AMD Sets the 64-Bit Gold Standard for Industrial Light & Magic and LucasArts New Presidio Facility

-- Digital Artists Break Free at Lucasfilm Ltd.'s New Letterman Digital Arts Center Using AMD64 Technology Inside the Entertainment Industry's Largest and Most Powerful Computing Network

At Siggraph in Los Angeles today, AMD (NYSE:AMD) announced thatthe digital backbone of the new 23-acre Letterman Digital Arts Centercampus of Lucasfilm Ltd. is being powered by AMD64 processortechnology.

At the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in the heart of SanFrancisco's historic Presidio, Lucasfilm Ltd. is relocating IndustrialLight & Magic, the world's leading visual effects house, andLucasArts, the producer of some of the year's top-selling game titlesto the new Letterman Digital Arts Center. Within the Letterman DigitalArts Center is a massive AMD64-based data center housing a renderfarm, file servers and storage systems, allowing computers to processdata 24 hours a day, seven days a week to create astounding visualimages for movies and games. The data center is capable of processingmore than 150 terabytes of data per day.

The AMD64-based computer network at the Letterman Digital ArtsCenter takes advantage of the superior architecture and high 32- and64-bit performance of the AMD Opteron(TM) processor. At the center,digital artists have the capability similar to working on a live movieset, only "virtually" and can collaborate internally throughout thecampus as well as with movie and game creators anywhere in the world.

"There is a big expectation from our clients who come to us whenthey think they have something that can't be done," said Cliff Plumer,chief technology officer at Lucasfilm. "We chose AMD64 technologybecause it was the only enterprise-class solution with an easymigration path to 64-bit computing that allows our digital artists tobreak free from the creative limitations of traditional technology andcontinue advancing digital imagery to unprecedented heights."

The power of AMD64 technology with Direct Connect Architecture inthe hands of digital artists at Lucasfilm increases efficiencies inthe production pipeline while raising the quality level of finishedwork. One artist can now perform multiple tasks that in the past wouldhave required six to a dozen artists.

"The quality of work and morale goes up when our artists have morecreative input and the freedom to experiment and are able to push thecomplexity level. Our clients are a lot happier when we deliverhigh-quality work more efficiently," continued Plumer. "We look forvendors like AMD who thrive on challenges, who like to be innovativeand who like to push the technology envelope. AMD has been right therebeside us pushing the technology to achieve things that haven't beenseen before by our audiences."

"As the processor innovator setting new quality standards, it'sextremely important for us to work with the very best like Lucasfilm,the company that invented the visual effects industry," said CharlieBoswell, director of Digital Media and Entertainment at AMD. "It'ssimply impossible to replicate the ILM and LucasArts environmentinside our laboratories as they continue to push the technology beyondwhat anyone thought was capable. What we learn by working closely withLucasfilm makes AMD and our products better. One of the benefits thatexcites us most is that next-generation artists have access to thesame AMD64 technology the top pros are using in their studios that isavailable at your local PC retailer."

About AMD64

AMD64 technology evolves the industry-standard 32-bit x86architecture to support the demanding 64-bit environment and enablesnext-generation functionality and productivity today. AMD designed theAMD64 platform to allow end users to enjoy reliable, best-in-classperformance on the 32-bit software they own today while preparing fora seamless transition to high-performance 64-bit applications. DirectConnect Architecture helps eliminate the bottlenecks inherent in afront-side bus by directly connecting the processors, the memorycontroller and the I/O to the central processor unit to enableimproved overall system performance and efficiency. Today, more thanhalf the Forbes Global 100 or their affiliates, representing theworld's most competitive industries, now rely on AMD64technology-based systems to run their enterprise applications andbreak free to new levels of performance. Since the introduction of theAMD64 architecture in 2003, AMD processors have earned more than 80awards for innovation and performance and the support of more than2,000 OEMs, hardware and software developers, system builders, anddistributors.

About AMD

AMD (NYSE:AMD) designs and produces innovative microprocessors,Flash memory devices and low-power processor solutions for thecomputer, communications and consumer electronics industries. AMD isdedicated to delivering standards-based, customer-focused solutionsfor technology users, ranging from enterprises and governments toindividual consumers. For more information visit www.amd.com.

AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Opteron and combinations thereof, aretrademarks of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Other names are forinformational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respectiveowners.