* Dell makes a break from Intel
Dell last week rolled out the first of its AMD-based servers, breaking its once-exclusive ties to Intel.
AMD CEO Hector Ruiz and Dell CEO Michael Dell unveiled the servers at last week’s Oracle OpenWorld event in San Francisco.
The PowerEdge 6950 and PowerEdge SC 1435 servers are four- and two-socket servers that use the AMD Opteron chip set. The PowerEdge 6950 is designed for database applications, server consolidation and as a replacement for RISC-based systems. The PowerEdge SC1435 is designed for high performance computing, and can be used as Web servers and by midsize businesses.
According to Dell, the PowerEdge 6950 uses 20% less power than previous generation Dell Intel Xeon-based servers. The SC1435 is 128% faster than previous Dell Xeon-based PowerEdge computers.
The PowerEdge 6950 will be sold with its Xeon-based counterpart, the PowerEdge 6850. The SC1435 will replace the Xeon-based PowerEdge SC1425.
Some industry observers say it’s about time that Dell started selling AMD-based servers.
“Dell embraces AMD Opteron, finally,” says Charles King, senior analyst for Pund-IT Research. “The sheer flexibility of the x86 architecture, along with AMD’s innovative leveraging of 64-bit extensions and interconnect technologies, has resulted in x86-based solutions, ranging from entry-level products to business-critical servers to a growing majority of supercomputing installations. They do allow [Dell] to offer customers a fuller range of products they want, thus not giving them any reason to call Dell’s competitors. Dell looks ready to don its armor and launch a comeback.”
Dell is currently the second largest PC maker, trailing behind HP. Industry observers say that Dell’s refusal to adopt AMD for so long cost it its lead in the industry.
The company said earlier this year that it would break its ties with Intel and roll out AMD servers.
The PowerEdge 6950 and PowerEdge SC1435 are both available now, priced from $6,500 and $1,300, respectively.
