Dell Breaks Virtualization Performance Records with PowerEdge Servers Based on New Quad-Core AMD Opteron Processors

-- Eight Dell PowerEdge blade, rack and tower servers now with 45nm Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors

-- Up to 49% Java performance increase over previous PowerEdge systems with AMD

-- Highest VMmark scores for two- and four-socket servers, blades(1)

ROUND ROCK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) today introduced eight new tower, blade and rack-mount PowerEdge servers based on the new Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors. Leading the industry in virtualization performance, the new PowerEdge servers and blades can help customers reduce IT complexity and costs.

    The News:

    --  The new Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors are now available in
        two- and four-socket Dell PowerEdge servers, including three
        blade servers (M905, M805, M605), four rack servers (R905,
        R805, 2970, SC1435) and one tower server (T605).

    --  The latest PowerEdge servers offer superior performance and
        value.

        --  Improved Performance: Dell's Dual HT link designs, which
            doubles the available bandwidth between two processors for
            an AMD estimated 12% performance improvement.

        --  Better Power Efficiency: Increased performance while using
            about the same amount of power as previous server
            generations.

        --  Investment Protection: Third generation PIN compatible for
            simple chip swap.

    --  PowerEdge servers and blades with new Quad-Core AMD Opteron
        processors lead the industry in virtualization performance.

        --  PowerEdge R905 & R805 servers based on Quad-Core AMD
            Opteron processor hold no. 1 VMmark Scores for two- and
            four-socket systems.(2)

        --  New systems offer flexibility AMD estimates will provide
            25 percent faster VM-to-VM switch time and the ability to
            VMotion across servers using prior generations AMD Opteron
            processors.

        --  Dell PowerEdge systems are optimized for
            customer-preferred virtualization solutions from key
            partners like Microsoft, VMware and Citrix.

    --  Dell PowerEdge M-series blades offer unbeatable power
        efficiency, performance for virtualization and a low total
        cost of ownership.

        --  PowerEdge M905 uses up to 8 percent less power than
            comparable HP blades and up to 18 percent less power than
            comparable IBM blades.(3)

        --  PowerEdge M905 achieved the No. 1 VMmark score for
            blades.(1)

    Quotes:

    --  "Dell understands how to give you the most compute power for
        your IT dollar. So, we've designed the our AMD processor-based
        servers and blades to be powerful and virtualization-ready,
        but simple and affordable," said Brad Anderson, senior vice
        president, Dell's Business Product Group

    --  "AMD has worked hard to develop advanced virtualization
        capabilities as part of our new 45nm Quad-Core AMD Opteron(TM)
        processor," said Patrick Patla, vice president and general
        manager, Server and Workstation division, AMD. "We're glad
        that Dell has chosen to utilize our virtualization technology
        in new blade, rack and tower servers, leveraging unique-to-AMD
        features such as Rapid Virtualization Indexing (RVI) and AMD
        Extended Migration, to enable an extremely flexible IT
        environment that meets the needs of businesses of all sizes."

    Additional Information:

More information about Dell PowerEdge Servers with new Quad-Core AMD processors

InsideIT video blog from Sally Stevens, director of PG marketing, about PowerEdge Systems

    More information on AMD Opteron processors

    VMware VMmark Information

    SPEC Website

    About Dell

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(1) Based on SPECjbb2005 benchmark results by Dell Labs comparing PowerEdge R805 servers with 65nm and 45nm Opteron processors. For the latest SPECjbb2005 benchmark results, visit www.spec.org/osg/jbb2005.

(2) Based on R905, R805, and M905 VMmark results as compared to published benchmark scores as of November 12, 2008. VMware(R) VMmark(TM) is a product of VMware, Inc. VMmark utilizes SPECjbb2005(R) and SPECweb2005(R), which are available from the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC). See www.vmmark.com for current results.

(3) Source: Principled Technologies, "SPECjbb performance and power consumption on multi-processor Intel- and AMD-based blade servers," an August 2008 report commissioned by Dell.

Source: Dell Inc.

Released November 13, 2008