NEWS BRIEFS
Somers, N.Y.– IBM today announced what it claimed was the world’s fastest Unix-based computing workstation.
This IBM model 170 workstation features powerful Unix 3d graphics capability and is shipping in volume today. It uses copper-fueled microprocessors and the latest gxt6000p 3d graphics accelerator from ibm to provide unprecedented levels of performance for companies designing products such as airplanes and automobiles.
The gxt6000p graphics card adapter is the newest member of IBM’s graphics family. it provides three key components extremely important for 3-d graphics design and engineering applications: excellent integer performance, high floating-point performance and superior data throughput. the accelerator provides properly implemented restoration and geometric processing, enabling engineers to precisely calculate and render models to scale. The gxt6000p performs up to 2.8 times faster than its predecessor. The accelerator can be used with all ibm workstations.
With state-of-the-art, copper microprocessors, IBM claims that the Model 170 outperforms comparable Sun, HP and SGI UNIX systems in key benchmarks including SPECviewperf OpenGL industry standardized performance measurements. OpenGL is the underlying graphics library in most 3-D graphics visualization and design applications.
SPECviewperf is a series of real world OpenGL application benchmarks developed by leading ISVs including Alias, WaveFront, Intergraph Corporation, Discreet, Parametric Technology Corporation, Solids Works Corporation and IBM.
The Model 170 workstation from IBM contains a built-in service processor designed to continuously monitor operations and take preventative or corrective actions as well as perform sophisticated remote system management functions.
“Offering a geometric engine in hardware is especially valuable to im engineering functions such as rotations, zooming, definition of light and displaying large amounts of data,” said Jim McGaughan, product manager, IBM Web Servers. “The Model 170 brings a new level of performance to the entry UNIX server market.”
The model 170 is a uniprocessor system that became available in february 2000 with two microprocessor speeds, 300mhz and 400mhz. the new 450mhz-microprocessor system is available with up to 2 gb of ram and 145.6gb of internal storage. entry price for the model 170 is $10,495. orders for the gxt6000p began shipping in mid-december, 2000. the high function, high performance 3-d unix workstation with graphics accelerator is available at less than $30,000.
For more information, visit http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/pseries/hardware
============================================================