Model Numbering

The new quad-core Opteron processors will continue to use the AMD Opteron model numbering scheme, which consists of a 4-digit number. The first digit tells you whether it supports multi-processor communications. The second digit tells you the generation of Opteron processor. All Opteron processors based on the Barcelona will have 3 as the second digit.

The last two digits tell you the relative performance between processors of the same generation. A higher number means better performance than a lower number. In addition, AMD will also tack on the postfixes of HE or SE at the end of the number to denote Energy Efficient or High Performance models.

Standard Opteron processors will not have these postfixes, but energy-efficient (low-power) SKUs will have the HE label while high-performance SKUs will be given the SE label.

The New Opteron Models

At launch, AMD has announced the following nine quad-core Opteron models for Socket F systems. Four of these are 8300-series multiprocessor-capable processors that support 8-way communications.

The final five processors are also multiprocessor-capable but they are of the 2300-series and only support 2-way communications.

Incidentally, ACP is short for Average CPU Power, which AMD defines as "power draw on all CPU power rails while running accurate and relevant commercially useful high utilization workloads". It's their way of telling us what the real world power draw (and thermal load) is for these processors. Of course, this depends greatly on the workload that these processors are subjected to.

Pricing

Here are AMD's official prices for all nine processors at launch date, in bulk quantities of course.

The two-processor 2300 series processors will cost anywhere from $209 up to $389. The 8300-series processors will cost much more, being priced from $698 up to $1019.