AMD's Istanbul chip is a breakthrough
AMD can't say it, but Istanbul, its six-core, 45-nanometer processor, is ready. (Officially, it's set to be launched in the second half of this year).
Istanbul is a drop-in replacement for the quad-core Shanghai, meaning that existing AMD servers can get a 50% boost in workload capacity per square foot, per BTU, per decibel, per kilowatt.
Istanbul is destined to become the immediate darling of high-performance computing clusters, science and technology, research, entertainment, and high-end shops that want an affordable, secure, broadly scalable, future-proof architecture. In the current climate where smaller IT budgets must be allocated with far greater care, wise strategy requires taking cues from shops that impose the highest standards on their equipment.
