Offering partners and customers another cost-effective way to benefit from the performance and efficiency of AMD Opteron processor technology, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) announced Tuesday a global AMD Opteron Upgrade Program. AMD has responded to challenging economic times for solution providers by enabling new revenue opportunities, while enhancing end-customer total cost of ownership (TCO).

The program includes 2000 series and 8000 series dual- and Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors along with the upcoming six-core processor codenamed “Istanbul”.

Channel partners and customers can receive up to a 35 percent discount in price, by upgrading the generation of their AMD Opteron processor, to provide an upgrade path to improve performance and energy efficiency within the data center without needing to replace and buy new systems.

“AMD Opteron processors have always provided exceptionally long life cycles and consistent platforms,” said John Fruehe, director, Business Development, AMD. “In the current economic environment customers are trying to stretch their IT budgets and to extend the life of their technology investments more than ever, all while improving performance and energy efficiency. This program offers a unique value to our partners and customers, particularly when you consider the enhancements to the 45nm Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor and upcoming six-core ‘Istanbul’ processor.”

Cluster and system builders like Rackable Systems and Cray have benefited from this program, with an increased demand for fast and seamless upgrades in the data center that can yield significant performance gains.

FDK Corp., a global electronic component and battery manufacturer, introduced Wednesday five new products to its DK Series of non-isolated point of load (POL) dc-dc converters.

The small, low profile converters deliver up to 6 Amperes (A) of output current at power densities up to 860Watts/cubic inch in an SMD package, and up to 4A of output current at power densities up to 760 Watts/cubic inch in a SIP package.

The converters have efficiencies up to 93 percent, and provide a power conversion solution, without the need for external input and output capacitors. Under natural convection, these new DK Series converters deliver the full rated output current with no derating in ambient temperatures up to 85 degrees Celsius in the SMD package, and up to 70 degrees Celsius in the SIP package.