year then maybe grab the latest and greatest..

RE: Good ol AGP Still

By THEREALJMAN73 on 2/6/2007 9:37:19 AM , Rating: 2

Your system will run almost anything on the market just fine. I wouldn't bother upgrading until you had too. Some of the newer DX10 games comming out will probably be too much for your rig but most of those are still a ways out from release.

Parent

"There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere." -- Isaac Asimov