Several analysts have published statements that Advanced Micro Devices will not be able to release its highly-anticipated quad-core chips on time after supercomputer maker Cray issued a warning that it may not get revenue from its quad-core microprocessor-based Cray XT4 systems in 2007. AMD was quick to deny such a possibility, however, many now expect AMD"s new chips to become massively available only in Q4 2007.
In early May the management of Cray Inc. issued a warning that if the company recognizes no product revenue from BlackWidow and quad-core Cray XT4 systems in 2007, Cray"s total revenue for 2007 would be less than $200 million. Cray"s XT4 systems are comprised of numerous processing elements (PEs), each of which is based on one AMD Opteron processor for uni-processor (UP) applications coupled with its own memory and dedicated communication resource.
Following Cray"s warning in early May, the company confirmed in early June that a "third party vendor" had notified it about a delay of certain volume shipments, which caused analysts and observers to blame AMD for inability to supply quad-core AMD Opteron processors code-named Budapest designed for UP systems.