Dual-capability chipset a first for AMD

AMD has introduced its first multiprocessing-capable chipset and processors for one- and two-way servers and workstations, as the company aims to penetrate the commercial market.

AMD has introduced its first multiprocessing-capable chipset and processors for one- and two-way servers and workstations, as the company aims to penetrate the commercial market.

The AMD-760 MP is the company's first dual Athlon based chipset to support double data rate memory. It consists of two chips: the AMD-762 system controller (Northbridge), and the AMD-766 peripheral bus controller (Southbridge).

It supports up to two AMD Athlon MP processors with independent 266Mhz front-side buses and AGP 4x graphics.

The AMD Athlon MP is the company's seventh-generation x86 processor designed specifically for high-performance multiprocessing servers and workstations.

It is fabricated at 0.18 micron around AMD's standard socket A format, at frequencies of 1Ghz and 1.2Ghz.

AMD has also developed Smart MP, a programming technology designed to enhance overall platform performance by increasing data movement between the two processors and its chipset and memory system.

Available worldwide from more than 20 manufacturers this month, the Athlon MP processors are priced at $265 (£190) for 1.2Ghz and $215 for 1GHz frequencies, in 1000-unit quantities.

Prices for the AMD-760 MP chipset have yet to be announced.