AMD OPTERON 30925 User manual

Builder’s Guide for
AMD Opteron™
Processor-Based
Servers and Workstations
Publication # 30925 Revision: 3.04
Issue Date: February 2004

© 2003, 2004 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.
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30925 Rev. 3.04 February 2004 Builder’s Guide for AMD Opteron™ Processor-
Based Servers and Workstations
Contents 3
Contents
Revision History...............................................................................................................................7
Chapter 1 AMD Opteron™ Processor Key Architectural Features.....................................9
1.1 The AMD64 Architecture..................................................................................................9
Chapter 2 Validated Server Program (VSP) .........................................................................11
2.1 Value Proposition ............................................................................................................11
2.2 Design Methodology for the VSP Platform.....................................................................11
2.3 Platform Description........................................................................................................12
2.3.1 Model A2210 1U/2P—Based on the AMD Opteron™ 200-Series Processor ........12
2.3.2 4U/4P Model A8440—Based on the AMD Opteron 800-Series Processor ............13
2.4 Not Yet a Member of VSP?.............................................................................................15
Chapter 3 AMD Opteron™ Processor-In-a-Box ..................................................................17
Chapter 4 Heatsink Installation..............................................................................................19
4.1 Heatsink Installation Procedure .......................................................................................19
Chapter 5 Hardware Considerations .....................................................................................29
5.1 System Enclosures and Chassis Selection .......................................................................29
5.1.1 Basic System Enclosure Selection Guidelines.........................................................29
5.1.2 Basic Chassis Selection Guidelines .........................................................................29
5.1.3 Power Supply Considerations..................................................................................30
5.2 Power Supply Guidelines.................................................................................................31
5.2.1 Server and Workstation Platform Power Supplies...................................................31
5.2.2 Calculating System Power Consumption.................................................................32
5.3 Thermal Solution .............................................................................................................34
5.3.1 AMD Opteron™ Processor Thermal Solution Guidelines ......................................34
5.3.2 Thermally Tested Populated Chassis Server Solutions for AMD Opteron
Processor..................................................................................................................34
5.4 Memory Guidelines for AMD Opteron Processor-Based Systems .................................35
5.5 AMD Opteron Processor Information .............................................................................35
5.6 AMD Chipset Information...............................................................................................37

Builder’s Guide for AMD Opteron™ Processor-Based
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30925 Rev. 3.04 February 2004
4 Contents
5.6.1 AMD-8000™ Series Chipset .................................................................................. 37
5.6.2 Graphics and Storage .............................................................................................. 38
5.7 AMD Opteron Processor Utilities and Updates .............................................................. 39
5.8 AMD-8000 Series Chipset Drivers ................................................................................. 39
Chapter 6 EMI Reduction Techniques.................................................................................. 43
6.1 EMI Emission Standards................................................................................................. 43
6.2 AMD Opteron Processor-Based System Builder EMI Reduction Techniques............... 43
Appendix A AMD Opteron™ Processor-Based System Build Procedure ........................... 47
Appendix B FAQs....................................................................................................................... 51
B.1 AMD Opteron™ Processor FAQs .................................................................................. 51
B.2 Validated Server Program FAQs..................................................................................... 53

30925 Rev. 3.04 February 2004 Builder’s Guide for AMD Opteron™ Processor-
Based Servers and Workstations
List of Figures 5
List of Figures
Figure 1. AMD Opteron™ Processor Architecture ...........................................................................9
Figure 2. Model A2210 1U/2P Rack Server....................................................................................13
Figure 3. Model A8440 4U/4P Rack Server....................................................................................14
Figure 4. AMD64 Processor-in-a-Box.............................................................................................17
Figure 5. Retention Frame and Backplate for the AMD Opteron Processor Heatsink....................19
Figure 6. Backplate Release Liner ...................................................................................................20
Figure 7. Motherboard Placed Over Backplate................................................................................20
Figure 8. Ensure Proper Contact Between Backplate and Motherboard .........................................21
Figure 9. Retention Frame Screw Holes Aligned with Backplate Standoffs...................................21
Figure 10. Tightening Down the Retention Frame ..........................................................................22
Figure 11. Alignment Markers on Processor and Motherboard ......................................................22
Figure 12. Pushing Gently Down on the Processor .........................................................................23
Figure 13. Plastic Cover Over Thermal Interface Material .............................................................23
Figure 14. Heatsink Centered Over Processor.................................................................................24
Figure 15. Heatsink Spring Clip ......................................................................................................24
Figure 16. Pushing Straight Down on the Clip................................................................................25
Figure 17. Correctly Installed Spring Clip.......................................................................................25
Figure 18. Turning the Cam Lever ..................................................................................................26
Figure 19. Cam Lever Locked into Retention Frame ......................................................................26
Figure 20. Installed Heatsink ...........................................................................................................27
Figure 21. Desirable Airflow—Power Supply with Bottom Inlet ...................................................30
Figure 22. Undesirable Airflow—Power Supply with Front Inlet Only .........................................31

Builder’s Guide for AMD Opteron™ Processor-Based
Servers and Workstations
30925 Rev. 3.04 February 2004
6 List of Tables
List of Tables
Table 1. Power Worksheet 1—Component Power ......................................................................... 32
Table 2. Power Worksheet 2—Total Watts..................................................................................... 33
Table 3. AMD Opteron™ Processor Series and Model Numbers .................................................. 36
Table 4. Microsoft®Drivers for the AMD-8000™ Series of Chipset Components ....................... 39
Table 5. Linux Drivers for the AMD-8000 Series of Chipset Components ................................... 41

30925 Rev. 3.04 February 2004 Builder’s Guide for AMD Opteron™ Processor-
Based Servers and Workstations
Revision History 7
Revision History
Date Revision Description
February 2004 3.04 Revised public release. Added EMEA contact information.
December 2003 3.00 Initial public release.

Builder’s Guide for AMD Opteron™ Processor-Based
Servers and Workstations
30925 Rev. 3.04 February 2004
8 Revision History

30925 Rev. 3.04 February 2004 Builder’s Guide for AMD Opteron™ Processor-
Based Servers and Workstations
Chapter 1 AMD Opteron™ Processor Key Architectural Features 9
Chapter 1 AMD Opteron™ Processor Key
Architectural Features
The key architectural features of an AMD Opteron™ processor-based system include AMD64
architecture, integrated DDR DRAM memory controller, HyperTransport™ technology, and many
other features.
Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the AMD Opteron processor architecture.
Figure 1. AMD Opteron™ Processor Architecture
1.1 The AMD64 Architecture
AMD64 architecture allows end users to run existing, installed 32-bit applications and operating
systems at peak performance, while providing a migration path that is 64-bit capable. It is
designed to enable 64-bit computing while remaining compatible with the vast x86 software
infrastructure. AMD64 architecture represents a new class of computing, enabling a single
architecture across 32- and 64-bit environments.

Builder’s Guide for AMD Opteron™ Processor-Based
Servers and Workstations
30925 Rev. 3.04 February 2004
10 AMD Opteron™ Processor Key Architectural Features Chapter 1
Integrated DDR DRAM Memory Controller
The 128-bit wide integrated DDR DRAM memory controller:
•changes the way the processor accesses main memory, resulting in increased bandwidth,
reduced memory latencies, and increased processor performance.
•allows available memory bandwidth to scale with the number of processors.
•can support up to eight registered DDR DIMMs per processor.
•has available memory bandwidth of up to 5.3 Gbytes/s (with PC2700) per processor.
HyperTransport™ Technology
The HyperTransport technology of the AMD64 architecture offers the following features:
•A scalable bandwidth interconnection between processors, I/O subsystems, and other chipsets
•Support for up to three coherent HyperTransport links, providing up to 19.2 Gbytes/s of peak
bandwidth per processor
•Up to 6.4 Gbytes/s bandwidth per link providing sufficient bandwidth for supporting new
interconnects including PCI-X, DDR, InfiniBand, and 10G Ethernet
•Low power consumption (1.2 W) to help reduce the system thermal budget
Other Features of the AMD Opteron™ Processor
Other features of the AMD Opteron processor include:
•64-bit wide key data and address paths that incorporate a 48-bit virtual address space and a
40-bit physical address space
•ECC (error correcting code) protection for L1 cache data, L2 cache data and tags, and DRAM
with hardware scrubbing of all ECC-protected arrays
•Lower thermal output levels and improved frequency scaling through .13 micron SOI (silicon-
on-insulator) process technology
•Support for all instructions necessary to be fully compatible with SSE2 technology
•Two additional pipeline stages (compared to AMD’s 32-bit architecture) for increased
performance and frequency scalability
•Higher IPC (instructions-per-clock) achieved through additional key features, such as larger
TLBs (translation lookaside buffer), flush filters, and enhanced branch prediction algorithms