HP Introduces First Professional Workstation with Six-core AMD Opteron Processor

Just how many cores do we need? Granted dual core is great, and quad core is even better… I know I hate going back to a single core computer, and I love my quad core. I guess though for workstations and such, you might need six cores, but is there really software out there that can fully utilize them?

HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced the immediate integration of the highly anticipated hp 

Ideal for high-end workstation applications in fields such as engineering, 3-D digital content creation, oil and gas, and science, the HP xw9400 Workstation taps the power of the new AMD Opteron processors to deliver higher productivity, especially for multi-threaded applications, multi-tasking and mega-tasking environments.

With the built-in engineering advantages of HP’s highly tuned workstations, the HP xw9400 Workstation can accommodate up to two Six-Core AMD Opteron processors – for a total of 12 cores – each of which offers up to 34 percent more performance per watt(1) over the previous-generation quad-core processors.

“HP understands the immense pressure its customers are under to deliver more return on investment in a shorter period of time,” said Jeff Wood, director, Worldwide Marketing, Workstations, HP. “By providing the most extreme combination of technologies – up to 12 cores in one workstation – HP continues its commitment to bringing customers leading-edge technologies.”

AMD HyperTransport™ 3.0 technology (HT3) increases interconnect rates from 2 gigatransfers per second (GT/s) up to a maximum 4.8 GT/s, allowing the entire system to provide superior performance. Additionally, the HP xw9400 can be configured with the ATI FirePro V7750 3-D workstation graphics accelerator.

“The Six-Core AMD Opteron processor delivers top-line performance with no compromise in feature sets across the product line,” said John Fruehe, director, Business Development, Server Workstation Business, AMD. “Including the Six-Core AMD Opteron processor and ATI FirePro V7750 3-D workstation graphics accelerator in the powerful HP xw9400 Workstation offers customers an optimal combination of computing performance and high-end graphics capability.”

The HP xw9400 Workstation is registered as an Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT™) Gold product, the highest rating available. All HP workstations are more than 90 percent recyclable by weight and incorporate a tool-less chassis design for quick and easy upgrades by hand. The HP xw9400 workstation includes an 80 PLUS power supply, which is substantially more efficient than a standard power supply, reducing both overall energy usage and the amount of waste heat released into the environment.

Companies use HP Workstations to design everything from running shoes to race cars, animated characters to deep-sea submersibles, and to manage everything from billions of dollars of tradable securities to mission-critical IT environments.

The HP xw9400 Workstation starts at a U.S. list price of $1,899(2) and is available for purchase at www.hp.com/go/workstations.

About HP

HP, the world’s largest technology company, provides printing and personal computing products and IT services, software and solutions that simplify the technology experience for consumers and businesses. HP completed its acquisition of EDS on Aug. 26, 2008. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com/.

(1) AMD Opteron processor Model 2435 (SPECpower_ssj 2008 overall 1,297 ssj_ops/watt; 501,246 ssj_ops at 287 watts at 100 percent target load) compared to AMD Opteron processor Model 2382 (SPECpower_ssj 2008 overall 970 ssj_ops/watt; 376,878 ssj_ops at 272 watts at 100 percent target load). ZT Systems 1224R Datacenter Server, HT1, 16GB (4x4GB DDR2-800) memory, 80GB SATAII SSD, 400W Sparkle Power Int’l LTD SPI4001UG power supply, Microsoft Windows® Server 2008 Enterprise SP1 64-bit.

(2) Estimated U.S. list price. Actual price may vary.