AMD demos first dual-core processor

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) has demonstrated the company's first dual-core microprocessors at its Austin, Texas, office, the company said Tuesday.

Dual-core processors, set to hit the market next year, offer improved performance over single-core chips, especially in multithreaded applications.

AMD's demonstration included a Hewlett-Packard Co. Proliant DL585 server running four dual-core Opteron processors, the company said in a statement. An updated BIOS (Basic Input Output System) -- the interface between a computer's hardware and operating system -- was all that was required to get the 4-way server up and running with the dual-core chips, it said. The company did not provide further details of the demonstration.

The chips -- which contain two processor cores and 1M byte of Level 2 cache for each core -- use the same 940-pin socket used by AMD's single-core Opteron processors manufactured with a 90-nanometer process, according to information posted on the AMD's Web site.

This compatibility will allow HP, Sun Microsystems Inc. and IBM Corp. to incorporate dual-core Opterons in existing systems that are designed for the Opteron, AMD said.

In addition, users will be able to upgrade existing systems that are compatible with the 90-nanometer single-core processors to dual-core chips, it said.

The dual-core Opteron chips, which were produced using a 90-nanometer process, are expected to be available commerically by the middle of next year, AMD said. The company plans to make available dual-core chips that are designed to be used in servers running from one to eight processors, it said. The company did not disclose pricing information for the chips.

Dual-core processors designed for desktop PCs will be made available during the second half of 2005, AMD said.

AMD rival Intel Corp. also plans to make available a full range of dual-core processors in 2005.