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Bulgarian Experienced Crackers
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Posted - 2008.10.09 19:25:00 -
[1]
 Originally by: CCP Mindstar
Originally by: Mashie Saldana
Originally by: Del ReyII
I'd say its more like LGA771 Wolfdale running on Intel 5000p using 4x 4GB FBDIMMs. Probably like a IBM BladeCenter HS21 .
There are no dual core 3.3GHz Xeon CPUs, the closest is the 3.4GHz Xeon X5272 running the Harpertown core.
I do however stand corrected regarding my first post, there are 16GB memory kits (4x4GB) that will work with P45 based motherboards. So 16GB Wolfdale systems are possible. 
Hey guys,
Just to clear this up, there are indeed such things as dual core 3.3ghz Xeon Processors, and the IBM blades that we are using are capable of 16gb memory out of the box. 
Ok, I don't want to break my NDA, but you could expect this anyway - IBM will release an updated HS21 blade (dubbed HS22) in early Q1 2009.
The main features will be PCIe 2.0, DDR3 (higher freq.), support for 1600MHz FSB, more DIMM slots than on the HS21. Of course, even now you have HS21 XM (8 DIMMs vs. 4 DIMMs on the normal HS21). Only CCP (and God) knows if the EVE server code would benefit from having 32GB of RAM (vs. 16GB). What about the FSB/Memory having considerably higher bandwidht? You have the Intel X5272 3.4GHz 80W part which has 1600MHz FSB. The DDR3 RAM increases the memory latency, but allows for higher memory frequencies (bandwidth) and lower power consumption. I know that latency is King, but IMHO this should be tested.
Also, the combination of PCIe 2.0 chipset, Intel IOAT enabled Intel Gigabit controllers (the latest, not yet to be found in IBM servers) + latest Windows Server 2003 patches, provide CONSIDERABLY lower CPU utilization, thus freeing up CPU cycles for other tasks. This week we are running tests with Intel 5400 chipset (PCIe 2.0 / 1600MHz FSB) and some OEM Intel NICs and the new Brocade 8Gbps FC HBAs (yes, Brocade finally decided to go to the market with HBAs). So far, wonderful results!
About Nehalem - check out this engineering-sample benchamrks: http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3326&p=5
2.93GHz for an engeneering sample is not that bad...Frequency is not always that important. Having the memory controller integrated + 3-channel DDR3 direct-attach memory + considerably faster and bigger caches do some interesting things.
Of course, CCP could not always wait for the latest & greatest, but if you plan to upgrade the whole cluster, you'd better invest in something really future proof. The new Nehalem platform will be Socket compatible with the 32nm derivatives, so CCP could expect much longer life for the hardware ;-).
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