News Briefs - Hardware:

Dell Workstations Deliver High-Performance Computing

Dell, a supplier of workstations, introduced two Dell Precision workstations based on a new core architecture that is designed to deliver unprecedented levels of processor, graphics and storage performance.

The Dell Precision 470 and 670 also debut new processor technology that brings customers the power of 64-bit computing with the ability to efficiently run all of today's 32-bit applications.

"Our customers are realizing the benefits of a dramatic inflection point in workstation performance technologies," said Paul Gottsegen, vice president of marketing in Dell's product group. "The new Dell Precision workstations are at the forefront of an innovative architecture designed to deliver more performance to drive advanced applications farther than ever."

Smart 64-Bit Computing, Latest High-Performance Technology

Powered by the new Intel Xeon processors with Extended Memory 64-bit Technology, the dual processor-capable Dell Precision 470 and 670 workstations enable more performance-intensive design applications to manipulate larger, more complex visual models in sharp detail by breaking past the 4GB memory barrier of today's systems and accessing up to 16GB of memory. The platforms' compatibility with legacy 32-bit applications will allow customers to deploy a 64-bit operating system and still run 32-bit applications across their entire enterprise.

In addition to 64-bit computing, the new Dell Precision systems integrate a full suite of new technologies that deliver more performance and headroom for future scalability. The new platforms include DDR2, the next generation memory architecture and PCI-Express, an efficient serial I/O architecture. DDR2 optimizes the desktop architecture by satisfying the increased demands of faster processors, graphics and I/O subsystems. PCI-Express can quadruple graphics bandwidth, improve internal data connections and offer a dedicated, high-speed interface for peripherals (x4 link with up to 2GB/s bandwidth).

"The availability of new technologies such as Intel EM64T, PCI-Express and DDR2 mark a redesign of core architectures, replacing legacy sub-systems that have reached their performance ceiling," said Sarang Ghatpande, lead analyst for industry standard computing platforms at D.H. Brown. "These technologies offer the architectural basis and a flexible path to support 64-bit computing in the enterprise."

Engineered for Professional Environments

The Dell Precision 470 and 670 workstations are specifically engineered to deliver power, scalability and flexible form factors for a variety of workstation environments. For example, patented acoustic technologies deliver a nearly silent, office-ready solution capable of server-class performance.

The Dell Precision 670 delivers performance and scalability for workstation users who require maximum graphics, storage and peripherals expansion, while the Dell Precision 470 mirrors the performance capabilities of the 670, but in a smaller, "rackable" chassis designed for space-constrained environments, such as financial trading desks or clustering applications.

Additional Technical Specifications of the Dell Precision 470 and 670

• Dual-processor capable Intel Xeon architecture (up to 3.6GHz) with support for Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology
• PCI Express workstation-class graphics card offerings
• More scalable DDR2 RAM (chipset supports up to 16GB)
• SATA (470/670) and SCSI (670) with support for RAID to help break storage bottlenecks (up to 800GB solutions)
• Available with Microsoft Windows XP Pro (32-bit) and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (32-bit & 64-bit)