AMD Announces Initiatives to Elevate AMD64 as Platform for System- and Industry-Wide Innovation.SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, www.amd.com) A major manufacturer of semiconductor devices including x86-compatible CPUs, embedded processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices and networking chips. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :AMD): --Announcements Include Next-Generation Architecture Roadmap, System-Level Technology Advancements, Manufacturing and Process Updates, High-Performance Enthusiast Platform --Major Industry Partners Align With AMD Vision, Showcase Solutions Based on AMD Platforms Building on its innovation leadership, partner support and customer success, AMD (NYSE:AMD) today announced a wide breadth of initiatives targeted at extending its leadership across multiple facets of the computing ecosystem. AMD released details around its next-generation microprocessor architecture; system-level technology initiatives that are designed to enable greater interoperability and value-added design opportunities for partners using AMD platforms; and advances in AMD's innovative manufacturing and process technologies. Additionally, AMD announced its plans for a new high-performance enthusiast platform. These announcements underscore AMD's track record of and focus on delivering the right technologies at the right time for the market. "In 2003, AMD started down a path to reinventing the microprocessor industry with the introduction of our AMD64 architecture," said Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Hector Ruiz. "And with unprecedented customer and market momentum, we are accelerating on that path with game-changing strategies to expand our capacity, extend our system-level performance and performance-per-watt leadership, and provide a simpler, more open and 'innovation-friendly' x86-based platform to those who want to collaborate in the development of differentiated, customer-centric solutions. Today's announcements represent AMD's future -- and a view into the great global corporation we are well on our way to creating." President and COO Dirk Meyer Dirk Meyer was co-architect of the DEC Alpha 21064 and 21264 microprocessors. He also worked at Intel in its microprocessor design group. He joined AMD in 1996, where he personally led the team that designed and developed the AMD Athlon processor. said, "While we are extremely gratified grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. by the customer acceptance and market success we have enjoyed, considering the environment in which we are competing, we remain focused and are steadily and methodically executing against our business goals. The advancements announced today demonstrate truly exceptional technology leadership in every aspect of our business. With the help of our partners and customers, we will accelerate our pace of innovation and maintain AMD's leadership." AMD's announcements covered a wide array of technologies and markets, including server, desktop and mobile computing Using a computing device while in transit. Mobile computing implies wireless transmission, but wireless transmission does not necessarily imply mobile computing. Fixed wireless applications use satellites, radio systems and lasers to transmit between permanent objects such as buildings and from silicon to software. Key industry partners, including Alienware, Cray, HP, Rackable Systems, Sun Microsystems Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAVA[3]) is an American vendor of computers, computer components, computer software, and information-technology services, founded on 24 February 1982. and VMware, participated with AMD executives in an analyst event to underscore the significance of AMD's initiatives to the broader computing ecosystem. New Enthusiast Platform Building on AMD's already recognized leadership among PC enthusiasts, AMD also announced plans for a new enthusiast platform codenamed "4x4" that will extend AMD's long-standing commitment to those consumers who demand the highest-performing PCs. The 4x4 platform features a four-core, multi-socket processor configuration uniquely possible via AMD's Direct Connect Architecture. The 4X4 platform will be designed to be upgraded to eight total processor cores when AMD launches quad-core processors in 2007. Project 4x4 represents system-level enthusiast enhancements and is designed for ultimate multi-tasking performance across gaming, digital video, processor-intensive and heavily threaded applications. Architectural Leadership Chief Technology Officer Phil Hester outlined AMD's primary design directions for the future, and reiterated the company's commitment to system-wide innovation based on close collaboration with customers and partners. Hester unveiled AMD's next-generation architecture for server and desktop processors, a new chip design for future mobile platforms, and AMD's updated processor and platform technology roadmaps. --AMD's next-generation architecture for servers, workstations and desktops is planned to debut in mid-2007, and is expected to extend AMD's leadership in platform performance-per-watt as well as its leadership in critical enterprise application performance. Products will include a quad-core design for servers, workstations and high-end desktops, and a dual-core design intended for mainstream desktop markets. These next generation processors will be built using AMD's advanced 65nm Silicon-on-Insulator process, and include a broad range of functionality and micro-architectural improvements, including a unique new ability to dynamically alter the frequency of each core on the chip to match application workloads and thereby reduce overall power consumption. As a result, AMD expects to increase the performance-per-watt of today's AMD Opteron(TM) processor-powered servers by approximately 60 percent through 2007, and by approximately 150 percent through 2008. --AMD's new mobile design is planned for the second half of 2007, and includes key architectural advancements allowing for increased power efficiency and battery life in AMD processor-powered mobile platforms. One improvement increases the ability for future AMD dual-core mobile chips to dynamically power one or both cores on or off, and subsequently throttle the chip's HyperTransport(TM) technology bandwidth, depending on the notebook's current state and running applications. In demonstration of AMD's open and collaborative approach to innovation, Senior Vice President, Commercial Segment Marty Seyer detailed three complementary strategic initiatives designed to accelerate industry-wide innovation on the AMD64 platform. --"Torrenza" represents the industry's first open, customer-centric x86 innovation platform, capitalizing on the Direct Connect Architecture and HyperTransport advantages of the AMD64 architecture to enable other processor and hardware providers to innovate within a common ecosystem. "Torrenza" will enable a global innovation community to develop and deploy application-specific co-processors to work alongside AMD processors in multi-socket systems. Seyer declared the first phase of "Torrenza" nearly complete via an earlier HyperTransport investment that enabled partner silicon chipsets. The next phase, announced today, will entail licensing of coherent HyperTransport to members of a global ecosystem; developments already in progress include support for an HTX HTX HyperTransport (high speed low latency chip to chip interlink) HTX Højere Teknisk Eksamen (Danish Technical College) HTX Hungarian Traded Index HTX Hemothorax HTX human tumor xenograft expansion slot A receptacle inside a computer or other electronic system that accepts a printed circuit board. The number of slots determines future expansion. See PC data buses. (hardware) expansion slot - A connector in a computer into which an expansion card can be plugged. . Through "Torrenza," AMD gives OEMs new abilities to differentiate server and client systems through innovation on the AMD64 platform. --"Trinity" is AMD's strategy to uniquely link, through an open approach, security, virtualization An umbrella term for enhancing a computer's ability to do work. Following are the ways virtualization is used. Hardware Virtualization Partitioning the computer's memory into separate and isolated "virtual machines" simulates multiple machines within one physical computer. and manageability technologies. "Trinity" is intended to enable greater flexibility and reduced costs associated with managing, securing and scaling commercial client and server platforms. Through "Trinity," AMD will provide open and extensible software tools to OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and partners, providing a framework for enhanced IT platform management and security. Elements of "Trinity" were available in recently announced socket AM2 client platforms, with additional roll-outs expected this year. --A project codenamed "Raiden" will build on "Trinity" to reinvent re·in·vent tr.v. re·in·vent·ed, re·in·vent·ing, re·in·vents 1. To make over completely: "She reinvented Indian cooking to fit a Western kitchen and a Western larder" the commercial client experience. "Raiden" is intended to enable platforms designed to improve IT efficiency without compromising the expected end-user experience. "Raiden" will shift the focus from physical client computing (1) Running a program in a user's machine. (2) Using thin clients in a network. See thin client. to the delivery of client services with new levels of manageability and security. "Raiden" will support traditional PC clients, as well as new form factors inspired by such industry dynamics as software-as-a-service delivery models. AMD is collaborating with hardware and software ecosystem leaders to deliver these solutions to the commercial user base. Manufacturing and Process Technology Leadership AMD also updated its manufacturing and process technology direction -- building on the earlier news this week of the company's newest fabrication fabrication (fab´rikā´sh n the construction or making of a restoration. facility through a major transformation of its Dresden-based Fab 30, which will be converted to 300mm production in 2007 and named Fab 38. Also today, AMD demonstrated 65nm products from its newest Fab 36 facility in Dresden, using 65nm process technology jointly developed by a team of AMD and IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) engineers in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of as part of AMD and IBM's successful process development and research collaboration. AMD also announced that its transition to 45nm technology is accelerating. AMD's plan is to begin initial volume production of 45nm 18 months after initial 65nm production, currently anticipated to be in the mid-2008 time frame. AMD's state-of-the-art facilities use the company's patented Automated Precision Manufacturing (APM (Advanced Power Management) A programming interface (API) from Intel and Microsoft for battery-powered computers that lets programs communicate power requirements to slow down and speed up components. See ACPI. APM - Advanced Power Management ) and Continuous Technology Improvement (CTI (Computer Telephone Integration) Combining data with voice systems in order to enhance telephone services. For example, automatic number identification (ANI) allows a caller's records to be retrieved from the database while the call is routed to the appropriate party. ) capabilities to enable a rapid transition to new technology generations and quickly achieve mature yields. AMD's focus on speed, accuracy, agility and efficiency via APM is being enhanced through the adoption of a lean philosophy to microprocessor manufacturing. This approach allows AMD to extend the benefits of APM to enhance processes, reduce waste and accelerate time-to-market for our customers. About AMD Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE:AMD) is a leading global provider of innovative microprocessor solutions for computing, communications and consumer electronics markets. Founded in 1969, AMD is dedicated to delivering superior computing solutions based on customer needs that empower users worldwide. For more information visit www.amd.com. Cautionary Statement This release contains forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. , which are made pursuant to the safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements in this release involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's current expectations. Risks include the possibility that the company may not achieve its planned product and technology introduction schedules; that solutions providers will not provide the infrastructure to support the company's planned products and technology in a timely fashion or that the adoption of AMD64-based infrastructure technologies by OEMs will not occur as expected. We urge investors to review in detail the risks and uncertainties in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the year ended December 25, 2005 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. for the quarter ended March 26, 2006. AMD, the AMD Arrow, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. HyperTransport is a licensed trademark of the HyperTransport Consortium The HyperTransport Consortium is an industry consortium responsible for specifying and promoting the computer bus technology called HyperTransport. It is led by founding members Advanced Micro Devices, Alliance Semiconductor, Apple Computer, Broadcom Corporation, Cisco Systems, . Other names are for information purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. |
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