AMD grew its lineup of low-power server chips Monday with the launch of its new Opteron 6300 series.

The new processors are based on the chip maker's next-generation Piledriver architecture and, according to AMD, deliver up to 40 percent higher performance-per-watt compared with the prior-generation Opteron 6200 processors, making them ideal for handling the intense workloads of high-performance computing without compromising efficiency.

"One of the key elements behind the Opteron 6300, with the 16-core [Piledriver] architecture, is the ability to continue to meet ... very high-demand situations and, while you're doing that, you ... maintain energy efficiency," John Williams, vice president of server marketing and business development at AMD, told CRN.

[Related: AMD Eyes Tablet Market With New Z-60 APUs]

What's more, Williams said the new 6300 processors, which can reach base frequencies of up to 3.5GHz, will have an edge in the market because of their aggressive price point. Comparing the new Opteron 6380, one of the higher-end chips in the new 6300 series, to Intel's Xeon E5-6290, Williams emphasized that users can save over $1,000 by opting for AMD's 6380, while gaining the same or, in some use cases, even superior performance.

Specifically, AMD said the new Opteron 6380 starts at $1,088, compared to the $2,057 price tag on Intel's Xeon E5-6290.

"HPC is a place where AMD has had a significant focus over the years, and the 6300 series products provide a very compelling value proposition," Williams told CRN." We've got competitive performance. Some places we lead, some places we are right on par with the competition. But when you look at that top line, and you look at the price performance, that’s compelling -- a thousand dollars less per socket for what's typically a two-socket server."

The new Opteron 6300 series includes 10 different processors, ranging from $575 to $1,392 in price. The chips also range from having four to 16 cores. Williams said more than 30 servers featuring the new Opteron 6300 processors are being readied for release, including some from HP, Supermicro, and Dell.

The launch of the Opteron 6300 series comes just one week after AMD revealed a new partnership with U.K.-based chip licenser ARM, through which the two will collaborate to develop a new generation of 64-bit Opteron processors for launch in 2014. The new partnership represents the melding of two longtime rival chip architectures, in addition to AMD's growing focus on the server market.

The chip maker stressed earlier this month that it would start moving more aggressively into markets such as data center and mobility, in light of the weakening PC space. AMD also announced plans to lay off 15 percent of its workforce to slash operational costs and offset the financial blow it's been dealt from sluggish demand for its PC chips.

PUBLISHED NOV. 5, 2012