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Instant Insight |
Additional details of the System p5 announcement include:: ◊ The
System p5 570 set a record for transaction processing performance in a sixteen-core
system, delivering 1,025,169 tpmC on the ◊ The
System p5 185 Express is available as a desk side or rack mount form factor. Customers
can choose from thousands of AIX or Linux applications, as well as ◊ The
System p5 510 Express is ◊ The
System p5 510Q Express offers the Quad-Core Module to provide four-core
performance in the same package as the two-core p5-510. The system is
designed for application or server consolidation and medium to large
transactional applications as well as multi-threaded high-performance ◊ The
System p5 520 Express and System p5 520Q Express deliver 90% faster
performance over their predecessor—the ◊ The System p5 560Q Express offers customers up to four- or eight-core POWER5+ scalability with the ability to upgrade to sixteen-core. ◊ The System p5 Express servers are available in special, pre-configured AIX 5L Editions and OpenPower Editions for Linux environments and can be configured to run both concurrently. ◊ The System p5 575 server sixteen-core is available with 100 GFLOPS/node for computationally demanding applications and up to 256 GB of memory, with less than 200 GBps memory bandwidth. The system offers just under 1 TeraFLOP per footprint and includes an optional Rear Door Heat Exchanger, designed to reduce heat emissions by up to 55%. The System p5 575 server eight-core is available with just under 25 GBps of memory bandwidth per processor. ◊ Pricing/Availability Net/Net To say that Big Blue released a couple of new servers would be a substantial understatement. There are many configurations represented here and several that have achieved some leapfrogging of performance metrics over the competition. As we have said before, the leapfrogging of benchmarks is a short-lived victory, so enjoy the moment, but be aware of competitors preparing to make the same jump. Nevertheless, we find much worthy in this announcement. With all of the talk about dual core this, dual core that,
it is not surprising to see much of this announcement focused on the merits
of the quad core module, dual duallies (to steal a
Texan trucking term), if you will, but a substantial consideration
nonetheless. The performance levels that are being achieved here are
noteworthy, but also the reality that this is being done at lower clock
rates, which can lower (but not eliminate) heat dissipation concerns. The Rear
Door Heat Exchanger option on the p5 575 illustrates that heat is still a
factor in server design. The market in general has been gushing aplenty with
respect to dual core and performance in the x86 segment, but it is important
to remember that the concept of multi-core predates Intel’s initiatives, and
Big Blue is no stranger to the advantages of the approach. However, the
conflicting usage of how to count multiprocessing solutions causes FUD
especially when comparisons between Technology itself aside, the inclusion of the quad core
modules into the Express line of services illustrates that to So with all of this in mind, we see the p5 as a family of
systems with several worthy enhancements, some jaw-dropping performance, and new
quad-core techno fun, but most importantly with a mission of sustainable
price performance to customers at all scales of engagement. We are pleased to
see the p5 being positioned as a top-dog high-end UNIX solution but also are
seeing its merits as a compelling Linux platform for the mid- and entry-level
markets being acknowledged as well. For those who a few years back declared |