AMD recently showed off its coming Istanbul six-core server processor that is built using 45nm process. The processor is currently scheduled to launch in the second half of the year and AMD expects the CPU to be the only six-core processor available for two and four socket systems and higher.

The worlds number two chipmaker demonstrated a live and seamless upgrade process from a system using 45nm quad-core Opteron parts to the new Istanbul parts. This was done to show that the new parts are thermally and socket compatible with existing AMD servers in the field.

Using the new Istanbul processors users will be able to build servers with 12, 24, or 48 cores per server. An AMD blog post about the demo said, "Despite putting more cores in the processor, we managed to keep it in the same power and thermal ranges as our existing "Shanghai" processors. And since it fits into the same socket, our OEM customers should be able to bring products to the market quickly. End users will be able to quickly qualify and deploy these servers because the overall platform is the same as what they are using. In today's challenging economic times, that's music to the ears of IT departments both near, and as far away as Turkey."

Via AMD