February 01, 1999, Issue: 827
Section: News
Compaq, IBM enhance midrange lines -- Augment servers
with Alpha processors, Power3, Linux
Edward F. Moltzen
New York -- Compaq Computer Corp. and IBM Corp. this week are
expected to introduce new servers and workstations.
To leverage speed enhancements to its Alpha processor line, Compaq will
unveil new servers and workstations and provide additional Linux support to
its Alpha Server line.
IBM, meanwhile, will roll out a new RS/6000 SP server based on the Power3
processing architecture-the latest offering in its so-called "deep computing"
push into numeric-intensive enterprises.
Today, Compaq's server division will unveil its AlphaServer DS20, based on
the Alpha 21264 processor. The system can run two 500MHz Alpha 21264s
in a dual-processor configuration, and the company said it will have new
high-speed memory access. A DS20 with 128 Mbytes of memory and a
4-Gbyte disk, running Tru64 Unix or OpenVMS, has an entry price of
$19,900.
Houston-based Compaq also will offer a Linux-ready configuration, with an
expected reseller price of less than $15,000.
Compaq will open up distribution of Linux-based systems to all Compaq
resellers who meet certification requirements. The new Alpha/Unix systems,
however, will remain under tight certification, said Mike Pocock of channel
sales for North America at Compaq.
Steve Severson, Compaq's Alpha marketing director, said, "We've spoken to
a lot of customers about Linux. On our Unix customer advisory board,
everybody is looking at Linux. It's a wave. We want to ride all of the
important waves."
Steve Gaudet, owner of DCG Computers Inc., Londonderry, N.H., said he
looks forward to the release of the Alpha 21264 processor that will be
included in the latest system. DCG primarily ships Linux on Alpha systems to
corporate customers. "Linux is a good fit on Alpha, and I can build systems
that are faster and cheaper than on Intel," he said.
Compaq also will release its Professional Workstation XP1000 with the
Alpha 21264 processor, PowerStorm graphics, and a high-bandwidth
architecture running on either Tru64 or Windows NT.
Pricing for the XP100, running NT and with Elsa Gloria Synergy graphics and
128 Mbytes of RAM, will start at $7,152, Compaq said.
Meanwhile, Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM said it plans to ship on Feb. 26 its
new RS/6000 SP Power2 symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) wide- and
thin-node servers.
IBM said the systems' 64-bit, Power3 microprocessor can perform 2 billion
operations per second, marking a 50 percent improvement in
price/performance.
The standard systems, which will start at about $30,000, are the latest entry
into the deep computing space popularized by the RS/6000 Deep Blue chess
matches vs. grand master Garry Kasparov.
The systems will include the 200MHz, 64-bit SMP processor; one- or
two-way SMP; 64 Kbytes of Level 1 data cache; and 4 Mbytes of Level 2
instruction cache, among other features.
David Gelardi, a program director for IBM's RS/6000 division, said the
systems' price/performance and opportunities for service, integration and
support should help make them attractive to VARs.
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