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Press Release: AMD's Multiprocessor Platform Receives Linux Software Certifications

Posted By Van Smith

Date: August 29, 2001

Key Linux distributors Caldera, MandrakeSoft, Red Hat, SuSE, and Turbolinux certify the AMD Athlon(tm) MP processor and the AMD-760(tm) MP chipset

SUNNYVALE, CA- AUGUST 29, 2001 - AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced that major Linux distributors Caldera, MandrakeSoft, Red Hat, SuSE, and Turbolinux have certified the AMD Athlon(tm) MP processor and the AMD-760(tm) MP chipset, AMD's multiprocessing platform for one- and two-way workstations and servers. This certification assures end users and computer manufacturers that AMD's multiprocessing platform has been thoroughly tested by the major Linux distributions.

"Certification of the AMD Athlon MP processor and AMD-760 MP chipset by the leading Linux distributions is a key element to help AMD expand its presence in the Linux workstation and server markets," said Richard Heye, vice president, Platform Engineering and Infrastructure for AMD's Computation Products Group. "These certifications demonstrate that business customers can take advantage of robust and reliable AMD Athlon MP processor-based workstation and server solutions running on the Linux operating system."

Based on the state-of-the-art AMD Athlon MP processor and the AMD-760 MP chipset, AMD's multiprocessing platform supports Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology and incorporates AMD's latest innovation, Smart MP technology.

About the AMD Athlon(tm) MP Processor

The AMD Athlon MP processor is a seventh-generation x86 processor designed for high- performance multiprocessing servers and workstations. It provides up to a 38 percent performance increase over widely available x86 multiprocessor-based systems on benchmarks such as WebBench, ServerBench and 3D Studio Max.

A key advantage of AMD's multiprocessing platform is Smart MP technology. It enhances overall platform performance by increasing data movement between the two CPUs, chipset and memory system. Smart MP technology features dual point-to-point, high-speed 266MHz system buses with Error Correcting Code
(ECC) support, designed to provide up to 2.1GB per second per CPU of bus bandwidth in a dual-processor system. Smart MP technology also has an optimized Modified Owner Exclusive Shared Invalid (MOESI) cache coherency protocol that manages data and memory traffic in a multiprocessing environment.

The AMD Athlon MP processor, with Socket A infrastructure and support for DDR memory technology, has a high performance, full-speed cache with hardware data pre-fetch, a fully pipelined superscalar floating point engine, and an exclusive L2 Translation Look-aside Buffer (TLB). It also incorporates 3DNow!(tm) Professional technology. 3DNow! Professional technology has 52 new instructions that extend AMD's 3DNow! technology, enabling smoother, richer and more lifelike images, more precise digital audio and an enriched Internet experience.

AMD Athlon MP processors are manufactured using AMD's 0.18-micron copper process technology at Fab 30 in Dresden, Germany.

About the AMD-760(tm) MP Chipset

The AMD-760 MP chipset, the world's first AMD Athlon multiprocessor chipset to support DDR memory technology, is AMD's high performance two-way multiprocessor core logic solution for the AMD Athlon MP processor. It consists of two chips -- the AMD-762(tm) system controller (northbridge) and the AMD-766(tm) peripheral bus controller (southbridge). The AMD-760 MP chipset unleashes the power of DDR memory technology, which, combined with other sophisticated core logic in data, memory and I/O control as well as system and power management, provides a powerful solution for server and workstation platforms. The AMD-760 MP chipset supports up to two AMD Athlon MP processors with independent 266MHz front side buses, as well as PC2100 DDR memory and AGP-4x graphics.

About AMD

AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Asia. AMD, a Fortune 500 and Standard & Poor's 500 company, produces microprocessors, flash memory devices, and support circuitry for communications and networking applications.

Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, California, AMD had revenues of $4.6 billion in 2000. (NYSE: AMD).

Visit AMD on the Web

For more AMD news and product information, please visit our virtual pressroom at www.amd.com/news/virtualpress/index.html. Additional press releases are available at www.amd.com/news/news.html.

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AMD, the AMD logo, AMD Athlon, 3DNow!, and combinations thereof, and AMD-760, AMD-762, AMD-766 are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other product names used in this publication are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.

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