News Release
Intel Tops Off 64-Bit Server Platform Portfolio
Intel Corporation today added to its portfolio of 64-bit offerings with a platform that increases application
performance, improves server uptime and the ability to manage large sets of data and can lower utility costs. Targeted
at the mid-tier enterprise market segment, the platform consists of five new processors for servers that use four or
more processors and a new chipset.
The platform, codenamed ‘Truland,’ includes 64-bit Intel® Xeon™ processors MP (multiprocessor) that span value to
performance configurations and the Intel E8500 chipset. Architected for dual-core technology, the new chipset prepares
customers for the forthcoming transition to multiple cores and new innovations such as Intel Virtualisation Technology.
“This year, Intel celebrates ten years in the multiprocessor server market segment that began with the Intel Pentium®
processor and today adds a sixth generation of the Intel Xeon processor MP,” said Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president
and general manager of Intel’s Digital Enterprise Group. “Over the past ten years, Intel has helped to fundamentally
change the mid-tier server market segment from expensive, proprietary machines, to affordable, powerful and innovative
servers based on standards. Intel has played a leading role in delivering leading edge performance and innovation at
superior value.”
For the first time in any MP server platform, Intel has combined Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology1, PCI Express,
DDR2-400 Memory and Demand Based Switching with Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology. Collectively, these features help
to expand memory addressability, increase server performance and improve reliability.
The 64-bit Intel Xeon processor MP has price/performance advantages for mid-tier enterprise applications, such as supply
chain management, enterprise resource management, customer relationship management and small and medium business
databases. The platform complements Intel Xeon processors for dual-processor servers - which target applications such as
web and email servers - and Intel Itanium® processors that target proprietary and costly RISC-based servers that run
applications such as large databases and high performance computing areas.
“Working with companies such as Intel, Microsoft is committed to enabling customers with the best price/performance
software platform in the industry, leveraging innovations such as the new Intel Xeon processor MP and dual-core
technology,” said Andy Lees, corporate vice president of Server and Tools Marketing and Solutions, Microsoft Corp. “With
Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions, Microsoft is delivering a single platform that will provide high-performance benefits
for existing 32-bit applications, plus breakthrough performance and scalability for 64-bit applications. This is part of
our work with Intel to deliver the largest portfolio of 64-bit offerings across a broad spectrum of hardware – from the
desktop up to enterprise servers.”
These new platforms are ready to take advantage of the Intel Software Network, which Intel also announced today
http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20050329net.htm. The Intel Software Network provides development tools,
training and advice for corporate and independent software developers building application for 64-bits, multi-core
architectures and other future Intel platform technologies. For more information on the network or how to join, go to
www.intel.com/software.
The 64-bit Intel Xeon processor MP platform delivers performance increases up to 70 percent across a range of enterprise
and scientific applications over the previous generation Intel Xeon processor MP.2 The platform is available with up to
8MB of Level 3 (L3) cache, a memory reservoir that helps to improve performance.
The Intel E8500 chipset has a 667MHz dual, independent front side bus and is designed with 10.6GBs of system bandwidth,
more than three times the bandwidth of the previous generation. These and other features provide the infrastructure to
support forthcoming dual-core
Intel Xeon processors MP including ‘Paxville,’ currently planned for the first quarter of 2006.
A wide range of 64-bit Intel Xeon processor MP systems ranging from four-way blade, rack and pedestal servers up to
systems with 32-processors inside are currently expected to be available from leading manufacturers worldwide including
Egenera, Dell, Fujitsu, Fujitsu Siemens, HCL Infosystems, HP, Hitachi, IBM, Kraftway, Langchao, Lenovo, NEC, Maxdata,
Samsung, Stratus, Supermicro, Tyan, Toshiba, Unisys and Wipro. In addition, Intel currently plans to make available a
rack and pedestal Intel Xeon processor MP server platform for systems builders and product integrators.
Current Intel Price List3
Performance Processors Price in 1,000 unit quantities
64-bit Intel Xeon processor MP 3.33GHz with 8MB L3 cache US$3692
64-bit Intel Xeon processor MP 3.00GHz with 8MB L3 cache 1980
64-bit Intel Xeon processor MP 2.83GHz with 4MB L3 cache 1177
Value Processors
64-bit Intel Xeon processor MP 3.66GHz with 1MB L2 cache US$963
64-bit Intel Xeon processor MP 3.16GHz with 1MB L2 cache 722
Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications
products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.
*Other brands may be claimed as property of others. Intel, Itanium and Intel Xeon are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
1 64-bit Intel Xeon processors with Intel EM64T requires a computer system with a processor, chipset, BIOS, OS, device
drivers and applications enabled for Intel EM64T. Processor will not operate (including 32-bit operation) without an
Intel EM64T-enabled BIOS. Performance will vary depending on your hardware and software configurations. Intel
EM64T-enabled OS, BIOS, device drivers and applications may not be available. Check with your vendor for more
information.
2 Performance tests and ratings are measured using specific computer systems and/or components and reflect the
approximate performance of Intel® products as measured by those tests. Any difference in system hardware or software
design or configuration may affect actual performance. Buyers should consult other sources of information to evaluate
the performance of systems or components they are considering purchasing. For more information see
www.intel.com/performance
3 The stated prices are provided for informational purposes only and are subject to change without notice. They are not
to be construed as a quote or an offer from Intel to sell at these prices.
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
“The advent of scale-out computing in the data centre using standards-based platforms has vaulted Dell to be the lead
provider of x86-based servers in the U.S. The Dell PowerEdge 6800 and 6850 feature Intel's new 64-bit Xeon processors
and provide affordable access to the most powerful technology for database and server consolidation environments.”
Quotee: Paul Gottsegen
Title: Vice president
Dell Enterprise Product Group
Company: Dell
“As the market share leader in the MP space, customers choose HP ProLiant 2.5 to 1 over the nearest competitor. The
introduction of the next generation HP ProLiant DL580 and ML570 servers based on the new 64-bit Intel Xeon processors MP
underscores HP’s commitment of investing in innovations which offer customers an unmatched combination of performance,
price:performance, scalability, enterprise availability and management across our server portfolio to best achieve their
business goals.”
Quotee: Brad Anderson
Title: Senior Vice president
general manager
Industry Standard Servers
Company: Hewlett Packard
“Today we’ve added three new industry-leading benchmarks using Intel’s new 64-bit Xeon processors MP with the IBM
eServer xSeries 366. Early customer reaction to our new X3 architecture-based, four processor server confirms that the
market is ready to deploy mid-tier application servers based on scale up Intel Xeon processor MP technology.”
Quotee: Susan Whitney
Title: General manager
IBM eServer xSeries
Company: IBM
“The introduction of the 64-bit Intel Xeon processor MP is another example of Intel’s price/performance advantages over
the expensive, proprietary Unix/RISC-based model of data-centre computing. With this breakthrough technology, Intel is
forging an intelligent path for customers of today’s predominantly 32-bit enterprise applications to explore the
scalability and performance benefits of 64-bit computing. Standardisation is indeed the computing industry’s trend of
the decade.”
Quotee: Mark Feverston
Title: Vice president
Enterprise Server Marketing
Company: Unisys
ENDS