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Press Release
SGI Unveils Altix XE1300 Ultra-Dense Cluster Built with New Quad Core Intel Xeon Processor 5300 Series 
Based on 'Atoka' Board Co-Designed with Intel and Supermicro, New System Integrates 16 Cores, InfiniBand and Gigabit Ethernet in a Single, 1U High Chassis SUPERCOMPUTING 2006, Booth #905, TAMPA, Fla. (November 14, 2006) — To meet growing demand for reliable, space-efficient cluster solutions, SGI (NASDAQ: SGIC) today unveiled the new SGI® Altix® XE1300, which is based on the ultra-dense Altix XE310 that packs up to four Quad Core Intel® Xeon® processor 5300 series into a single chassis, for a total of 16 cores. The Altix XE310 is built around the innovative new "Atoka" motherboard design, which was developed in a collaborative effort between SGI, Intel Corporation and Supermicro Computer, Inc. It doubles the density of Altix XE systems, and is the first in a series of innovative, new cluster computing solutions SGI is bringing to market in the coming months. The new line of factory-integrated, fully tested Altix XE1300 clusters includes the SGI Altix XE cluster software solution stack which provides industry-leading cluster management and development tools. The new system delivers breakthrough cluster cost efficiencies, optimizing valuable data center real estate, lowering infrastructure expense, and simplifying cluster management. With fewer components, the Altix XE1300 also delivers enhanced reliability across the cluster. "In a market crowded with barely differentiated cluster products, SGI brings a unique and reliable solution built on genuine innovation - a space-efficient cluster capable of delivering real-world cost efficiencies for customers," said Dave Parry, Senior Vice President and Product General Manager, SGI. "SGI's collaboration with Intel and Supermicro has produced an HPC-optimized cluster solution that integrates the latest Quad Core Intel Xeon processors, high-speed connectivity technology, and a rich solution stack that together reduce the cost and complexity of cluster computing." Due to its highly integrated design, the Altix XE1300 makes maximum use of coveted data center real estate. The high density is achieved via an all-new, tightly integrated design compact enough to fit two eight-core servers in a single 1U chassis. "When it comes to increasing reliability and optimizing use of data center real estate, it's helpful to see how a single Altix XE310 1U system stacks up against a comparable AMD Opteron system," added Parry. "Opteron systems offer just four cores in a 1U form factor. But the ultra-dense Quad Core Altix XE310 packs 16 cores in a single 1U chassis. With the Altix XE1300, customers can do more with less hardware and space, which in turn lowers their TCO." "We chose to work with SGI on the design of the Atoka board because SGI understands the level of innovation that the cluster market requires - the kind of innovation that benefits from the performance of the Quad Core Intel Xeon Processor 5300 Series," said Dr. Stephen Wheat, Director of Intel's High Performance Computing Platform Office. "The new Quad Core Intel Xeon processor enables the Altix XE1300 clusters to provide users with leading performance density, better power efficiency, and lower costs of ownership." "Supermicro has a history of innovation in integrated server solutions, and we are pleased to work with SGI and Intel to extend that reputation with SGI's latest offering," said Alex Hsu, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Supermicro. "SGI has exhibited great vision with the Altix XE1300 line - a vision that will help deliver the performance and features users need to realize the full potential of their applications. This server, with its high-performance, high-efficiency and compact design, achieves that vision and delivers more cluster performance at a lower cost and smaller footprint than previously possible." SGI also announced plans to provide the new Quad Core Intel Xeon processors in its existing SGI Altix XE1200 clusters, along with the Dual Core processors originally sold with the XE1200 line. The move underscores the flexibility of the SGI Altix XE cluster offerings, ensuring that customers can deploy the cluster solution that best suits their needs. Because all SGI Altix XE cluster systems use industry-standard component technology, new Quad Core Intel Xeon processor-based systems will not require special qualification, recompiles, or reprogramming. SGI expects to work with Intel on the development of additional systems based on upcoming Atoka board designs that are further optimized for high-efficiency, multi-node HPC deployments.
Available in 1U and 2U form factors Within its 1U chassis, the XE310 makes the most of board real estate by housing two nodes per chassis, integrated with InfiniBand on each node. With four Intel Xeon processor sockets, each XE310 chassis can scale to 16 Intel Xeon processor cores (with quad-core) or eight cores (with dual-core). The Altix XE240 server head node accommodates two Intel Xeon processors (either dual-core or quad-core), eight fully buffered DIMMs for Quad Channel DDR-2 memory, an optional Intel I/O expansion model, integrated ATI graphics, five hot-swap drive slots, up to three PCI-x and two PCIe slots, and optional redundant power and cooling.
Pricing and Availability
SGI - Innovation for Results © 2006 SGI. All rights reserved. SGI, Altix, the SGI cube and the SGI logo are registered trademarks of SGI in the United States and/or other countries worldwide. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in several countries. Intel and Xeon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding SGI technologies and third-party technologies that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely unduly on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future or current performance. Such risks and uncertainties include long-term program commitments, the performance of third parties, the sustained performance of current and future products, financing risks, the ability to integrate and support a complex technology solution involving multiple providers and users, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's most recent SEC reports, including its reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
