Opteron

computer chip

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Last updated

July 17, 2026

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The Opteron was a server chip developed by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Released in 2003, it was a significant innovation in AMD's competition with Intel. The Opteron was designed for servers and high-performance computing, contributing to AMD's efforts to challenge Intel's dominance in the microprocessor market. This chip was part of AMD's broader strategy to innovate and expand its product offerings, including its acquisition of ATI Technologies for graphics expertise. The Opteron was also used in some supercomputers, such as IBM's Roadrunner, which was the first machine to exceed one petaflop in speed.12

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Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
2000–2019: Innovation, competition, and corporate restructuring
…continued to innovate, releasing the Opteron server chip in 2003 and acquiring ATI Technologies in 2006 to add graphics expertise. But product delays and heavy spending eroded AMD’s competitiveness, and the company recorded a string of losses. In July 2008, after seven consecutive losing quarters, Ruiz was replaced by Dirk…
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…continued to innovate, releasing the Opteron server chip in 2003 and acquiring ATI Technologies in 2006 to add graphics expertise. But product delays and heavy spending eroded AMD’s competitiveness, and the company recorded a string of losses. In July 2008, after seven consecutive losing quarters, Ruiz was replaced by Dirk…
Read More