Xeon Phi uses the same  22nm, 3-D tri-gate transistors as Ivy Bridge, and comes as a PCIe card with more than 50 cores and at least 8GB of GDDR5 memory. It has 512b wide SIMD support – allowing for multiple elements to be worked on in a single instruction – and Intel claims it’s good for more than 1 TeraFLOPs per node.

As well as working with x86 programming models, the Xeon Phi coprocessor will also show up as “an HPC-optimized, highly-parallel, separate compute node that runs its own Linux-based operating system independent of the host OS.” Intel says that in doing so it wil support more flexible cluster-solution, such as those that might be incompatible with existing GPU-accelerated systems.

Xeon Phi will first show up in Stampede, a 10 Petaflop HPC Linux cluster expected to be operational by the start of 2013. Stampede, a project by the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) with the University of Texas at Austin, will pair Xeon E5 CPUs – contributing around two Teraflops – with the remaining eight Teraflops delivered by Xeon Phi coprocessors.

Intel says 44 companies have already signed up to use Xeon Phi, including Bull, Cray, Dell, HP, IBM, Inspur, SGI and NEC. It has already promised to hit Exascale performance by 2018.

Any information on the exact specifications of the to-be-announced Ivy Bridge models haven’t been released yet, but the Sandy Bridge E5 chips have already known to run the gamut from a 1.8 GHz quad-core processor to 3.1 GHz in eight-core assortments. That’s some serious processor speed right there, no doubt. Competitors beware, here.

If this possibility moves into the realm of reality for Intel, the Xeon lineup could create potential problems for workstations like the upcoming Macbook Pro refreshed updates. It may force Apple and other competing companies into either choosing Sandy Bridge models and going for a slightly aged, but wider range of processors, picking from a limited Ivy Bridge range, or having to go through a divide in the computer lineup between the pair of Intel architectures.

Starting form the bottom of the series is a quad-core 1.8Ghz Xeon with 10MB of level 3 cache and no Hyperthreading at a $202 bulk price point. At the high-end, it offers 1.8GHz to 3.1GHz eight-core processors with Hyperthreading, and 20MB of cache, 70W to 150W power use for a price ranging from $1,106 to $2,057. This series has only one dual-core chip with the E5-2643 that’s clocked at 3.3GHz and sports 5MB of level 3 cache, Hyperthreading, and 80W power usage, but is priced at $884.

This new lineup could boost the number of cores on systems across the board, especially on Apple’s next-gen Mac Pros, which are expected to get refreshed in early 2012. The lower end dual-core model would certainly benefit from the new series, such as with the E5-2620, which would boost it up to 6 cores while maintaining about the same pricing. The lower-end single-core Mac Pro models may use Intel’s E5-1600 series processors that’s also scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2012.

[via MacRumors]

Hardware specifications for the compact cloud are unspecified, but it looks to us like Intel has strapped together a pair of 1U servers, each with redundant power supplies and quad-ethernet network connectivity. Inside we’re guessing there’s a few hard-drives apiece, along with technologies like Intel’s “Intelligent Power Node Manager” to balance load across different units (and avoid overheating).

Obviously this isn’t something you’d likely buy yourself; the whole portability angle Intel is playing on isn’t really that much of a benefit in the real world, after all, as your easily-toted cloud server would also need a pretty sizable internet pipe wherever you decided to plug it in. For regular users, something pre-hosted and managed like Apple’s iCloud probably makes a whole lot more sense.

The new ten-core chip supports up to 20 threads and is up to 40 percent faster and more energy efficient. Portions of the chip can be shut down when not being used, such as when there’s only a light load on the processor.

The Xeon E7 chip is based on the 32 nanometer manufacturing process, has 2TBytes of main memory, and 30Mbytes of last-level cache. The chip will be launched in 10 different versions with prices ranging from $774 to $4616.

[via Electronista]

The Xeon E3-1260L – with a 45W TDP – and Xeon E3-1220L – with a 20W TDP – have 4 and 2 cores respectively. The quadcore runs at 2.4GHz with a Turbo overclock to 3.3GHz, while the dualcore runs at 2.2GHz with a 3.4GHz overclock. Just like Intel’s other Xeon processors they support up to 32GB of memory.

However, it’s the Sandy Bridge model that’s more interesting, currently unnamed but expected to arrive in the second half of this year. It will have a 15W TDP, and open up the door to compact server clusters with low power draw and more flexibility for balancing changing workloads. Finally, there’ll be a new Atom-based processor with sub-10W TDP in 2012.

In fact, they’re both correct: Tianhe-1A combines 14,396 Intel Xeon processors with 7,168 NVIDIA Tesla M2050 GPUs, and manages 2.57 petaflops (quadrillions of calculations per second). Neither company is particularly keen to give the other much credit; Intel refers to NVIDIA’s input only as the vague “accompanied by accelerator cards”, while NVIDIA pointedly highlights the fact that to match Tianhe-1A’s performance solely using CPUs would require around 50,000 of the chips and double the floor space.

Press Release:

Intel Powers World’s Fastest Supercomputer

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Tianhe-1A supercomputer, featuring more than 14,000 Intel® Xeon® 5600 series processors, is No. 1 supercomputer on 36th edition of Top500 list.
Intel powers nearly 80 percent of systems on latest Top500 list, including four of the top six.
Intel powers more than 90 percent of new systems on the Top500 list.
Intel demonstrates applications powered by Intel® Many Integrated Core (MIC) architecture.

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 14, 2010 – Intel Corporation today announced that its Intel® Xeon® 5600 series processors, announced earlier this year, are at the heart of the world’s most powerful supercomputer, the Tianhe-1A. Located at the National Supercomputing Center in Tianjin, China, Tianhe-1A contains 14,396 Intel processors accompanied by accelerator cards, and has demonstrated groundbreaking performance of 2.57 petaflops (quadrillions of calculations per second).

In partnership with Inspur, a computer manufacturer in China, Intel worked closely with the National Supercomputing Center and its technology partners to achieve this groundbreaking performance.

The 36th edition of the TOP500 list of supercomputers, as announced at SC10, Nov. 13-19 in New Orleans, shows that nearly 80 percent of the world’s top 500 systems have Intel processors inside. Such machines are increasingly featured in computers designed for geophysics, financial calculations and scientific research focusing on mainstream applications such as improving the safety of football players and enhancing medical imaging. According to the list, Intel chips now power four of the top six systems – in addition to the No. 1 system. Xeon® 5600 series processors are a key building block in the No. 3 system (Shenzhen), and the newly listed No. 4 system at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The New Intel® Xeon® Processor 7500 series is featured in the Bull Supernode system at CEA, newly listed at No. 6. Overall, 398 new systems on the list feature Intel processors. According to the list, Intel processors are in 90 percent of the systems newly listed in 2010.

“Our Xeon processor roadmap continues to deliver hugely powerful supercomputers that are helping solve mankind’s greatest challenges,” said Rajeeb Hazra, general manager of Intel’s High Performance Computing organization. “Securing the top position on the Top500 is a source of great pride for Intel, and demonstrates the tremendous leaps in performance and versatility that our processors are delivering across a range of compelling workloads.”

Additional Top500 Success
In addition to the Tianjin supercomputer, 17,296 Intel chips power the No. 6 system on the list. The CEA system from Bull features the largest shared memory system built around the Xeon® 7500 series processor, achieving performance in excess of one petaflop.

Another notable supercomputer hails from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Featuring Xeon® 5600 series processors within an NEC/HP system, this No. 4-ranked supercomputer achieved 2.4 petaflops.

The semi-annual TOP500 list of supercomputers is the work of Hans Meuer of the University of Mannheim, Erich Strohmaier and Horst Simon of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, and Jack Dongarra of the University of Tennessee. The complete report is available at www.top500.org.

Intel® Many Integrated Core (MIC) Demonstrations
During SC10, Intel conducted demonstrations showcasing the real-world capabilities of the recently announced Intel® MIC architecture. These included using Intel® MIC architecture as a co-processor running financial derivative Monte Carlo demonstrations that boasted twice the performance of those conducted with prior generation technologies. The Monte Carlo application for Intel® MIC was generated using standard C++ code with an Intel® MIC-enabled version of the Intel® Parallel Studio XE 2011 software development tools, demonstrating how applications for standard Intel CPUs can scale to future Intel® MIC products.

Intel also showcased breakthrough compressed medical imaging developed with Mayo Clinic on “Knights Ferry,” the first Intel MIC design and development kits. This demonstration used compressed signals to rapidly create high-quality images, reducing the time a patient has to spend having an MRI.

The ThinkStation C20′s diminutive stature is down to its rack-mount friendliness: with the optional brackets you can stack up to 14 of them in a standard 42U rack.  Of course, it also means a smaller footprint – either on the desk or underneath it – for users with just one C20.  Aesthetically it’s Lenovo’s usual somber black handiwork, with the front panel mostly vent meshwork aside from a single optical drive – in this case a DVD burner – together with FireWire, two USB 2.0 ports, audio in/out and the power button.  On the top edge is a recessed handle lined with soft-touch plastic, which makes moving the C20 particularly straightforward.

On the back, there are three fans (two system fans, one in the PSU) together with more meshwork and a further eight USB 2.0 ports, a gigabit ethernet port, two S/PDIF digital audio ports, analog surround audio outputs and a serial port, together with whatever graphics outputs your choice of video card offers (more on that in a moment).  The side panel opens to reveal a surprisingly straightforward internal layout, with tool-less mounts making upgrades and modifications relatively simple despite the comparatively small space.

There are some neat touches, too, some of which are obvious to the user and others less so.  Lenovo has used over 50-percent post-consumer recycled plastic and low-noise fans, which is always good, and the front panel port labels are backlit which makes plugging in peripherals simple when the C20 is under a desk or in a dim server room.

Of course, the real meat is what’s inside the chassis, and Lenovo sent over a loaded ThinkStation for us to test out.  The range kicks off at $1,199 with a single 2.0GHz Intel Xeon E5503 processor and 1GB of RAM, but our C20 has a pair of 2.66GHz Intel Xeon (Westmere) X5650 processors for a total of twelve cores.  There’s also 8GB of DDR3 memory, a 500GB hard-drive and an NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800 video card, with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit as the OS.  Expect to pay around $6,774 for a similarly specified C20, though this isn’t the most outlandish configuration you could opt for.  Faster Xeon chips are on offer, together with up to 48GB of memory across six DIMM slots, dual graphics cards, a Blu-ray burner and twin hard-drives (HDD or SSD) with optional RAID.

The NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800 deserves some attention, considering it alone adds $1,475 to the C20′s sticker price.  Currently near the top of NVIDIA’s workstation card range, it targets animators and designers running graphics-intensitive applications like 3D rendering.  At its heart is the new GT200GL GPU, with 192 CUDA cores, paired with 1.5GB of dedicated memory and 384-bit memory width; together, NVIDIA says the FX 4800 is capable of 76.8GB/s memory bandwidth, crunching 300 million triangles per second and 38 billion texels per second.

Of course, the CUDA cores are flexible in their abilities, and rather than being limited to pure graphics rendering they’re in fact each an individual multi-threaded processor.  Compatible software – which generally means the latest image, CAD and other high-end apps – can take advantage of any unused cores to speed up other processing tasks, offset from the PC’s main CPU(s).  As for outputs, you get two DisplayPort, one dual-link DVI-I and a stereo audio port, with a max 2560 x 1600 resolution and NVIDIA 3D Vision/3D Vision Pro compatibility.  It’s worth remembering that – if your wallet can hold up to it – you can outfit the C20 with two of these cards.

It came as little surprise, then, to find the ThinkStation C20 blitzed our benchmarks.  We started off with Geekbench, a synthetic test of processor and memory performance, and the Lenovo ThinkStation C20 scored a massive 19565.  That was primarily held back by memory performance and bandwidth; the processor scores themselves were well in excess of 20k.  The closest score in our benchmark database is the iBUYPOWER Paladin F Series, which packs a single Intel Core i7-980 Extreme, and was around 400 points lower (though it’s also in the region of $3,000 less than the C20).

We then turned to PCMark, which is a broader test of system abilities.  Overall, the ThinkStation scored 10030, with particular strengths in the Communication (10805), Music (7794) and Gaming (7640) tests.  Lowest score was 5250 in the HDD testing, likely a result of the single 7,200rpm drive in our review machine.  Looking back, the iBUYPOWER system (which is targeted at gamers) scored almost twice as well in PCMark, though in pro-level graphics applications the Quadro FX card of the Lenovo would likely make a more significant difference while an SSD would also help.

Still, this is mighty impressive performance from a relatively small machine, and we can’t help but be blown away by the sheer crunching ability of the dual Xeons.  In everyday use we had trouble slowing the C20 down – this isn’t a PC where opening a few dozen browser windows will cause lag – and it stayed admirably quiet too (though fan noise did ramp up as the system was stressed during benchmark testing).

The Lenovo’s price tag puts it out of contention for most people, and with its workstation credentials it’s not intended to replace high-end gaming machines. Graphics professionals, video editors or anyone looking to do vast amounts of crunching in minimal amounts of time, however – and without turning their office into a server farm – should definitely be considering the C20.  Its primarily limitation (bar price) is the mere two internal drive bays, but that’s the trade-off for its compact chassis; to be fair, Lenovo offer several larger alternatives in their S20 and D20 ranges that accommodate bigger RAID arrays.  For those unwilling to give space to such behemoths, the ThinkStation C20 delivers the power without the bulk.

As well as the processor, memory and solid-state storage, there’s an ATI Radeon HD 5750 GPU with 1GB of its own GDDR5 memory and an 8x SuperDrive DVD burner. Still no Blu-ray option, of course, and no USB 3.0 ports either; instead Apple gives you four USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, audio in/out (each combining analog and digital), gigabit ethernet and a Mini DisplayPort that, on this larger iMac, also functions as an input for hooking up your MacBook Pro. On the side, as well as the slot-loading optical drive there’s an SDXC memory card reader (backward compatible with SD/SDHC cards, naturally) while inside there’s WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. The latter is used with the bundled Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse; the Magic Trackpad launched alongside the new iMacs is an optional extra.

While all-in-ones may not be particularly known for their upgrade potential, Apple has made great use of the 27-inch iMac’s internal space. The SSD is an option, but so is pairing a regular hard-drive with a solid-state counterpart, each occupying its own internal bay. The 27-inch model comes with a 1TB, 7,200rpm HDD as standard: you can upgrade that to 2TB or swap it for the 256GB SSD, or combine either HDD with the SSD. That could be useful for digital media pros looking for the system speed an SSD brings together with the relatively cost-effective storage a traditional HDD delivers. At this stage, you can’t combine two SSDs, however.

Our wish-list for the iMac gets smaller with each iteration, and right now is pretty much limited to Blu-ray, USB 3.0 and eSATA. Given Apple’s general antipathy toward the former, it looks unlikely that the company will include Blu ray any time soon; instead they’re betting on digital delivery through iTunes. USB 3.0 and eSATA are trickier: Apple helped lead the way in ditching legacy connections, which might lead you to assume they’d also be at the forefront in these faster ports, but so far there’s no sign.

Everything is wrapped up in what’s perhaps the slickest chassis in Apple’s line-up today, a smooth unibody aluminum expanse with a simple one-legged desk stand. Opt for the included wireless peripherals and a WiFi network connection and you can hook up the iMac with a single cable, for power, which snakes neatly out through a purposefully cut hole in the leg. Up front, most noticeable is the 16:9 aspect 27-inch IPS LCD panel, running at 2560 x 1440 resolution with 375 cd/m2 brightness and 1000:1 contrast ratio. Hidden behind the glass bezel is an iSight webcam, a microphone and an IR port for use with the optional Apple remote, while underneath are stereo speakers each paired with a 17W amp.

The display remains a key selling point for the iMac, being bright, color-rich and having very broad viewing angles. Think of it as the desktop’s equivalent of the iPhone 4′s Retina Display; only a few PC manufacturers offer LCD displays that can compete, and it’s rare to find one integrated into an all-in-one machine. Obviously the iMac is at home with movie playback in Full HD, though of course with the absence of Blu-ray you’re limited to digital content downloaded or side-loaded in 1080p HD resolution. Standalone media performs well, with the iMac’s speakers belying the absence of a dedicated subwoofer; thanks to the digital audio output it’s straightforward to add a 2.1 or 5.1 surround sound system too.

With its superlative specifications, though, it’s likely content creation rather than consumption that iMac buyers prioritizing this particular model would be occupying themselves with. It’s certainly easily capable when it comes to processing video, audio and images. At the risk of getting geekier, though, there are some good reasons why this is the best iMac to-date.

We ran Geekbench, a synthetic test of processor and memory performance, and the quadcore iMac scored a massive 10099 points. In contrast, last year’s Mac Pro – with a quadcore 2.67GHz Xeon processor and 12GB of memory – scored 9600. The current generation entry-level iMac – with a Core i3-550 dual-core running at 3.2GHz is scoring around 6700 in Geekbench; the machine positioned at the same point in Apple’s range late last year scored just 4,650. More importantly, perhaps, is the increase in L3 cache, with the 8MB in the new iMac matching the old Mac Pro (the old iMac lacked L3 cache completely). Put simply, the L3 cache is used as a high-speed store for data being processed: the more you have, the faster the computer can crunch through whatever it is you’re working on. Meanwhile the FSB (Front-Side Bus) is the same 4.80GHz on the quadcore iMac as it is on the old Mac Pro: that’s the speed of the pathway between CPU and Northbridge, and a potential bottleneck if it’s not high enough.

When you start factoring that performance increase in with Apple’s pricing, the new iMac’s appeal gets even greater. First off, consider that – without the SSD – you’re getting Mac Pro (i.e. flagship) performance, plus a brilliant 27-inch display, for less than you’d pay for the current entry-level Mac Pro with a quadcore 2.8GHz Xeon ($2,199 versus $2,449). On top of that you’d need to pair the Mac Pro with a display; the 27-inch LED Cinema Display, using the same panel as the iMac we’re testing, will be $999 when it arrives next month.

Now, the Mac Pro obviously has some benefits of its own: the four hard-drive bays, faster SuperDrive, speedier CPU options and greater connectivity, for a start. For most users though, balancing high performance with price, the iMac’s combination of a slimline form-factor, huge amounts of processing power and integrated display will likely hit the sweet spot that previously only an entry-level Mac Pro would’ve filled.

From that perspective, the $2,799 of our review unit ($2,199 if you opt for the 1TB HDD instead of the SSD) starts to look a whole lot more reasonable. Yes, it’s overkill for most, but that’s why the 27-inch Core i3 version (at $1,699) is on offer; that model itself delivers around 45-percent more performance (as measured by Geekbench) than its predecessor. Factor in the quality of the display, design, construction and usability of OS X, and the iMac is not just a fitting flagship but a well-rounded alternative to traditional workstations. For all those reasons it comes highly recommended. Feel free to drop me questions in the comment section or visit  apple.com/imac for more details.

iMac Mid 2010 Core i7 Specification

The new 7500 series processors are expandable from two to 256 chips per server and have an average performance of three times that of the older Xeon 7400 series processors on common benchmarks. Intel claims that the performance and capabilities of the new 7500 chip can allow It managers to move as many as 20 older single-core servers to a single 4-chip server running the Xeon 7500 processors.

Intel reports that it has integrated more than 20 new features in the 7500 series for reliability, availability, and serviceability. Intel also states that this is the first Xeon processor to use Machine Check Architecture (MCA) recovery. The feature was previously only found on the Itanmium line of processors. The new 7500 series processors will be offered in servers starting today with frequencies up to 2.66GHz.

Two key security features of the new processors are the Intel Advanced Encryption Standards New Instructions and Intel Trusted Execution Technology. The two features work together to allow faster encryption and decryption performance for more secure transactions and virtualized environments.

Intel claims that the 32nm 5600 series processors offer 60% more performance than the older 45nm Xeon 5500 series part and the new 5600 line will support up to six-cores. The quad-core 5600 series part runs at a peak of 3.46GHz and has a 130W TDP. The six-core version is a 3.33GHz part with the same 130W TDP. Several other 5600 series processors are available as well. Machines using the new 5600 series CPUs will start shipping in the next 45 days. The processors in the line range from $387 to $1663 in 1000 unit quantities.

Meanwhile as well as the second hexacore, the 3.2GHz Core i7-970, which is expected to arrive in Q3 2010, there’s a little news on the third model in the series.  That won’t arrive until 2011, when it replaces the Core i7-980X with the same clock speed but a lower price, and with a new “flagship” CPU above it.  Apple are expected to launch a new Mac Pro desktop with the i7-980X on March 16th.

On top of that there’s a choice of 7,200rpm, 10,000rpm or MLC SSD storage, with optional RAID 0 or 1 setups.  Connectivity includes gigabit ethernet, audio in/out and eight USB 2.0 ports, along with optional eSATA and FireWire.  Lenovo will pre-load Windows 7 Professional 64, but you can also have the 32-bit version, Windows XP x64 or Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

No sign of preorders being taken as yet, but that will apparently kick-off midway through this month.  Pricing is from $599, but don’t expect that to get you a Core i3 or i5 machine, or much in the way of memory.

Press Release:

Lenovo Combines Workstation Performance with Unprecedented Price in New ThinkStation Workstation

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – February 9, 2010: Lenovo (HKSE:992) (ADR:LNVGY)today announced the ThinkStation E20, the first in a new series of entry level workstations. Starting under $6001 the new E20 offers professionals working in computer aided design (CAD) and digital content creation (DCC) fields the performance they need at an extremely affordable price. The E20 also sets a high bar for green design by using more than 50 percent recycled plastic content.

“We’ve found there are a number of CAD and DCC professionals who are currently getting by on desktop PC hardware due to budget constraints,” said, Mark Cohen, vice president, Enterprise Products, Lenovo. “They’re running workstation-class applications and could benefit from using true workstation hardware. We designed the ThinkStation E20 with these users in mind to put true workstation performance within their reach and enable them to realize significant productivity gains associated with using the right tool for the job.”

Price and Performance
With models starting under $6001, the E20 offers workstation-class performance at desktop-level prices. It comes equipped with:
Choice of the latest Intel Core i3 and i5 Processors as well as Pentium and Xeon 3400 Series Processors
Choice of independent software vendor (ISV) certified graphics solutions – Intel Core HD graphics or NVIDIA Quadro discrete graphics up to the FX1800
Support for Error Correcting Code DDR3 memory
Certifications from leading ISVs like Autodesk, Siemens and Dassault Systemes

“Users can experience certified, tested and optimized workstation solutions at near PC prices with the Lenovo ThinkStation E20 workstation, based on the Intel® Xeon® 3400 processor series or the Intel® Core™ HD graphics,” said Anthony Neal Graves, general manager, Workstation Group, Intel. “Users who once relied on high-end desktops now can benefit from a real workstation experience.”

Built for a Greener Environment
The ThinkStation E20 leads the PC industry in its use recycled plastics. More than 50 percent of the plastic content comes from post-consumer recycled materials. Additionally, it achieves a Gold-rating by the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool and is GREENGUARD certified for its environmental attributes. The E20 also meets the high energy efficiency criteria for Energy Star 5.0 and features an 80 Plus Bronze Power Supply.

Pricing and Availability2
The ThinkStation E20 workstation will be available in mid-February with models starting at approximately $599. The workstation will be sold through Lenovo business partners and www.lenovo.com. For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook.

As for the storage tweak, there’s now a 2TB SATA 3Gb/s 7,200rpm hard-drive option, priced at $350, in addition to the previous 640GB and 1TB drives on offer.  The new 2TB drive has 32GB of cache, and is also available on the Apple Xserve server.

It’s not yet possible to specify two of the 3.33GHz Xeon processors in Apple’s 8-core Mac Pro, which still only offers 2.26GHz, 2.66GHz and 2.93GHz options.  Apple have been tipped to release a 6-core, 12-thread Xeon (Gulftown) processor (built on 32nm processes and with 12MB of shared cache) in early 2010.

That will be thanks to a newly modified, custom mainboard with support for 8GB and 16GB memory modules.  Early testing of the CPUs, at least, have indicated that the hexacore Xeon requires less power than a current-gen quadcore Xeon of the same 2.4GHz clock-speed.

The source continues with the possibility that Apple could have a temporary exclusive on the new Intel chips, with the refreshed Mac Pro arriving in early 2010 while the hexacore Xeon wouldn’t go into mass production until Q2 2010.  No word on whether the physical design will get a tweak or not, but we can’t imagine Apple allowing such a significant internal upgrade to go by without at least some polishing of the casing.

[via MacRumors]

The specifications of our test machine certainly make for impressive reading. Packing dual Intel Xeon X5570 processors (each running at 2.93GHz with 8MB cache and 1333MHz FSB), there’s also 6GB of DDR3-1333 RAM, two 160GB 10,000rpm SATA hard-drives, an NVIDIA Quadro FX1800 video card with 768MB of memory, slot-loading 8x DVD burner and Windows Vista Business 64-bit.

HP squeeze all of that into one of their latest Z-series workstation cases, complete with tool-free access and construction, along with a FireWire card for media-friendly connectivity. There are two PCIe Gen2 x16 card slots, one Gen2 x8, one Gen1 x8 and two PCI slots, along with four eSATA ports. To put the same system on or under your desk would cost $7,501; for $450 more you can double the RAM to a whopping 12GB, though the maximum on offer is 24GB.

Build quality is excellent, and the tower case is slimmer than you might expect: just 6.5-inches across. A hinged panel at the front hides the 5.25-inch bays, one of which is taken up by the DVD drive, plus there are a few USB 2.0 ports on the front-right bezel. All in all HP offer six external USB 2.0 connections (and a further three inside), two of which will be used up immediately since they bundle a USB keyboard and mouse in with the workstation. The side-panel – which has a key lock for casual security – opens smoothly and reveals well laid-out drive bays and some clever fan positioning. Both CPU fans are upright and pull air from front to back, rather than pushing it parallel to the motherboard; there’s also a large fan duct with its own fan which covers the memory.

Various green tabs indicate sections of the case which pull out, such as the tool-free drive bays which slide out from the side and into which the hard-drives snap. The power supply is a non-standard size and shape, and runs across the entire base of the Z600 with a single pull-handle for removal; the benefit is fewer cables criss-crossing the case space, as they all connect at the back and are routed behind the motherboard. Finally, there’s also an integrated grab-handle at the top, front and back, making transport straightforward.

The benefit to this non-standard internal layout and thoughtful ducting is that the Z600 is surprisingly quiet. You’d expect a dual-CPU workstation with six fans to sound like a minor tornado, but in fact it’s incredibly quiet. We’ve tested basic notebooks with more noticeable fan noise than the Z600 puts out, and according to HP their 80PLUS Bronze compliant PSU is 85-percent efficient and means the workstation is ENERGY STAR v5 qualified. In standby, the Z600 uses under 1W too, meaning you won’t be paying over the odds for the benefit of quick start-up times.

Of course, frugality and quietness are no use whatsoever if your workstation lacks grunt, but thankfully the Z600 isn’t short in that department either. Needless to say, standard day-to-day productivity tasks make little to no difference in the Z600′s stride, with several browser windows, Outlook, HD media playback and other concurrent routine apps having a negligible impact on the system.

We then loaded up Geekbench, which measures processor and memory performance, to get an idea of exactly how potent the Z600 is. Total score was 12,828, with the Z600 scoring 14,814 and 17,622 in processor integer and floating point performance respectively, while memory and memory bandwidth performance came in at 4,965 and 4,832 respectively. By way of comparison, the HP Z400 Workstation we reviewed four months ago – which has a single Xeon 2.93GHz processor and 6GB of RAM – managed 7,613 in Geekbench.

Finally, we ran PCMark and compared the Z600 with a Dell Precision T5500 workstation. The T5500 has dual quad-core Intel Xeon X5570 2.93GHz processors, 6GB of third-party DDR3 1333GHz memory, NVIDIA Quadro FX1800 graphics and a 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor hard-drive; the final build price was around $7,700, two hundred dollars more than the HP. As the graphs show, performance of the two systems was, unsurprisingly, on a par, with the Z600 edging slightly ahead in its overall PCMark score (8396 versus the Dell’s 8355) while both machines comprehensively bested the HP Z400.

The Z600 range starts from $1,800, though it’s worth repeating that for the dual-processor machine we’ve been testing you’re looking at just over $7,500. That’s a whole lot of money, but then again you get a whole lot of performance for it, and in a form-factor and package that, before now, would have far more demands to accommodate its space, power and noise. It’s overkill for anybody but the most extreme of video editors, but if you’re living and breathing CAD and high-end design, or running plenty of real-time modelling, then the HP Z600 Workstation should be high up on your shortlist.

Jasper Forest will be built on 45nm processes but use 32nm technology for 27W system power savings, together with incorporating the I/O hub onto the processor.  That will allow for PCI Express 2.0 ports, RAID 5 and 6 support and Intel 3420 chipset connectivity directly from the CPU.  Intended for use in embedded, communications and storage equipment – such as routers, VoIP systems, NAS and wireless infrastructure systems – Jasper Forest offers Nehalem-based Xeon 5500-series processor performance but in a more economical, cooler package.

The first hardware partners using Jasper Forest will be revealed at the IDF, together with further detail on how Intel’s 32nm CPU processes have been certified.  CPU wafers for the company’s Westmere platform are expected to go into revenue production in Q4 2009; that will be accompanied by “smarter System on Chip” production.

Each can be flipped into Turbo mode, with the i7-860 scaling up to 3.46GHz, the i7-870 up to 3.6GHz, and the i5-750 up to 3.2GHz.  All three have a TDP of 95W, and will be priced – when bought in 1,000 unit quantities – at $284, $562 and $196 each, respectively.

As for the Xeon chips, they range from the 2.4GHz entry-level X3430, through the low-power 45W TDP Xeon L3426 (which can be clocked between 1.86 and 3.2GHz) to the 2.93GHz X3470.  Full details in the chart below.

However there are still four cores and 8MB cache.  Meanwhile at the other end of the scale, Intel unveiled a new dual-socket workstation chip, the Xeon W5590 processor running at 3.33GHz, together with two single-socket workstation chips, the W3580 running at 3.33GHz and the W3550 running at 3.06GHz.

Our test Z400 came fitted with Intel’s 2.93GHz Xeon W3540 Bloomfield Quad-core processor paired with the X58 chipset, together with 6GB of DDR3 1333MHz ECC unbuffered memory (up to 16GB is supported) and a 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor SATA hard-drive. It also came with an NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800 video card, which we switched out for an FX3800 for our second set of testing. The specifications are certainly decent for an entry-level workstation, though it’s worth noting that you don’t get the trick casing of the Z600 or Z800.

That’s not to say that there are no improvements over the xw4600 we reviewed back in November 2008, only that they’re more subtle. HP have switched the standard hard-drive fixings for new, rubber edged screws, and the door latch and overall fit is far improved and sits more securely against the case. The Z400 is extremely quiet, too, compared to the xw4600, though part of that is down to the new, cooler-running Xeon CPU versus the older workstation’s desktop-grade Q9650.

As for power management, the new HP Z Workstation line is ENERGY STAR 5.0 qualified and registered as Electronics Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Gold – 90 percent of the system is recyclable. It minimizes power costs with a new WattSaver feature and choices of high efficient power supplies (85 or 89 percentage). The system consumes less than one-watt when switch in “off” mode.

Of course, the proof is in the performance, and the Z400 put in a strong showing across all of our benchmarks. Its overall PCMark Vantage 64-bit score of 5307 – when tested with the FX1800 – matched exactly with the xw4600 with its FX1700 graphics, but that belies significantly higher scores in memory, music, productivity and HDD, and more than double the performance in gaming. When we switched out the FX1800 for the FX3800 the overall PCMark score shot to 8605.

Turning to Geekbench 64-bit, the Z400 scored 7578 with the FX1800 and 7613 with the FX3800, while in SPECviewperf 10 64-bit the distance it put between itself and the older xw4600 widened as the thread count racked up. The Nehalem series chips are known for their multi-threaded potential, and the 2.93GHz example in the Z400 is no different. In a more real-world test, we ran some retouch-artist processing in PhotoShop CS4 64-bit, which the Z400 managed in 17.5 seconds no matter the graphics card.

As a workstation, then, the Z400 offers decent entry-level performance and reasonable flexibility. Sometime in Q3 this year HP will offer optional liquid-cooling, though with the noise-output we’ve experienced from this air-cooled model it would only be the most noise-averse office that would demand it. SSDs are also optional, should speed of data access be a particular priority, together with a Blu-ray drive, and there are plentiful ports front and back.

Balancing cost and capability, there are significant advantages to stepping up from the xw4600, which remains on sale underneath the Z400. Prime among those reasons is the Xeon processor, which comfortably bests the Core 2 Quad in the maxed-out xw4600 we tested last year. However it’s also a more flexible machine, with broader talents as the benchmarking shows, and easier to live with thanks to careful case design and quiet components.

In terms of cost, the range starts from $929 for preconfigured models, which nets you the 2.4GHz Xeon dual-core; quad-core models start from $1,499, and a rig comparable to our test unit – with the 2.93GHz CPU – will be more in the region of $2,500. For that, though, you’re getting a solid, reliable and eminently capable workstation.

“As you may already be aware in late May, Psystar filed for Chapter 11 protection. Although this was critical to our continued daily operations, we now are ready to emerge and again battle Goliath. More information will become available in the coming days when we will be formally discharged by the Bankruptcy court. When life gives you apples, make applesauce” Psystar statement

The news of the recovery came in Psystar’s customer mail-out, and included a rather loaded snub at Apple themselves.  Full details of the recovery are unclear – Psystar describe it as “critical to our continued daily operations” – but considering Chapter 11 protection is generally used to give a company time to reorganize or source alternative funding, while putting off repaying creditors, it seems obvious that Psystar have had a new injection of cash from somewhere.

As for the new product, the Psystar Open(7) pairs Intel’s Xeon processor with OS X, complete with support for up to 24GB of RAM.  Both rackmount and desktop versions are on offer, priced from $1,499.99.

[via Neowin]

Video demo after the cut

There’s also twice the memory capacity, with Nehalem-EX supporting 16 DIMMS per socket and 64 DIMMS per platform.  Compared to the existing Xeon 7400 processor the new chip offers almost three times the threads and 1.5x the cache.  That, Intel say, make it much more suitable for virtualization tasks.

The first Intel Nehalem-EX chips will reach the market in the second half of 2009, with IBM already onboard to produce servers and blades using the processor.  No word on pricing, but don’t expect them to be cheap.

As standard the new Apple Xserve comes with a single 160GB 7,200rpm system hard-drive; that can be switched for a 128GB SSD (for $500) that doesn’t take up a drive bay.  The three drive bays can then be outfitted with up to 1TB 7,200rpm SATA drives for a total of 3TB storage.  There’s also various gigabit ethernet and fibre channel cards that can be optioned.

Connectivity includes two x16 PCI Express 2.0 slots (one 6.6-inch half-length, one 9.25-inch), two rear FireWire 800 ports and three USB 2.0 ports (one up front, two on the back).  There’s also an RS-232 serial port.  Each runs Mac OS X Server v.10.5 unlimited-client edition and supports Intel Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading.

The quad-core Apple Xserve is priced from $2,999, while the eight-core Apple Xserve is priced from $3,599.  The former ships within 24hrs, while the latter will ship in 3-5 business days

The two R-series Celsius workstations also support SLI graphics, while the R670 throws an integrated SAS controller into the mixture.  Together with the Xeon CPUs, Fujitsu have used the 1S Intel X58 and 2S Intel 5520 chipsets.

Fujitsu are also promoting the machines as environmentally-considerate: their power supplies are high-efficiency and meet ENERGY STAR 5.0 certification, while the work environment should be more comfortable as they boast best-in-class noise emission levels.  No pricing has been announced for the new Celsius workstations, nor specific availability dates.

Press Release:

The first product innovation under the Fujitsu brand: Fujitsu Siemens Computers introduces three powerful new workstations

The CELSIUS M470, CELSIUS R570 and CELSIUS R670 will be based on the latest Intel® processor technology and, with optimized computing and graphics power, take workstation performance to the next level

Fujitsu Siemens Computers today introduces a new generation of workstations which offer a new level of computing and graphics performance: The CELSIUS M470, CELSIUS R570 and CELSIUS R670 will be already based on Intel®’s latest workstation platform, codename: Tylersburg, which Intel® announced yesterday. With Intel®’s latest Xeon® processor 3500 and 5500 series Nehalem EP / WS as well as the new 1S Intel® X58 and 2S Intel® 5520 chipsets on board, the new CELSIUS family members deliver superior performance which makes them the ideal choice for compute-intense, multi-core optimized workstation applications. They will be the first product innovations introduced under the Fujitsu brand following Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ integration into Fujitsu as a wholly owned subsidiary on April 01, 2009.

Achieving best-in-class benchmark scores, the new workstations offer a better balanced architecture and an enormous performance boost – in complex modelling and simulation for example single application performance can be increased up to four times. Also, the new CELISUS range is certified and optimized for all leading workstation ISV applications.

All three workstations can be configured with a complete range of up to two next generation, professional OpenGL graphics sub-systems and are launched in a new functional design which provide a new dimension of performance and shader features suitable for the most demanding graphic tasks in environments such as 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Engineering (CAE, Simulation) and Digital Conte nt Creation (DCC) or even High-end Visualization, Post-processing or in Geo Sciences.

In terms of usability and Green IT features, Fujitsu Siemens Computers has even further upgraded its new workstation highlights. Thanks to an improved cooling technology, noise level and heat dissipation have been further reduced: The new CELSIUS models boast best in class noise emission and, in fact, provide whisper quiet operation. In addition, their high efficiency power supply makes them less power-consuming and fit for ENERGY STAR® 5.0 (in preparation).

Superior reliability is granted by a system board engineered and manufactured in Germany, by extended lifetime components for a trouble-free operation around the clock and by a sophisticated premium status LCD that displays the system status at any time and delivers comprehensive diagnostic information for problem resolution as well as customer specific information like system serial numbers – even without the Operating System running.

“Our new CELSIUS workstations are a breakthrough in terms of computing and graphics performance and underline Fujitsu Siemens Computers’ capability to deliver high-end infrastructure products and solutions to our customers as soon as the latest technology is available in the market”, says Wilhelm Geyer, Director Workstations at Fujitsu Siemens Computers. “Our powerful and reliable workstations have become indispensable equipment in the demanding workstation target markets. Based on the new Intel® platform and with the improved cooling system, the latest models – now under the Fujitsu brand – will be even more appreciated as a personal supercomputer which provides not only double performance, but also the perfect user experience for professional workstation users.”

„With the new Xeon® processor 5500, Intel® has achieved another key milestone in its approach to increase the power while reducing power consumption in workstations” says Christian Morales, Vice President and General Manager Europe, Middle East and Africa at Intel®. “Customers can unleash the power and energy efficiency of the new Intel® Xeon® processor 5500 series now, as vendors such as Fujitsu Siemens Computers have the technology ready to make it available immediately in its latest high performance workstation models.”

The new workstation models at a glance:

CELSIUS M470

This high performance, multi-core workstation is designed for mid-range 3D CAD, CAE and DCC applications. It supports up to 2 ultra high-end graphics subsystems, is equipped with the latest Intel® Xeon® processor and memory capacity of up to 24 GB. This makes it the best choice single-processor workstation for engineers, architects, animators or analysts.

CELSIUS R570

The CELSIUS R570 is the compact Dual Xeon mid-range workstation and the ideal choice for high-end 3D CAD, DCC and FSA applications. It supports up to two ultra high-end graphics subsystems as well as SLI technology and offers up to 48 GB memory. This compact dual-processor workstation delivers highest performance for ambitious tasks in almost any workstation segments.

CELSIUS R670

With the CELSIUS R670, Fujitsu Siemens Computers introduces a high-end, dual Xeon® workstation for high-end CAE, VR/VIS and GIS applications; it is even suitable for demanding EDA users. It supports up to two ultra high-end graphics subsystems and SLI technology, but offers up to 96 GB. For best I/O, the CELSIUS R670 is equipped with an integrated SAS controller. Its ultimate performance level makes it the perfect partner for most demanding multi-threaded tasks and for personal supercomputing.

About Fujitsu Siemens Computers:

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is the leading European IT Infrastructure Provider. By delivering Infrastructure products, solutions and services as well as Managed Infrastructure or a combination of these offerings, our customers have the freedom to choose whatever IT infrastructure fits best to their specific needs.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is present in all key markets in Europe, Africa and the Middle East serving large, small or medium-sized companies or private consumers, while its Infrastructure Services division is active in 170 countries. The company benefits from the global cooperation and innovation power of both its shareholders, Fujitsu Ltd. and Siemens AG.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is one of the pioneers in offering a complete range of environmentally conscious products and in using environmentally friendly technologies and processes throughout the entire lifecycle of a product.

For more information on Fujitsu Siemens Computers, please visit: www.fujitsu-siemens.com , for Corporate Social Responsibility please see www.fujitsu-siemens.com/aboutus/sor/index.html .

These new processors support HyperThreading and a Turbo Boost feature that increases clock speeds and shuts down unused cores, allowing for a serious boost in overall performance.

The Xeon 5500 ranges in price from $188 for the 1.86GHz dual-core to $1,600 for the 3.2GHz quad-core. There is also a Xeon 3500 available in three different models that range from 2.66GHz to 3.2GHz. Pricing for these ranges from $284 to $999. These Xeon processors are now available in Dell Precision systems and the HP Z800.

[via PC World]

The higher end of Mac Pro will cost you $3299 and come with base configuration of Two-2.26Ghz Quad Core Xeon 5500 CPU, 6GB of DDR3 RAM. Both low end and high-end configuration are equipped with nVidia GeForce 120GT video cards and 640GB hard drive.

The new refresh provides user with an integrated memory controller and three channels DDR3 (hence why the memory configuration starts at 3GB) that reduce memory latency up to 40 percent.

These low-voltage server and workstation chips are manufactured in 45-nanometer process and operates with 50W of power. The L5420 is priced at $380 and the L5410 retails for $320 in quantity of 1000.

[Press release]