Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • PC Hardware

    Newisys to Use 64-Bit AMD Chip in Servers

    By
    eWEEK EDITORS
    -
    October 7, 2002
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      A startup is working on new architecture that will offer something not seen before in large enterprise-class servers—64-bit Opteron processors from Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

      Newisys Inc. is designing products ranging from two-processor, entry-level servers to 32-way, “big iron” systems that it plans to sell to major vendors, such as IBM and Dell Computer Corp., which would resell them under their brand names.

      Newisys CEO Phil Hester, former vice president of development for RS/6000 at IBM, said AMDs upcoming Opteron chip, due in the first half of next year, will win over customers. AMDs 64-bit Hammer architecture offers flexibility at a lower cost than Intel Corp. will be able to match with its 32-bit Xeon or 64-bit Itanium processors, Hester said.

      “The Hammer architecture and our system designs are aimed at price points more typical of todays 32-bit servers and thus will provide 64-bit capability essentially for free,” said Hester, who first learned about AMDs processors when he was chief technology officer for IBMs PC division in the late 90s.

      While AMD, of Sunnyvale, Calif., has largely been in Intels shadow for more than 20 years, Hester said the Opteron will bring AMD into the light. The Opteron will let users run existing 32-bit applications or more robust 64-bit software on the same platform, something no other server can match. Intels own history shows the wisdom of AMDs processor design, he said.

      “Back in the mid-80s, when Intel introduced the 32-bit 386, all the applications at that time were either 8-bit or 16-bit,” Hester said. “But since the 386 could also run those older applications, you saw a groundswell of support for it. The same will be true for Hammer.”

      Newisys plans to parallel the way Intel markets its enterprise processors by offering reference designs or “bare-bone boxes” to vendors, which they can add their branding to—along with additional hardware and software—and then resell.

      Major computer makers are sampling Newisys first product, a two-processor system due early next year, Hester said, although he declined to elaborate.

      Along with Hester, management and employees of Newisys, of Austin, Texas, were culled from IBM, Hewlett-Packard Co., Compaq Computer Corp. and Texas Instruments Inc.

      “These are folks with years of experience in designing enterprise-class systems, and I think most companies will seriously consider what they have to offer,” said Nathan Brookwood, an analyst at Insight 64, in Saratoga, Calif.

      HP, of Palo Alto, Calif., which co-developed Itanium, said it has no plans to use AMDs 64-bit chips. But one customer attending HP World in Los Angeles last month said hed be willing to buy such servers.

      “I think in the last three or four years, AMD has made some great improvements. I believe theyre almost equal to, if not equal to, the processors from Intel,” said David Newkirk, IT manager for the Producers-Writers Guilds Health and Pension Plan, in Burbank, Calif. “I have a couple of AMD boxes were testing now, and I havent seen any issues with them.”

      eWEEK EDITORS
      eWeek editors publish top thought leaders and leading experts in emerging technology across a wide variety of Enterprise B2B sectors. Our focus is providing actionable information for today’s technology decision makers.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×