January 27, 2004 -- IBM is introducing new enhancements to the IBM eServer p655 that further increase performance, operational flexibility and memory capabilities -- all key elements required to meet the challenges of high performance and business intelligence computing.

IBM's innovative POWER technology is at the heart of the eServer p655 and many of the other systems on the recent TOP500 List of Supercomputers - meeting the high-performance needs corporate computing demands. Organizations like the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center are utilizing the IBM p655 technology to further advance their high-performance computing projects.

New enhancements to the p655 include:

** An 8-way 1.7 GHz POWER4+™ processor option for the IBM p655, providing as much as 19.6% more performance[1] at the same system price[2] as previously available with 8-way 1.5 GHz POWER4+ processors.

** A new DC Power Converter Assembly allows up to four 8GB or 16GB memory cards, doubling the maximum memory capacity to 64GB for 1.5 and 1.7 GHz p655 systems.[3]

** For decision support (BI) applications, a cluster of four 4-way p655 servers with 1.7 GHz POWER4+ processors is the industry-leading, 16-processor system in both performance and price/performance, based on the TPC-H (1TB) benchmark [4].

** Up to 64 p655 servers are supported in the IBM eServer Cluster 1600 for building high-performance clusters. The Cluster 1600 includes IBM pSeries servers, cluster management software, optional cluster software for HPC, and either an industry standard, SP™ Switch2 or IBM eServer pSeries High Performance Switch (HPS) interconnection.

The p655 may be configured with up to four dynamic logical partitions (LPARs) with the AIX 5L™ v5.2 operating system and up to four static LPARs with AIX 5L v5.1. For AIX 5L running in an LPAR or on a network-attached pSeries system, the p655 supports as many as four static LPARs running the Linux operating system. [Note: The maximum number of LPARs per Cluster 1600 system is 128.]

Planned availability for the 8-way 1.7 GHz processor option and the new DC Power Converter Assembly is February 6, 2004.

POWERful Supercomputing

Having been termed the first ‘server on a chip,’ IBM continues to invest in the POWER architecture to offer customers open, innovative technology solutions that complement the growing demand for 64-bit applications. IBM's family of POWER and PowerPC microprocessors are among the most widely used in the industry. In addition to being the force behind IBM’s pSeries, iSeries and BladeCenter servers, the microprocessor technology can be found in Nintendo game consoles, Apple computers, and some of the world's most powerful supercomputers and storage systems.

IBM is the world’s leading provider of supercomputing power with a record total of 186 teraflops of power in the recent TOP500 List of supercomputers. With 35.4% share of the TOP500 list, IBM dominates the global market with 55% more processing power than runner-up HP with 22.7%.

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Footnotes

1 - Based on published SPECfp_rate2000 results as of January 27, 2004. IBM 8-way 1.7 GHz p655 result of 111.0 submitted January 26, 2004, compared to 8-way 1.5 GHz p655 result of 92.8. See :
http://www.specbench.org/cpu2000/results/rfp2000.html

2- Based on a pSeries 655 with 8-way 1.5 GHz POWER4+ processors, 1GB memory and two 36.4GB disk drives at $70,000 as of January 26, 2004, and a pSeries 655 with 8-way 1.7 GHz POWER4+ processors, 1GB memory and two 36.4GB disk drives at $70,000 as of January 27, 2004. All price information is based on IBM U.S. list prices effective January 27, 2004. Prices are subject to change without notice and reseller prices may vary.

3 - Based on estimated SPEC OMPM2001 results as of January 27, 2004. IBM 8-way 1.7 GHz p655 result of 14,371 (est.) submitted January 27, 2004. See:
http://www.specbench.org/omp/results/ompm2001.html

4 - Based on published TPC-H (1TB) results as of January 27, 2004. IBM four 4-way 1.7 GHz p655 result of 20,221 QphH and $69/QphH. See:
http://www.tpc.org/tpch/results/tpch_price_perf_results.asp

5- All price information is based on IBM U.S. list prices effective January 27, 2004. Prices are subject to change without notice and reseller prices may vary.