Dell rolls out AMD quad-core servers; AMD lands VMware certification

AMD plans to announce Wednesday that Dell is offering five quad-core Opteron server platforms and that the chipmaker has received VMware certification.

Adding Dell to the fold brings the total number of OEM AMD quad-core systems to 13. Dell's AMD lineup is already surfaced on the PC maker's site, which details quad-core Opteron powered PowerEdge servers. Dell will support AMD quad-core Opterons on its PowerEdge SC1435, 2970, M605 blade server and 6950 platforms, as well as the PowerEdge T605 tower server.

Perhaps more importantly, VMware has completed the qualification of quad-core AMD Opterons. That move allows AMD to be more of a data center player in virtualized environments.

AMD could use the good news. AMD recently cut its first quarter outlook and outlined plans to eliminate 10 percent of its workforce. Meanwhile, AMD's CTO resigned.

In contrast, Intel delivered a solid first quarter that allayed a lot of fears about technology spending. Thus far, Intel is gaining at AMD's expense. It remains to be seen whether quad-core Opterons can thwart Intel's advance.