IBM adds Magny-Cours to System x server line

IBM has added to its System x series of servers with a new model based on AMD's Opteron 6100 processors, delivering up to 48 cores in a 2U high rack-mount system.

Available later this month, the System x3755 M3 is IBM's first four-socket system to carry the new Opteron 6100 series, otherwise known as Magny-Cours, which feature up to 12 cores on a single chip.

The new system is aimed at customers that are outgrowing their current two-socket IT infrastructure, according to IBM, offering a cost-effective upgrade path in line with AMD's claims that Magny-Cours offers four-socket performance at a two-socket price.

IBM also said that the x3755 M3 is an ideal server for mid-sized workloads, such as Java, databases, virtualisation and enterprise applications including enterprise resource planning.

Performance-hungry applications will benefit from the system's higher I/O throughput and large memory footprint, leading to lower acquisition, networking and lifecycle costs, IBM said.

The x3755 M3 system supports up to 256GB of DDR3 memory in 32 DIMM slots, with a capacity of up to 16TB of storage from eight hot-swappable SAS or Sata drives. Pricing starts at about $5,000 (£3,235) for a two-socket version.