Builders of AMD-based workstations and servers will be the first to get high-speed PCI Express graphics after nVidia's latest launch.

Following on from its PCI Express launches in the consumer sector last year, nVidia has announced the nForce Professional media and communications processors (MCPs), the first PCI Express core-logic solutions for AMD Opteron-based systems. The integrated chipset is targeted at entry-level servers, blade servers and workstations in the CAD, digital content creation and visualisation arena.

The new series consists of the nForce Professional 2200 and the 2050 MCP, an I/O companion chip. It offers full PCI Express support, with up to 80 lanes using a single 2200 MCP and multiple 2050 MCPs. It boasts native Gigabit Ethernet with TCP/IP hardware offload for faster networking and data processing, as well as native support for next-generation Serial ATA 3Gbps hard drives. It supports fault-tolerant storage designs and optimisations for cards based around nVidia's Quadro range of graphics chips.

"For the transition to PCI Express, nVidia is ready with the technology computing professionals require," claimed Drew Henry, general manager of platform business at nVidia. "This technology positions us to become a pre-eminent supplier of workstation platforms. We are pleased to be working with leading suppliers for their Opteron chip-based platforms."

The new processors have the support of IBM, which is one of the first vendors to commit to using them in its AMD-based IntelliStation workstations.

Bob Lenard, worldwide director of IBM IntelliStation workstations, said: "We are pleased nVidia is launching the first PCI Express product for AMD Opteron platforms. IBM and nVidia have a long workstation graphics relationship. We expect the nForce Professional products to be of the same high quality as the Quadro product."

Marty Seyer, general manager of the microprocessor business unit at AMD, said: "NVidia has long demonstrated its success in platform design, and the new nForce Professional MCPs continue that tradition. The combination of AMD Opteron processors with Direct Connect Architecture and nVidia nForce Professional provides the performance to handle the most demanding professional graphic accelerators and server I/O cards in 32bit and 64bit computing environments."

crn@vnu.co.uk