The 3.6GHz chip, code-named Nocona, is used in increasingly powerful dual-processor machines that account for the bulk of Intel's presence in the market for servers. The systems begin a new 64-bit era begun by Intel rival Advanced Micro Devices, an era that makes it easier to support more than 4GB of memory on the companies' "x86" chips.
Though Intel launched the 64-bit Itanium family in 2001, it wasn't practical to run the vast number of applications written for x86 chips such as Pentium or Xeon. Intel stands by its long-term Itanium plans, arguing that Itanium servers will have the same price but twice the performance as Xeon machines by 2007, but market analyst company IDC lowered its Itanium forecasts based on the arrival of 64-bit x86 chips.
As expected, the Nocona systems will arrive at same time as the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in San Francisco -- appropriate timing given that Linux is the only operating system so far that can take advantage of the processor's 64-bit extensions. Microsoft in July delayed its 64-bit version of Windows for x86 chips such as Intel's Xeon and AMD's Opteron.
Transitions from 32-bit to 64-bit chips, however, take years to accomplish as chips, operating systems and eventually software are adapted to the change. The transition doesn't have to be fast though; Xeon and Opteron can run 64-bit and 32-bit programs simultaneously.
"This gives (customers) the flexibility to deploy systems now and migrate when their 64-bit applications are ready," said Bruce Kornfeld, director of Dell's worldwide enterprise marketing.
The Nocona servers also come with other technologies -- notably, faster DDR2 (double data rate 2) memory and the PCI Express interface for input-output devices such as network or storage cards. To use these technologies, the systems employ a faster 800MHz front-side bus to connect the Xeon to the rest of the system.
However, because of a glitch in Nocona's supporting chipset, code-named Lindenhurst, Intel recommends against using PCI Express plug-in cards. The problem is expected to be fixed in the fourth quarter, but in the meantime, the existing older PCI-X interface can be used.
Among the new Xeon servers to be announced on Monday are the following:
Other companies supporting the new dual-processor products include Acer, California Digital, Appro, Fujitsu, Gateway, Hitachi, Kraftway, LanChao, Lenovo, LinuxNetworx, NEC, Quanta, Rackable Systems, SuperMicro, Toshiba, Verari and Wistron.
