AMD Battles For Server CPU Cred

Not long ago, when it came to server processors, AMD was a force to be reckoned with in the datacenter. But the chipmaker continues to remove marketplace share, and IT managers are broken up on either thecompany's Opteron line is a great gamble for their server platforms going forward.

Then, headlines final month that Oracle Corp. is in the marketplace for a fragment producer to accelerate itsserver hardware section usually updated doubt and doubt about the prospects for Advanced MicroDevices Inc. server processor supplier. Analysts think that Oracle could buy AMD, IBM'schip division, or Nvidia.

Certainly, AMD's server business has seen improved days. At its summit " the second entertain of 2006-- AMD had 25.9% of the worldwide marketplace for server processors, according to IDC. For the mostrecent quarter, AMD had 6.5% marketplace share, down from 10.1% the year before.

But that dropoff has more to do with the loiter between comparison processor models (code-named"Shanghai," and "Istanbul") and the new "Magny Cours" platform, mentioned Shane Rau, IDC researchdirector for computing, networking and storage semiconductors. "I design that AMD will collect upmarket share in Q3 2010 formed on shipments from OEMs similar to Dell," Rau mentioned in an email toSearchDataCenter.com.

Pining for Nehalem How sufficient share AMD can pick up waste to be seen, and longtime AMD shops have eyed the exits.

In 2006, Boston Market Crop. began shopping AMD-based Hewlett-Packard Co. servers. Back then, AMDperformance was on standard with Intel's, and the chips got great reviews. "It was a matter of personalpreference," mentioned Eric Siebert, a network director at the firm.