AMD announced general availability of the AMD Opteron 100 Series processors that now feature error-correcting code (ECC) unbuffered memory support. Based on overwhelming customer demand in an increasing number of critical markets for one-way servers and workstations, AMD is expanding the types of memory supported by the AMD Opteron 100 Series processors. This new type of memory support is now the standard for the 100 Series.

AMD will continue to deliver AMD Opteron 100 Series processors using registered memory to existing customers that require them; including customers who are designing high-end products based on the AMD64 embedded processor roadmap.
Sun Microsystems, the first to use the new AMD Opteron 100 Series with ECC unbuffered memory support, recently, announced the Sun Ultra 20 Workstation, based on the new processors. The Sun Ultra 20 Workstation entered the marketplace with a new world record result on OCUS benchmark, a performance measurement of graphics oriented MCAD application - Pro/ENGINEER-based on results published at http://www.proesite.com, as of June 27, 2005. The new 64-bit workstation also established a world record on EnSight 8.0 benchmark that is used to gauge the performance of identically named engineering visualization application-based on results published at http://www.ensight.com/products/performance.html , as of July 27, 2005. Sun's Ultra 20 Workstation has easily surpassed the competing Intel-based systems from other hardware vendors.

ECC unbuffered memory support will also extend to the Dual-Core AMD Opteron 100 Series processors, expected to be available within the next 30 days. Additionally, AMD plans to support ECC unbuffered memory on future AMD Opteron 100 Series processors designed for DDR2 and other emerging memory technologies.
With a simple BIOS update, AMD Opteron 100 Series supporting ECC unbuffered memory will use the existing AMD 939-pin package. Infrastructure partners including Supermicro Computer, Inc. and Tyan Computer Corporation already support this package and are the first to offer motherboards enabling true server solutions based on the new AMD Opteron 100 Series processors. Processors in the AMD Opteron 200 and 800 Series will continue to utilize Socket 940 which is validated for the registered memory configuration required by these processors.

The new AMD Opteron 100 Series processors with ECC unbuffered memory support offer a compelling price/performance ratio, beginning with Model 144, priced at US$125 in 1,000-unit quantities, and scaling to Model 152, priced at US$799 in 1,000-unit quantities. Dual-Core AMD Opteron 100 Series processors with ECC unbuffered memory support, ranging from Model 165 at US$417 to Model 175 at US$530 for 1,000-unit quantities, are expected to be available within 30 days.