AMD demos 'Istanbul' server processor

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has announced that it recently completed live
public demonstrations of its upcoming six-core 45nm AMD Opteron processor,
codenamed 'Istanbul'. Scheduled to launch in the second half of this year,
Istanbul is expected to be the only x86 six-core processor available for two and
four-socket systems and higher.

The demonstration featured a live, seamless upgrade of a system based on 45nm
Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors to Istanbul processors. Istanbul is socket and
thermal-compatible with currently shipping AMD Opteron processor-based systems.
The AMD consistent platform approach helps reduce qualification times for OEMs
and solution providers, while giving end-users the opportunity to upgrade their
existing systems.