IBM Offers New Server With 32-Xeon CPUsIBM Offers New Server With 32-Xeon CPUs

Making good on its promise to support up to 32-way processing within its x86-based xSeries product line, IBM on Wednesday introduced the x460 server, which also utilizes its latest chipset.

The eServer xSeries 460 will be available in four- and eight-CPU configurations later this month, and in 16-way and 32-way configurations in July, says Jay Bretzmann, director of eServer products. "We have no competition at this point that I can find," he says. "The market [for 16- and 32-way systems] exists, and customers are looking for this kind of scalability."

Competitors Hewlett-Packard and Dell have both said they don't plan to introduce new x86-based servers with more than four CPUs.

The x460 initially will be released with single-core Xeon processors, but will be able to integrate dual-core versions of the processor when they're made available by Intel, he says.

The server will utilize IBM's internally-developed third-generation chipset (X3), code-named Hurricane, which was first introduced in February and used in the xSeries 366 server. The X3 architecture provides up to 60% higher eight-way performance than IBM's second-generation eight-way server, Bretzmann says.

Target applications for the x460 include database serving, enterprise resource planning, customer-relationship management, and server consolidation. Pricing for a typical eight-way configuration of the x460 will start at $72,182.