US-based Advanced Micro Devices, the world's second-biggest microprocessor maker, introduced yesterday its first chips for the server computers that manage Web sites.
Twenty manufacturers including VA Linux Systems Inc and Maxdata AG -- all smaller companies whose brands aren't as well known -- will start selling systems using the new Athlon MP chips, Advanced Micro said.
But missing from the customer list were the world's biggest computer makers, such as IBM, Compaq Computer Corp, Hewlett-Packard Co or Gateway Inc.
Advanced Micro has stepped up its competition with Intel over the past year by shipping faster processors first, overhauling its laptop chips and now breaking into the server market.
The chips, called the Athlon MP, run at 1 gigahertz and 1.2GHz. The chips cost US$265 and US$215 each respectively, in volume shipments. The processors include features that help reduce power consumption by 20 percent.
"Today's event marks the third time in the past year that AMD has held a press conference here in Taipei," said Ed Ellett, vice president of work station and server marketing at Advanced Micro.
"For the record, I want the people and businesses of Taiwan to know that AMD comes here to make major product announcements for one simple reason -- because Taiwan's contributions are so critical to our success," he said.
"Now, as of today, AMD is competing in all markets -- desktop, mobile, workstations and servers," Ellet said.
In addition, the company yesterday launched a new chipset for use with the Athlon MP, the AMD-760 MP chipset.
Chipsets help vital organs of a computer communicate with each other, such as the processor and memory chips. The new chipset supports "double data rate," an open memory standard that is competing with Rambus to become the industry's preferred high-speed memory.
A number of Taiwanese firms are launching DDR memory chips this year, including Nanya Technology (
In addition, Taiwanese motherboard makers Asustek, Gigabyte and Micro Star will add products for AMD's new processor as well.
California-based Tyan Computer Corp, headed by Taiwan-born Symon Chang, built the first motherboard for AMD's new processor.
RSS