In its latest torrential 'chip attack' on rival Intel, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has announced its intentions of launching five new 6-core Istanbul processors - three of which are aimed at 2P servers, and two are aimed at 4P/8P models.

Of the AMD Opteron HE and SE server microprocessors having six cores, or processors, on a single chip, the two new SE processors would largely cater to the performance-focused server environments; while the three HE processors would be more energy-efficient than the regular editions of the 2400 and 8400 6-core series.

For 2P servers, AMD now offers the 2.8 GHz, 105 watts 2439 SE; the 2.1 GHz, 55 watts 2425 HE; and the 2.0 GHz, 55 watts 2423 HE. Meanwhile, the offerings for the 4P/8P servers include the 2.8 GHz, 105 watts 8439 SE; and the 2.1 GHz, 55 watts 8425 HE.

So far as the costs of the new processors is concerned, AMD's new flagship model 8439 SE would cost $2649; and the 8425 HE will be priced at $1514; while the 2439 SE, the 2425 HE, and the 2423 HE cost $1019, $523, and $455 respectively.

The new processors from AMD indicate that the chip maker is expanding its product line and executing better; thereby keeping its pressure on its bigger rival Intel - more so with the tremendous response to Intel's Nehalem family of server processors this year!