Opteron Implementation Options
This content was originally featured on Amdmb.com and has been converted to PC Perspective’s website. Some color changes and flaws may appear.
Here we see a few of the implementation options that AMD has shown us. Because of the flexibility of the HyperTransport technology, there are many, many options that we could show you here, but these are some of the more general cases. (Note in these diagrams the UDMA should actually read UDMA133 not UDMA100.)2P Entry-Level Server Implementation
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This diagram shows the dual-processor (2P) entry-level server based on the AMD Opteron processor. This type of setup could also be used in the blade servers that you may have seen that allow many servers to operate in a very small area. We see that the two Opteron processors are communicating via a dedicated HT tunnel and each have their own banks of DDR memory. The AMD-8111 I/O hub is linked off of one of the Opterons with an 800 MB/s tunnel and this gives the system nearly all the functionality of a current-day computer.
2P Value Server Implementation
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This is a more robust server option also based around two of the AMD Opteron processors. The main change from the previous entry-level implementation is the addition of the AMD-8131 PCI-X tunnel adding the PCI-X standard into the system. Notice how easily it is to add new tunnels and components to the system design here. The ability for HyperTransport to allow these “chains” of components will enable the enterprise solution providers to offer a more exact system for a given server need.
4-way Server Implementation
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By far the most impressive of the setups shown here, the 4-way server implementation shows four of the AMD Opteron processors working together and connected by 6.4 GB/s HT tunnels. Also, each of the four processors is using two sets of memory to take advantage of the dual-channel DDR memory support of the integrated memory controller on the Opteron processor. This will allow for a much larger amount of memory to be installed in servers that require it for enterprise solutions yet still maintain the speed we are all used to seeing from DDR memory. The AMD-8131 PCI-X tunnel is also using its full capabilities with two PCI-X bridges running at two different speeds, in use by slots, Ethernet and SCSI adaptors. The AMD-8111 I/O tunnel is also used to supply the server with the legacy support of PCI graphics, USB and more.
High Performance Workstation Implementation
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Finally, we are left with the high-performance workstation implementation of the AMD Opteron processor. Here we are seeing a similar setup, but with the addition of the AMD-8151 AGP3.0 Graphics tunnel. Once again you are seeing the ability for the Hammer line of processors and systems to change to fit any need.
