AMD starts shipping the first 16-core Opteron 6200 CPUs (codenamed Interlagos), aiming at the high-end server market asking for density, multithreading and processor efficiency. 

The company says the 16-core Opteron processors are 25-30% faster than the 12-core versions while using around 50% less power per core, running at 1.6-2.6GHz and with power consumptions of around 85-140W. 

Using Bulldozer cores, AMD also claims the chips provide 73% better memory bandidth and will provide a 66% increase in floor space. 

HP, Acer, Dell, IBM and Cray should Read more...

After spending much of 2011 going through reorganisation (slashing business units and jobs in the process) Cisco delivers "a solid quarter" in Q1 2011 according to CEO John Chambers. 

Cisco Q1 2011 revenue growth exceeds analyst estimates, reaching $11.3BN and 5% Y-o-Y growth. Net income falls by -8% Y-o-Y to reach $1.8BN, even if the company predicts revenue growth of 5-7% for the next quarter. 

Cisco announced the reorganisation effort back in July 2011, stripping down most consumer units (including the Flip video camera and Umi videoconferencing Read more...

HP decides on a fate for the HP Personal Systems Group-- the unit will remain part of the company after all.

The spin-off option will never happen either, as HP (and new CEO Meg Whitman) realises the value of remaining in the PC business.

The HP PSG was put on sale last August as one of the last decisions by non-hardware loving ex-CEO Léo Apotheker, who wanted to turn HP into an IBM-alike, selling hardware and software to enterprise clients.

Even when going through such uncertain times, the HP PC business still grew in market share during the Read more...

HP and ARM licensee Calxeda start making way into the server business with Project Moonshoot-- a server design carrying the EnergyCore ARM system-on-chip (SOC) which the companies claim slashes power and space requirements by up to 90%. 

The Calxeda design consists of an "EnergyCard"-- a reference design hosting x4 EnergyCore SoCs on a single daughterboard, together wtih x4 DIMM slots and x4 SATA ports. Calxeda says the processor "consumes as little as 1.5W per SoC," with peak consumptions (when equipped with x4 cores, integrated on-chip fabric Read more...

Avaya announces it will recognise and reward the "most loyal and dynamic partners" in EMEA by launching new channel initiatives within the Avaya Connect program. 

Additions to the program include a "Partner in Customer Excellence" designation-- highlighting channel partners achieving higher scores in customer satisfaction surveys in the Avaya Partner Locator. 

Meanwhile a benchmarking tool will help partners compare themselves against similar partners and industry averages, delivering personalised reports with insights on strengths and weaknesses.  Read more...

IBM names Virginia Rometty president and CEO, starting from January 1st 2012-- the first female leader for the 101-year old giant, and one of a few women heading a major corporation.

Rometty succeeds Sam Palmisano (who will remain at the company as chairman) and is current head of sales, marketing and strategy. In a career with IBM spanning over 30 years (joining IBM in 1981) she headed the business services unit, as well as a number of sales and marketing roles. 

Described as a "close lieutenant" to Palmisano, Rometty took part in the 2002 PwC consulting Read more...