Hewlett-Packard Co. launched a server based on Intel Corp.’s new Tigerton quad-core Xeon processor Thursday, battling IBM Corp. for customers who run data-intensive business applications like enterprise resource planning and virtualization software.
HP announced the rack-based ProLiant DL580 G5 and the blade-shaped ProLiant BL680c G5, each using four of Intel’s Xeon 7300-series chips.
Compared to HP’s current ProLiant servers with dual-core versions of the Xeon or Advanced Micro Devices Inc.’s Opteron chips, both new servers are designed to better support virtualization, allowing users to handle their applications with a smaller number of servers than they need today, the company said.
The announcement comes less than a week before AMD is expected to launch its own quad-core server chip, called Barcelona. HP, Sun Microsystems Inc. and other vendors are expected to use that processor in a range of new platforms for similar markets.
In the meantime, Intel is enjoying increased popularity for its Tigerton chip. IBM also chose the Xeon 7300 chip to upgrade its server lineup, combining the processor with its own X4 chipset instead of Intel’s Clarksboro chipset. IBM announced the System x3950 M2 server on Wednesday, also touting its virtualization abilities.
