The Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors aim to help to minimise overall server power consumption and cooling requirements.

The Dual-Core AMD Opteron processor Model 885 designed for up to eight-way/16-core enterprise-class servers and Model 285 designed for high performance two-way/four-core workstations and servers are immediately available.

The Model 185 for one-way/two-core servers and workstations is expected to be available within 30 days.

All three models are said to deliver the highest performance available for x86 servers and power consumption remains within AMD's standard thermal envelope.

AMD integrates two AMD Opteron processor cores onto a single die, allowing them to communicate at full processor speed, says Randy Allen, corporate vice-president, Server and Workstation Division, AMD.

That means Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors are the only native dual-core x86 systems available today for customers who want efficient solutions for their data centres.

In addition to offering native dual-core technology, the AMD Opteron processor is designed to help to deliver significant savings for enterprise data centres.

Dual-Core AMD Opteron processors are said to offer significant performance gains while operating in the same power and thermal infrastructure as single-core AMD Opteron processors.

This means fewer servers can do the job of many, to lower overall operating costs, the company says.

AMD PowerNow! technology with Optimized Power Management can increase those savings even further because it enables servers and workstations to dynamically power down processors, based on usage, AMD adds.