AMD Says Customers Want More Cores

Even despite seemingly differing opinions on the subject, Advanced Micro Devices seems to think that buyers of central processors actually do prefer to see more cores in their systems, at least as far as the Opteron series of CPUs is concerned.

Some time ago, AMD released not just 8-core, but also 12-core server microprocessors, which are especially adept at virtualization.

According to what X-bit Labs claims to have found out, it is easier to consolidate virtualization machines by using multi-core chips.

This is because customers have to run one virtualization machine per core, which means that a 12-core chip can actually allow a very high degree of consolidation.

Apparently, this actually enabled the 12-core chips to become more popular than the 8-core Opteron processors.

For those interested in a reminder, the “Magny-Cours” CPUs have either 8 or 12 cores and are designed for the AMD G34 “Maranello” platform.

This platform works with Opteron 6000 chips and boast quad-channel DDR3 memory and between 2 and 4 CPU sockets.

Apparently, this platform will be compatible with next-generation Bulldozer CPUs as well, further boosting the appeal of AMD's multi-core server chips.

"In looking through sales data for the first half of 2010, 12-core processors clearly outsold their 8-core counterparts – by a wide margin," said John Fruehe, director of product marketing for server/workstation products at AMD.

"I was expecting that there would be a slight bias towards the 12-core, but I figured there were plenty of applications where the extra clock speed of an 8-core might be popular,” he added.

“Apparently I was wrong, customers are voting with their budgets, and cores matter," he went on to saying.

"When it comes to core counts, our customers are sending a pretty clear signal to us: Cores Matter. That message is very good to hear because next year will see 16 total cores in our Bulldozer-based products," Mr. Fruehe reportedly concluded.