AMD Opteron 850

The AMD Opteron 850 is a server/workstation processor in AMD’s Opteron line. It uses the K8 architecture with the SledgeHammer codename and belongs to the Opteron (SledgeHammer (CG)) generation. The chip has one core and one thread, a base clock of 2.40, no boost clock, and a 130 nm process node. It is specified for AMD Socket 940, with a dual-channel memory bus, no ECC memory support, and a PCIe generation of Gen 2. The part is end-of-life, and the database records no benchmark submissions and no nearest rivals.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data for the Opteron 850 is effectively empty. The benchmarks array has no entries, and the average benchmark score is 0. The percentile field relative to all CPUs reads 50, which places the processor at the midpoint of the database population. Without measured scores, the zero average cannot be read as a statement of performance; it is a record of absence. There is no boost clock figure to establish a maximum operating point, so the only clock reference in the data is the 2.40 base clock.

The single-core, single-thread configuration means the Opteron 850 is oriented toward workloads that do not scale across multiple cores. In such a profile, cache capacity can matter more than concurrency, and the Opteron 850 carries 128 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache. No L3 cache is listed, so all on-chip cache is confined to those two levels. The absence of benchmark scores also means that no performance percentage can be attached to this processor relative to any other CPU. The 50th percentile is a neutral data point in a database where no nearest-rival deltas exist.

Interpreted strictly, the data says that the processor exists as a database subject and that its score record is blank. The K8 architecture and 130 nm process node explain the underlying technology generation, but they are not performance measurements. A single-threaded processor with no boost clock and no recorded benchmark submissions cannot be placed on a speed ranking from this dataset. The only numeric performance-related fields are the 0 average score and the 50th percentile, and both must be read with that limitation in mind.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals field for the Opteron 850 is empty. This is a significant absence: the database provides no rival names, scores, or deltaPct values for this part. Consequently, a percentage-based comparison against competitors cannot be constructed. The only position marker available is the 50th percentile among all CPUs in the database. That percentile is a relative rank, but without comparator names it carries no directional meaning.

The data does not indicate that the Opteron 850 is faster than half of all CPUs or slower than the other half, because a percentile against all CPUs is not the same as a head-to-head benchmark result. The nearestRivals list has no other entries, meaning there are no closest competing models defined for this page. In the absence of nearest rivals, every other processor in the database is effectively outside the comparison set. The Opteron 850 therefore occupies an isolated position in the database: defined by its own specifications, but not by measured performance relative to peers.

This is consistent with the empty benchmarks array, but it limits the analytical value of the page for users seeking direct competitive evaluation. The 50th percentile and zero average score are the only numeric performance-related fields, and both must be interpreted with that limitation in mind. No deltaPct values exist to quantify a lead or deficit against a named competitor. The comparative picture is therefore one of missing data rather than measured equivalence.

Platform and Compatibility

The Opteron 850 is specified for AMD Socket 940. This socket is the mechanical and electrical interface recorded for the processor. The memory bus is dual-channel, meaning the platform can access two memory channels; however, the data does not list specific memory support types or memory bandwidth figures. ECC memory support is false, so error-correcting memory is not enabled according to the database.

The expansion interface is PCIe Gen 2. The architecture is K8, with the codename SledgeHammer and the generation name Opteron (SledgeHammer (CG)). The process node is 130 nm, with 106 million transistors on a 193 mm² die. The cache hierarchy consists of 128 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache listed. There is no integrated graphics listed. The multiplier is locked, so the CPU clock multiplier cannot be adjusted by the user. The part number is OSA850CEP5AV.

The production status is end-of-life, and the release date is 2004-05-17. Because the status is end-of-life, the platform is not an active forward-looking server investment. The data does not enumerate same-socket alternatives, so an upgrade path within Socket 940 cannot be quantified. The K8 generation and SledgeHammer codename indicate the architectural generation, while the locked multiplier limits the flexibility found on unlocked parts. For a server/workstation environment, the compatibility picture is defined by the dedicated socket, dual-channel memory bus, and PCIe Gen 2 connectivity.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the AMD Opteron 850 use?

A: It uses AMD Socket 940.

Q: What is the processor’s architecture and codename?

A: It uses the K8 architecture, with the codename SledgeHammer and the generation Opteron (SledgeHammer (CG)).

Q: How much cache does the Opteron 850 have?

A: It has 128 KB of L1 cache and 1 MB of L2 cache; no L3 cache is listed.

Q: Does the Opteron 850 support ECC memory?

A: No. The data records ECC memory support as false.

Q: What is the production status and release date?

A: The production status is end-of-life, and the release date is 2004-05-17.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: No, the multiplier is locked.

Power and Thermals

The Opteron 850 has a TDP of 89. This is the thermal design power value recorded in the data, and it defines the cooling class for the processor. With one core, one thread, and a 130 nm process node, the thermal load is that of a single-core server/workstation part. The physical characteristics of the chip are also relevant: 106 million transistors on a 193 mm² die.

No boost clock is listed, so the processor does not have a second, higher operating point in the data. The absence of a boost clock means the thermal envelope does not need to accommodate a boost state beyond the 2.40 base clock. The memory bus and PCIe interface also affect platform power, but they are not quantified in the TDP figure. A cooling solution appropriate for an 89 W TDP class processor would be required; the data does not specify a cooler.

Because no integrated graphics is listed, the thermal contribution of graphics hardware is not part of this chip’s power picture. For a server chassis, the 89 W class is modest, and the end-of-life status means thermal validation and cooler availability are historical rather than current. The key number for power and thermals is the 89 W TDP, with the architecture and process node providing context.