IBM Launches p690

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Posted by ryuzaki0 on Thursday October 4, 2001 @04:58AM from the things-to-blow-the-budget-on dept.

edyavno writes: "IBM just announced the launch of their new high-end Unix server p690. It's based on its new Power 4 chip, and is in the same category as just announced Sun's SunFire 15K. It also includes some mainframe level features and can be used either as a single large server or divided into up to 16 "virtual" servers, running any combination of AIX 5L and Linux. Here's yahoo article, and here it is from IBM itself."

13 of 231 comments (clear)

the real question: by scotch · 2001-10-04 05:00 · Score: 2, Funny

Can it play chess?

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XML causes global warming.
Sure, it LOOKS powerful... by UserChrisCanter4 · 2001-10-04 05:01 · Score: 5, Funny

[sarcasm]But if you'll take a look, neither Photoshop Filter or Final Cut Pro benchmarks are even obtainable... obviously it pales in comparison to a Dual G4-800![/sarcasm]
1. Re:Sure, it LOOKS powerful... by ackthpt · 2001-10-04 05:42 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Yeah, but what we really want to know is how fast it can compile Cobol and whether it includes a card reader, 9 track tape and interfaces to a 1403 printer... we gotta upgrade soon.
  
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  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
My question has been answered! by scott1853 · 2001-10-04 05:05 · Score: 5, Funny

"achieves leadership in business, scientific and Java performance benchmarks"

I had always been wondering what kind of system was needed to run Java apps at a decent speed.
too expensive by Quasar1999 · 2001-10-04 05:06 · Score: 2, Funny

It's not affordable... Even on a software developer's salary, I can't buy one... bah!

I guess I'll just have to wait six months before it comes down to the sub $3000 market...

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Programming is like sex... Make one mistake and support it the rest of your life.
16 virtual servers? by sporty · 2001-10-04 05:10 · Score: 3, Funny

I must admit this is kinda cool.. but can you run say, 16 copies of NT and have them all blue screen at once?(/joke)

Just curious...

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ping -f 255.255.255.255 # if only
1. Re:16 virtual servers? by schwatoo · 2001-10-04 05:26 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Can you imagine the beowulf cluster that would make?
  
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  I have trouble with passwords among other things.
Re:Overview from IBM's website by AssFace · 2001-10-04 05:26 · Score: 2, Funny

I can't speak for all Slashdot users, but I know for certain what *I'd* do with 160 pci ports.

yeah, that's right, fill 'em with peanut butter.

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There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.
Re:*Warning* Rumor... by Homewrecker · 2001-10-04 05:32 · Score: 1, Funny

Hello in there! He's obviously talking about eMachines.

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--- Linux R00lz!
Oh yeah, these are great! by Sir_Real · 2001-10-04 05:51 · Score: 4, Funny

I'm running one of these right now as my MASQ/NAT box... You should see how quickly fortune executes...

;-)
No crappy Photoshop test ! by da5idnetlimit.com · 2001-10-04 05:57 · Score: 2, Funny

Lets work him the real way.

1 / Send one to Anand Tech
2 / take a picture while Anand lose consciousness seeing the beast in his yard (Tom Hardware compatible 8)
3 / wait 5 days

4 / Learn at least that it IS possible to play Quake @ 1600*1200*32bits @ 1Gfps in software mode. 8)

Gosh, someone gives me a joystick 8)

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Re:SPEC numbers by King+Babar · 2001-10-04 06:52 · Score: 5, Funny

SPECint2000 Base and SPECfp2000 Base are single-threaded applications and the results only tests one CPU. I'd like to see how well it scales in performance at 32 processors. That thing could be one very powerful Oracle database server or an application server.

For what it's worth, the 32 processor 1.3GHz models claim an rPerf of 50.56, and all the number seem to scale about as you'd expect (e.g., not quite linear in # of processors).
But, sicko that I am, where I think the Power4 might really get down and dirty is in supercomputing applications. None of this sharing, caring relational database stuff. No siree; I'm into a much more serious kind of scene. This freaky baby was just built for LINEAR ALGEBRA, friend, and I've heard that she can keep on doing it it all night long! We're talking a *serious* FLOPhouse here, folks. But you've got to talk dirty to it, something like Hey, take a look at this generalized eigenvalue problem--have you seen a longer or harder one than...
Uh, excuse me; I guess I was losing my composure a bit back there. I've got both hands back on the keyboard now.
But doesn't anybody else ever wonder why there aren't more LINPACK benchmarks posted on alt.sex.stories?

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Babar
if it's "self-healing"... by Bistromat · 2001-10-04 07:48 · Score: 2, Funny

shouldn't it be called the T-1000 instead of the p690?

"Holy shit! It's healing itself!"

"Have you seen this boy?"