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IBM ships 64Bit Processor eServer
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Tuesday, May 4, 2004
IBM today, introduced its eServer i5, the first systems to be powered by IBM’s 64-bit-capable Power5 MPU.
The move puts the company on the 64-bit playing field with companies like Intel, AMD and Sun Microsystems. As of now, IBM has not introduced a Power5 system at 64-bit. Instead, today's servers run at 32-bit, with IBM saying it has plans in the works to move up to the 64-bit level with the advanced MPU.
Why not start out of the gate with 64-bit? "64 is really for the high end," explained Balaram Sinharoy, chief scientist for Power5. "We look at the marketplace and see on the 64 end, particularly AIX, the machines we have out there are Power4-based. We still have the lead with Power4 and don't see the need to go [directly] to the high end. What we are doing now is announcing the entry level."
The chip, based on 0.13-micron copper wiring and SOI, follows IBM's Power4 and has 276 million transistors compared to its predecessor with 174 million. Power5 also adds IBM's simultaneous multi-threading, which turns a single processor into two processors -- bringing it to the 64-bit level -- and competes with the likes of Intel's HyperThreading technology.
"We see significantly more performance than other implementations of simultaneous multi-threading, like Intel HyperThreading. For commercial applications we are seeing typically 40 percent gains," Sinharoy said.
Running i5/OS, the next generation of OS/400, the new eServer i5 systems can integrate and run multiple operating systems simultaneously including i5/OS, Windows, Linux and AIX 5L. The server has the ability to run AIX 5L alongside eServer i5/OS to consolidate and manage UNIX solutions, IBM said. The exact number of operating systems that can be run depends on the system configuration, Sinharoy said.
The eServer i5 Model 520 -- one to two-way Power5 processors -- and eServer i5 Model 570 -- one to four-way Power5 processors featuring Capacity on Demand -- become available on June 11. The eServer i5 520 is available starting at $9,995, with the 570 is available starting at $85,200
The move puts the company on the 64-bit playing field with companies like Intel, AMD and Sun Microsystems. As of now, IBM has not introduced a Power5 system at 64-bit. Instead, today's servers run at 32-bit, with IBM saying it has plans in the works to move up to the 64-bit level with the advanced MPU.
Why not start out of the gate with 64-bit? "64 is really for the high end," explained Balaram Sinharoy, chief scientist for Power5. "We look at the marketplace and see on the 64 end, particularly AIX, the machines we have out there are Power4-based. We still have the lead with Power4 and don't see the need to go [directly] to the high end. What we are doing now is announcing the entry level."
The chip, based on 0.13-micron copper wiring and SOI, follows IBM's Power4 and has 276 million transistors compared to its predecessor with 174 million. Power5 also adds IBM's simultaneous multi-threading, which turns a single processor into two processors -- bringing it to the 64-bit level -- and competes with the likes of Intel's HyperThreading technology.
"We see significantly more performance than other implementations of simultaneous multi-threading, like Intel HyperThreading. For commercial applications we are seeing typically 40 percent gains," Sinharoy said.
Running i5/OS, the next generation of OS/400, the new eServer i5 systems can integrate and run multiple operating systems simultaneously including i5/OS, Windows, Linux and AIX 5L. The server has the ability to run AIX 5L alongside eServer i5/OS to consolidate and manage UNIX solutions, IBM said. The exact number of operating systems that can be run depends on the system configuration, Sinharoy said.
The eServer i5 Model 520 -- one to two-way Power5 processors -- and eServer i5 Model 570 -- one to four-way Power5 processors featuring Capacity on Demand -- become available on June 11. The eServer i5 520 is available starting at $9,995, with the 570 is available starting at $85,200
By: DocMemory
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