IBM eServers quick to back dual-core Opterons

IBM has unveiled its eServer 326, the latest server based on AMD's Opteron processor and the first from Big Blue to support the recently unveiled AMD dual-core specification.

For the first time, the e326 incorporates IBM's Xtended Design Architecture, which the company claims brings mainframe-inspired features to x86 boxes.

Examples of such technologies include high-speed I/O, system management, integrated Raid and Calibrated Vectored Cooling, the system design that allows the e326 to support the increasing thermal demands of dual-core 64-bit performance.

The e326 will be targeted at customers needing high-performance systems for compute-intensive applications such as financial modelling, digital rendering, life sciences analysis, design automation and database management.

In a parallel move IBM is enhancing its AMD Opteron processor-based clustered system, the IBM eServer 1350, scheduled for general availability in the fourth quarter.

"IBM was our first tier-one partner to bring AMD Opteron processor-based servers to market," said Pat Patla, director of AMD server/workstation marketing, in a statement.

"The second-generation e326 is IBM's response to customer demand for the industry leading processing power of the AMD Opteron processor."

And Alex Yost, director of IBM eServer product marketing, added in a statement: "For organisations with high-performance computing demands that want investment protection and a migration path from 32- to 64-bit applications, the eServer 326 provides an optimum platform for clustering at an affordable price."

The IBM eServer 326 will begin shipping in September with general availability on 15 October. Prices start at $2,189.

The system will support a variety of operating systems including Red Hat RHEL 3.0, Novell SuSE SLES 9.0 and Windows 2003 Server.