Intel expands Itanium 2 range

By Alun Williams

Posted on 5 Sep 2003 at 17:39

Intel has announced two additions to the 64-bit Itanium 2 server processor family: a low voltage version of the Itanium 2 (previously codenamed 'Deerfield') and the unwieldy-named Itanium 2 Processor 1.4 GHz, 1.5 MB ('Madison DP').

The processors complement the Itanium 2 high-end 'Madison' release unveiled at the end of June. This represents Intel's heavyweight 64-bit processor - running at 1.5GHz with a whole 6MB of integrated level three (L3) cache - targeted at high performance computing.

Intel claims, however, that for some server applications, where throughput is more important, the processor speed takes priority over cache size. Cutting the cache size down to 1.5Mb enables Intel to reduce the Itanium 2's price and target the 'value' end of the 64-bit server market.

The Low Voltage Itanium 2, with maximum power of 62w, is in the desktop territory for power dissipation. This enables system builders to start putting Itaniums in blades and packing them together in higher density.

Intel claims this model claims consumes approximately half the power of existing Itanium 2 processors. It operates at a frequency of 1 GHz and has 1.5 MB of L3 cache.

With the new releases, Intel is banking on expanding the Itanium's reach into lower cost systems, such as for front-end enterprise applications. While the earlier 'Madison' Itanium 2 Processor 6Mb can support up to 128 way systems, the new releases are for dual processing.

'With these new processors, Itanium 2-based systems now can power all facets of the data centre from entry-level systems to supercomputers and massive database servers' said Richard Dracott, group marketing director for Intel's Enterprise Platforms Group.

The Intel Itanium 2 processor at 1.4 GHz with 1.5 MB of cache and the Low Voltage Intel Itanium 2 processor are priced at $1,172 and $744, respectively (based on 1,000-unit quantities, respectively.

OS support by the Itanium 2 includes Windows Server 2003, Linux from Red Hat, SuSE or TurboLinux, and HP's HP-UX.

Machines incorporating the new processors are promised by IBM, Dell, HP, NEC, Hitachi and Celestica.

See also

Intel unveils the Itanium 2 and new Xeon MP processors

New Opterons for single and eight-way systems