At the Supercomputing 2006 show recently held in Florida, AMD (NYSE: AMD) introduced the world's first dedicated stream processor designed to meet the specific hardware demands of high-performance computing (HPC) applications.

Engineered specifically for compute-only systems such as workstations and servers, the AMD Stream Processor makes use of AMD's new thin hardware interface called CTM to drive substantial performance gains in areas such as financial analysis, seismic migration analysis, and life sciences research, among others.

Stream computing leverages sophisticated massively parallel processors generally used to calculate and render millions of pixels onto computer monitors, hundreds of times each second for 3D graphics applications. It harnesses that tremendous processing power for a wide range of scientific, business and consumer computing applications, providing organizations the ability to process incredible amounts of information in significantly less time. The AMD Stream Processor is the first hardware of its kind dedicated to addressing stream computing problems in the enterprise space.

Using professional-grade technology derived from AMD's Graphics Product Group, the AMD Stream Processor is a PCI Express-based add-in board designed with higher memory densities than any consumer graphics card - a full 1 GB of GDDR3 memory for stream computing applications. The processor also features HPC-optimized memory performance designed to best handle unique stream computing problem sets.

"AMD stream computing represents a bold, new direction for high performance computing," said Tom Barton, CEO of Rackable Systems. "By leveraging the AMD Stream Processor, Rackable Systems will be able to deliver a new class of stream servers in familiar form factors that maximize performance and reduce costs. We are excited by the prospects of using stream computing to create application-specific platforms that offer improved price/performance."

"Stream computing is in line with our Torrenza initiative, delivering on AMD's vision for co-processing and open innovation," said Marty Seyer, senior vice president, Computational Product Group, AMD. "AMD recognizes that HPC applications have specific hardware demands not met by standard, off-the-shelf graphics products. The AMD Stream Processor has been designed to address the HPC market with higher memory densities and HPC-optimized memory performance. The AMD Stream Processor embodies the perfect platform to run today's stream computing applications."