30925 Rev. 3.04 February 2004 Builder’s Guide for AMD Opteron™ Processor-
Based Servers and Workstations
Contents 3
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