AMD Starts New Partner Program

Advanced Micro Devices, the world’s second-largest producer of microprocessors, announced that it has started a new partner program that will test and validate products made with the company’s AMD64 technology.

The AMD Validated Solutions program was formally launched on Oct. 2 and company officers talked about the program extensively at the IT Channel Vision conference in Phoenix.

Ron Meyers, the division manager of AVS (AMD Validated Solutions), told The Channel Insider that the new program helps bring several existing programs under one umbrella.

“The key to this is that it sets a foundation for systems builders. That way they know what to expect,” Meyers said.

The AVS program will first focus on testing and validating the technology used in desktop motherboards. Later, probably in the first half of 2007, AMD will include its server platforms.

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So far, several desktop motherboards that leverage AMD Commercial Stable Image Platform chips have been validated and will be supported by the AVS program.

“These motherboards, now available for order through distribution, leverage the CSIP chip sets from Nvidia Corporation and ATI Technologies, delivering socket AM2 platforms with a defined 15-month stability period that began on Sept. 1, 2006,” the company said in a statement about the AVS program.

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Meyers declined to discuss specific dollar amounts, but he said AMD had placed a “substantial” amount of resources and internal infrastructure behind the program.

The partner program will also include Web- and telephone-based support for solution providers as well as training and marketing opportunities.

“What we wanted to do was to create a solid foundation that our solution providers can build from,” Meyers said. “We always want a strong relationship with the channel and that was a critical part of starting this new program.”