After delays, setbacks, and the coming and going of the infamous TLB erratum, AMD has triumphantly announced that servers based on its quad-core Opteron processors are finally available. AMD names HP's ProLiant G5 servers as "the first of many systems" that are coming in the next few weeks from global server makers and system integrators, and it says a total of eight platforms are already available.

The G5 lineup from HP includes two-socket ProLiant DL385 G5 servers, four-socket ProLiant DL585 G5 servers, and four-socket ProLiant BL685c blades. AMD claims those three servers have set new performance records for SPECfp_rate20061, TPC-C Price/tpmC2 tests, and SPECfp_rate20063 benchmarks, respectively.In addition, AMD says an "extensive selection" of quad-core Opteron-based platforms is available from its channel partners, such as distributors, system integrators, and specialized server makers. In total, ten platforms certified under AMD's Validated Server Program are currently shipping. Appro, CDW, Rackable Systems, Supermicro, SYNNEX are among the firms offering quad-core Opteron solutions.