AMD Announces AMD Opteron and AMD Athlon MP Processor Support for Windows Server 2003; Enterprise customers to benefit from easy-to-manage, high-performance server environments.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 2003

AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced AMD Opteron(TM) and AMD Athlon(TM) MP processor support for 32-bit Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Server 2003 operating systems. With AMD Opteron and AMD Athlon MP processors and Windows Server 2003 platforms, customers can experience enhanced 32-bit performance to power enterprise applications and networks.

AMD Opteron processor-based servers, which natively support both 32- and 64-bit systems and applications, and Windows Server 2003 are powerful extensions of the familiar and widely used x86 environment. Information technology and system managers can easily scale and implement AMD's 32- and 64-bit processors and Microsoft's server operating system into the most demanding enterprise computing environments.

The AMD Opteron processor for servers and workstations, which extends the x86 instruction set architecture (ISA) to 64-bit computing for the first time, is also the first processor in a new class of computing called AMD64. AMD64 directly follows the evolutionary path of the industry-standard x86 ISA, allowing development of a unified 64-bit computing infrastructure fully compatible with the pervasive x86 architecture.

"Microsoft Windows Server 2003 running on AMD Opteron and AMD Athlon MP processors will enable customers to maximize existing investments and leverage the largest IT ecosystem while enhancing server performance and scalability," said Marty Seyer, vice president and general manager of AMD's Microprocessor Business Unit. "AMD Opteron processors will deliver industry-leading 32-bit performance in the near term, while providing a simplified migration path to the power of 64-bit computing with future versions of the Windows Server operating system."

"Windows Server 2003 optimized in 32-bit mode for AMD Opteron processors shows the flexibility of AMD's 64-bit technology -- offering immediate, uncompromising 32-bit application support, and the ability for customers to scale to 64-bit system software and applications when it makes sense for their businesses," said Kevin Krewell, senior analyst, PC processors, with In-Stat/MDR.

AMD introduced its 32- and 64-bit compatible AMD Opteron processors for servers and workstations on April 22, 2003. With AMD Opteron processor-based servers and Windows Server 2003, customers can optimize enterprise server application performance including databases, data warehousing, HPC and ERP programs as well as high-end workstation applications for digital content creation and scientific computing.

"Windows Server 2003 is the platform of choice for AMD Opteron," said Bob Ellsworth, Director, Windows Server Product Management Group at Microsoft Corporation. "Windows Server 2003 has already established itself as the leading platform for performance and scalability, and when it is combined with the power and flexibility of the AMD Opteron processor, our mutual customers will enjoy terrific price-performance and long-term investment protection."

About the AMD Opteron(TM) Processor

The AMD Opteron processor is based on AMD's eighth-generation processor core, and marks the introduction of the industry's first 64-bit, x86 technology implementation. This technology is designed to preserve companies' investments in 32-bit applications, while allowing a seamless transition to 64-bit computing as those companies require. The AMD Opteron processor is designed to deliver high-performance server and workstation solutions for today's most demanding enterprise applications. The processor is designed to be scalable, reliable and compatible, which can result in lower total cost of ownership. Key AMD Opteron processor innovations include an integrated memory controller, which reduces memory bottlenecks, and HyperTransport(TM) technology, which increases overall performance by removing or reducing I/O bottlenecks, increasing bandwidth and reducing latency.

About the AMD Athlon(TM) MP Processor

The AMD Athlon(TM) MP processor is an x86 processor designed for multiprocessing servers and workstations in environments that require high performance, compatibility and reliability.

Leading corporations use AMD Athlon MP processors to increase productivity in areas such as oil and gas exploration, Web-hosting services and motion picture rendering. In addition, many of the world's most prestigious universities use AMD Athlon MP processors in superclusters for compute-intensive research applications.

Key features include Smart MP technology providing increased data movement, QuantiSpeed(TM) architecture offering a high-performance, full-speed cache with hardware data pre-fetch, and 3DNow!(TM) Professional technology, enabling smoother, richer and more lifelike images, more precise digital audio and an enriched Internet experience.

The AMD Athlon MP processor is compatible with AMD's stable Socket A infrastructure and supports DDR memory technology. It is manufactured using AMD's 0.13 micron copper processor technology in Fab 30 in Dresden, Germany.

About AMD

Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, California, AMD (NYSE: AMD) is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Asia. AMD, a Standard & Poor's 500 company, produces microprocessors, Flash memory devices, and silicon-based solutions for communications and networking applications.

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Cautionary Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally preceded by words such as "plans," "expects," "believes," "anticipates" or "intends." Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements in this release involve risks and uncertainty that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Risks include the possibility that the AMD Opteron(TM) processor will not perform pursuant to design specifications, will not achieve customer and/or market acceptance, and that third parties will not provide infrastructure solutions to support AMD64 processors, including a 64-bit version of the Microsoft Windows Server operating system. We urge investors to review in detail the risks and uncertainties in the company's filings with the United States Securities Exchange Commission.

AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Athlon, AMD Opteron, and combinations thereof, QuantiSpeed, and 3DNow! are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. HyperTransport is a licensed trademark of the HyperTransport Technology Consortium. Other company and product names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.