| | Complementary Technologies | | |
Direct Connect Architecture
Direct Connect Architecture is the cornerstone of AMD64. Direct Connect Architecture helps eliminate the bottlenecks inherent in a front-side bus, instead directly connecting the processors, the memory controller, and the I/O to the CPU, improving overall system performance and efficiency.
Across the AMD64 platform, Direct Connect Architecture:
- Addresses and helps reduce the real challenges and bottlenecks of system architectures
- Directly connects memory to the CPU, optimizing memory performance
- Directly connects I/O to the CPU for more balanced I/O
- Directly connects CPUs to CPUs facilitating more linear symmetrical processing
Security
AMD64 processors feature Enhanced Virus Protection, which when combined with Microsoft® Windows® XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), helps prevent damage from certain viruses, worms, and Trojan horses by causing them to become localized, short-lived, and non-contagious. It does this by distinguishing malicious code from regular data. Malicious code is moved to a portion of system memory set aside as “data only” so it cannot be executed.
Among other benefits, AMD Enhanced Virus Protection technology:
- Protects mission-critical applications and valuable personal and business data against viruses like MSBlaster and Slammer, worms, and Trojan horses
- Enables users to surf the Internet with confidence, knowing they have an extra level of protection against harmful web downloads
- Helps prevent the spread of network viruses to other systems
- Minimizes the total cost of ownership of AMD64 processor-based systems
- Works in both 32-bit and 64-bit environments, delivering protection today and into the future
Power Management
With AMD PowerNow!™ technology and AMD’s Cool’n’Quiet technology, AMD offers the industry’s most sophisticated power management solutions across its AMD64 platform.
AMD PowerNow! technology is available on systems built on the AMD Opteron™ processor, the Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64 processor, and AMD Turion™ 64 mobile technology. First introduced to help increase battery life on notebooks, AMD PowerNow! technology invisibly and continuously adjusts a processor’s operating frequency and voltage according to the task at hand. One moment it reduces power consumption, while the next it can boost power consumption in response to increased workload demands. Benefits of AMD PowerNow! technology include:
- Up to 75% reduced CPU power at idle
- Performance on demand
- Cooler, quieter operation during all but the most demanding tasks
- Increased battery life for mobile computing
AMD’s Cool’n’Quiet™ technology is available throughout the AMD Athlon™ 64 processor line. Operating according to similar principles as AMD PowerNow! technology, benefits of Cool’n’Quiet technology include:
- Proven power savings over non-equipped computers of up to 35 watts
- Cooler, quieter operation during all but the most demanding tasks
- ENERGY STAR® Certificate of Recognition for advancing computer energy efficiency, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
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