* IBM claims latest midrange servers are competitively priced to x86 systems
IBM last week rolled out several quad-core systems that provide performance enhancements and configuration flexibility.
The IBM System p5 Express Servers use IBM’s Power5+ processors and the systems, according to IBM, are competitively priced to x86-based systems.
The servers have built-in Dynamic Logical partitioning capability (DLPAR) and optional Micro-Partitioning capability. They also offer optional Advanced Power Virtualization, which includes Micro-Partitioning and Virtual I/O Server V1.3.
The System p5 range consists of the IBM System p5 505Q Express, a 1U high four-core server that uses the IBM’s Power5+ Quad-Core Module) processor, the 505Q Express, the System p5 505, 510, 510Q, 520, 520Q, 550 and 550Q.
The System p5 510Q Express is a 2U high four-core system designed for consolidating applications on one machine. The System p5 520Q Express is a 4U high four-core system designed for database and branch office applications.
The company has also introduced four new systems with the 2.1-GHz Power5+ processor. These servers are available in single- or dual-core configurations and 1U, 2U or 4U form factors. These include the p5 505 Express, the p5 510 Express and the p5 520 Express. The 505 Express is a 1U system, the 510 Express is 2U and the 520 Express is a 4U box.
IBM also introduced the p5 550 Express for customers needing high performance for distributed databases, and the IBM BladeCenter JS21 Express, which uses PowerPC 970MP processor technology. The new BladeCenter server is available either as a dual-core 2.7 GHz or a four-core 2.6 GHz blade. Both blades support as much as 16GB of memory and two serial-attached SCSI (SAS) 10,000 rpm disk drives.
The System p5 Express servers are available now. The p5 505 Express starts at $3,400; the p5 505Q starts at $5,500; the p5 510 starts at $4,250; the p5 510Q starts at $5,550; the 520 starts at $5,430; the 550 starts at $13,120; and, the 550Q starts at $13,750.
