Sun Announces New AMD-Based Product Line

Transfan76 writes "Today Sun Microsystems has officially announced an alliance with AMD. They "have formed an alliance to deliver a broad range of AMD Opteron[tm] processor-based systems, Sun also announced it plans to offer its Java Enterprise System on the AMD Opteron processor and is significantly extending the reach of its Solaris Operating System (OS) and leadership in the 64-bit space." You can read the official press release from Sun here. And the AMD release here." We previously reported rumored plans to this effect a few days back.

Comments

Sun also announces 0.5-1m desktop win in China

[ChrisRijk]

Register article

Along with the Opteron systems, Sun announced a big win for its Java Desktop System. The Chinese government will roll out 500,000 to one million PCs with the software over the next year.

"This, I believe makes us the number one Linux player on the planet," McNealy said. "The goal is to reach the Chinese government's goal of 500 million alternative desktops, and you can decide what alternative means."

Re:AMD SPARC?

[southpolesammy]

SPARC is an open specification. Nothing's stopping them from doing it now, except perhaps ROI.

Reported by Slashdot?

[szquirrel]

We previously reported rumored plans to this effect a few days back.

Where "previously reported" means "we linked to the article on news.com".

Credit where credit is due?

Re:Why AMD?

[Hoser McMoose]

Could be because the Opteron is one of the fastest chip in the world at executing Java code right now, and that's when running in IA-32 (aka 32-bit x86) mode?

Check out the results for SPEC JBB2000. On a per-processor basis, AMD's Opteron chips are second only to Intel/HP Itanium2 based systems, and the Opterons are quite a bit cheaper. Actually, when combined with the new x48 Opteron chips announced alongside the Sun deal, AMD should make up most of the current 8% difference between the two chips.

So, they get better performance than anything IBM has to offer (even the full-fledged Power4 can't match the Opteron in Java if the above test is to be believed) and a much lower price tag than what Intel is looking for. Seems like a pretty good choice if you ask me.

HP to intro Athlon 64 desktop today

[whig]

According to the Inquirer:

AMD IS LIKELY to get a boost from Hewlett Packard today, with reports saying the firm will start selling a Presario 8000Z as soon as Wednesday.

According to the report on cnet.mp3.com, HP will offer a variety of different options with the desktop, which will be available in retail this week.

The machine, the report says, is just one of a family of Athlon 64 desktops HP will sell, and costs $1,239 for a basic machine.

But HP won't start using the Athlon FX - a sort of Opteron - for a little while, it appears. If and when it does, it will be offered as a gaming machine.

The announcement is a boost for AMD, coupled with Sun's expected endorsement of its Opteron microprocessors today.