AMD Details Native Quad-core Design Features for Breakthrough Performance and Advanced Power Efficiencies



    AMD (NYSE: AMD) today unveiled more industry-defining
    architectural features for its upcoming native Quad-Core AMD
    Opteron(TM) processors (codenamed "Barcelona") during a presentation
    to the International Solid State Circuits Conference (ISSCC). In
    addition to the estimated 40-percent performance advantage native
    Quad-Core AMD Opteron(TM) processors can offer over the competition in
    benchmark testing, AMD's redesigned microarchitecture will enable new
    power- and thermal-management techniques, strengthening the
    industry-leading performance-per-watt AMD Opteron processors currently
    deliver today. Among the new features are enhancements to AMD
    PowerNow!(TM) technology for dynamic adjustment of individual core
    frequencies.

    "AMD has always focused on delivering increased levels of
    performance without making compromises in power efficiency," said
    Randy Allen, corporate vice president, Server and Workstation
    Division, AMD. "'Barcelona' will build on this value proposition while
    delivering industry-changing dynamics to the x86 server market, much
    like the original AMD Opteron processor did in 2003. New power
    management features, unique to the x86 market, combined with
    industry-leading performance and stability, make it clear why AMD
    remains the smarter choice for enterprises."

    Optimum Power Consumption

    AMD is taking a multi-pronged approach to enabling reduced
    system-level power consumption for exceptional performance and low
    energy costs. Enhancements to AMD PowerNow!(TM) technology will enable
    systems based on native Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors to
    dynamically adjust frequencies at the individual core level for
    further power consumption reductions.

    Another new power management enhancement leverages AMD's Direct
    Connect Architecture and integrated memory controller by enabling
    "Barcelona" processor cores to reduce voltage levels even while the
    memory controller runs at full speed. This enables the memory
    controller to service external memory requests independent from core
    p-state transitions, thus enabling p-state opportunities which can
    lead to additional power savings.

    The system memory interface also includes a feature that powers
    down memory logic when not in use. AMD has also made extensive use of
    "clock gating" in the "Barcelona" design to enable automatic shut-down
    of areas of logic not being utilized for further power savings.

    "Today's IT system purchasers must weigh performance-per-watt as
    well as raw performance as they make their buying decisions," noted
    Nathan Brookwood, Research Fellow at Insight 64. "By doubling the
    number of cores, adding a shared third level cache and applying a
    variety of other extensive CPU design enhancements, AMD's 'Barcelona'
    designers clearly have addressed the numerator in the
    performance-per-watt equation. Today's ISSCC disclosures reveal
    'Barcelona' also includes innovations such as the ability to vary each
    CPU core's frequency independently, along with a number of proven
    energy-saving techniques like 'clock-gating' that address the
    denominator in the equation. The combination of these new performance
    and power-saving features should drive a dramatic improvement in the
    already strong performance-per-watt AMD Opteron processor-based
    systems offer today."

    Upcoming native Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors are designed for
    the same power infrastructure AMD customers depend on today - 68, 95
    and 120 Watt thermal envelopes.

    Optimum Performance Levels

    While special attention was paid to the power-saving design
    features in native Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors, equal emphasis
    was placed on delivering industry-leading performance. Quad-Core AMD
    Opteron processors are packed with core and cache enhancements
    designed to improve performance on a range of server and workstation
    applications. Cache-sensitive transactional applications such as Web,
    database and email servers can benefit from the addition of a 2MB
    shared L3 cache. Simulations conducted in AMD laboratories indicate
    that certain database applications will see performance improvements
    up to 70 percent and certain floating point applications will
    experience performance gains of up to 40 percent over platforms
    powered by current dual-core AMD Opteron processors. High-performance
    computing (HPC) applications can benefit tremendously from a doubling
    of Barcelona's floating-point execution pipeline to 128-bit width,
    which includes an AMD-only doubling of instruction and data delivery
    capabilities. Finally, through enhancements to AMD Virtualization(TM)
    (AMD-V(TM)), including Nested Paging, virtualization customers can
    enjoy additional application performance improvements over non AMD-V
    driven applications.

    Availability

    Quad-Core AMD Opteron Processors are expected to be available in
    mid-2007.

    About AMD

    Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is a leading global provider of
    innovative processing solutions in the computing, graphics and
    consumer electronics markets. AMD is dedicated to driving open
    innovation, choice and industry growth by delivering superior
    customer-centric solutions that empower consumers and businesses
    worldwide. For more information, visit www.amd.com.

    Cautionary Statement

    This release contains forward-looking statements regarding AMD's
    product introduction schedule and the features and specifications of
    future quad-core processor products, which are made pursuant to the
    safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
    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 will not achieve its
    current product introduction schedule and that customer adoption and
    infrastructure support of quad-core AMD64 processors 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
    for the year ended December 25, 2005 and AMD's quarterly report on
    Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 1, 2006.

    AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Opteron, AMD PowerNow! and
    combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks
    of their respective owners.