IBM offers low power consumption server offering
IBM announced it is extending its line of AMD Opteron processor-based blade and system servers. The servers offer energy-smart business performance computing solutions that optimize power consumption at the chip, systems and software levels.
The portfolio of five IBM systems and blades is based on the next generation of AMD Opteron processors and is targeted to business performance computing with such applications as business intelligence and enterprise resource planning. IBM claims the systems can offer up to 21 per cent greater performance within the same power envelope as previous generations.
The systems utilize IBM’s Enterprise X-Architecture to bring mainframe-inspired capabilities and technology to the company’s x86 portfolio. Key innovations in today’s systems include:
- “snap-in” scalable blade server that allows customers to snap in an additional two socket AMD blade to the first —quickly doubling processing capacity.
- IBM Xcelerated Memory Technology to remove bottlenecks and to speed access to memory.
The IBM System x and BladeCenter products released include:
- BladeCenter LS41, an enterprise-class scalable two-way to four-way blade; designed for ERP, data marts, data warehouses, databases and HPC clusters.
- BladeCenter LS21, an enterprise-class two-way blade optimized for performance computing; ideal for financial services, scientific, high performance computing, databases.
- System x3755, designed for mid-market and large enterprise customers, ideal for scientific computing, such as weather simulations and crash test analysis.
- System x3655, a business performance server, ideal for database/ERP, business intelligence, IPTV and Video on Demand applications.
- System x3455, a high performance compute node, ideal for scientific and technical computing, database and Linux clusters.
Product availability and pricing will be announced with the availability of the Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors, planned for the third quarter of 2006.
Lexmark unveils colour laser line
Lexmark Canada Inc. introduced a workgroup colour laser printer series, the Lexmark C770 line, for business customers needing a fast colour printer that can handle a variety of media.
The Lexmark C770 family includes the Lexmark C770n and C772n colour laser printers, offering printing speeds of up to 25 pages per minute in both monochrome and colour, the Lexmark C770 family offers an 800 MHz processor to complete complex jobs quickly. Networking is also standard on all models so that one printer can be shared by a large workgroup.
The Lexmark C770 line is capable of printing colour documents, brochures and signage with customers having the ability to print documents up to 48-inch banners on media ranging from glossy card stock to vinyl labels.
The Lexmark C770n can handle up to 1,100 sheets of input and will be available for an estimated street price of $1,199. Customers can purchase either 6,000-page or 10,000-page aftermarket toner cartridges for the printer.
For customers that anticipate higher print volumes, the Lexmark C772n offers a 15,000-page toner cartridge to give customers a lower cost per page. Customers who purchase a Lexmark C772n can also add extra paper handling options for up to 3,100 sheets of total input and have the option to upgrade the printer to a multifunction product at a later date by purchasing a modular scanner. The Lexmark C772n will be available for an estimated street price of $1,899.
The Lexmark C770n and C772n are available immediately through Lexmark’s channel partners.
Nvidia introduces Quadro Plex, featuring multi-GPUs
Nvidia Corp. introduced the Nvidia Quadro Plex 1000, a dedicated Visual Computing System (VCS).
The Nvidia Quadro Plex offers scalability in a sleek desktop or dense 3U rackmount configuration for demanding professional applications such as those powering multiple streams of 4K high-definition video, 3D styling and design, scientific and medical visualization, oil and gas exploration, or visual simulation and training.
Featuring Nvidia SLI multi-GPU technology, the Nvidia Quadro Plex is an external visual compute system delivering density of up to 20 times when compared to traditional GPU solutions, performance of up to 80-billion pixels/sec and seven billion vertices/sec, resolutions as high as 148 megapixels on 16 synchronized digital-output channels and eight HD SDI channels and scalability offering multiple configurations ranging from a single system to a cluster to further scale system ability.
Nvidia Quadro Plex 1000 is compatible with a set of x86 32- and 64-bit Intel and AMD processors running Windows and Linux operating systems. Nvidia Quadro Plex is planned to ship in September 2006, with prices starting at US$17,500.
