SeaMicro SM10000-64 Grabs 256 64-Bit Atom CPUs For Distinctive Server

Intel's Atom N570 processor isn't just to be found inside Lenovo's IdeaPad S100; server manufacturer SeaMicro has followed up its first Atom-based model, the SM10000, with a new version boasting 64-bit support. The SeaMicro SM10000-64 answers the main criticism of the first, Z530 based server, running enterprise-friendly 64-bit software with no modifications required. The dual-core chips also mean that the SM10000-64 requires just half the processors of its predecessor, though that doesn't make it necessarily cheap

That means 256 Atom CPUs, rather than 512, but with the same number of cores available. Each chip runs at 1.66GHz and has access to 4GB of memory; four Atoms are packaged onto each "Compute Card" while a total of 64 cards can be bundled together in an entire system. Intel says that, despite the server company's influence on the design of the 64-bit processor, the N570 isn't exclusively intended for SeaMicro, but has admitted that "it just so happens there are relatively few server vendors that are using Atom." The SM10000-64 is available now, priced from $148,000.

[via WSJ]

Press Release:

SeaMicro Now Shipping the World's Most Energy Efficient x86 Server with New 64-bit Intel Atom N570 Processor

The New SM10000-64™ Integrates 256 Intel® Atom™ Dual-core 1.66GHz Processors – 512 64-bit Cores and 850GHz, into a 10 Rack Unit System

SANTA CLARA, Calif., February 28, 2011 – SeaMicro™, the Silicon Valley pioneer of low power server technology, today announced the immediate availability of the world's most energy efficient 64-bit x86 server: the SM10000-64™. The newest member of the SM10000™ family combines SeaMicro's revolutionary server architecture with 256 of the latest 64-bit Intel® Atom™ N570 dual-core processors. The result is the SM10000-64, which delivers an industry leading 512 1.66 GHz x86 cores in a 10 rack unit-tall (17.5 inches) system. Bringing together Intel's most advanced Atom processor and SeaMicro's Internet-optimized server design, the SM10000-64 reduces power and space by more than 75 percent without the need for any software modifications.

Optimized for 64-bit Internet data center environments, the SM10000-64 delivers more compute per unit power and more compute per unit space than any x86 system ever built. The SM10000-64 is also the industry leader in bandwidth per unit compute. SeaMicro's 1.28 terabit/second supercomputer style fabric enables the SM10000-64 to deliver five times more bandwidth per unit compute than do traditional servers. This allows applications that require extensive server to server communication such as Hadoop to run more quickly by keeping network bottlenecks from inhibiting application performance.

For example, in the Hadoop MinuteSort benchmark test (http://sortbenchmark.org), 29 SeaMicro SM10000-64s were able to beat the performance of 1,406 dual socket quad core servers, but used just one-quarter of the power and took one-fifth the space. A very different test designed to benchmark web serving produced similar results. With ApacheBench, a test that fetches one million 16 KB files per-second, a single SeaMicro's SM10000-64 delivered the same performance as 45 best-in-class dual socket quad core servers, but used one-quarter the power and one-quarter the space.

SeaMicro's SM10000-64 showcases the new Intel Atom dual-core 1.66 GHz N570 processor. The N570 supports 64-bit operating systems, four gigabytes of operating system addressable memory per socket and is the first low power Atom processor to support virtualization. Each dual core N570 processor supports four threads and delivers the industry's best performance per watt for Internet workloads. When used on a SeaMicro motherboard, and in conjunction with SeaMicro power management technology, the N570 uses, at peak utilization, less than one watt for each gigahertz of compute.

"Intel is committed to working with innovative companies to deliver extraordinary solutions," said Jason Waxman, general manager of Intel's Data Center Group. "The combination of SeaMicro's unique server architecture and the new dual core Intel Atom processor, which provides 64 bit OS support and four gigabytes of OS addressable memory all while maintaining the benefits of x86 software compatibility, make for a very compelling value proposition."

Like all SeaMicro servers, the SM10000-64 is exceptionally easy to use. It simplifies data center operations and management by eliminating layers of Ethernet switches, server management devices and expensive load-balancers. It is plug and play – customers can deploy it without modifications to existing operating systems, application software or management tools.

SeaMicro's SM10000-64 system is comprised of:

256 dual core 1.66 GHz Intel Atom processors,

1.024 Terabytes of DDR3 DRAM,

up to 64 SATA solid state or hard disk drives,

8 – 64 one gigabit Ethernet uplinks.

Additional benefits include:

support for 64-bit operating systems,

four gigabytes of addressable memory per socket,

industry leading density with 512 cores per 10 rack unit, or 2,048 cores per 7-foot rack,

delivers one gigabit of bandwidth per core: 5 times more bandwidth than traditional servers*

runs off-the-shelf OSs for application compatibility, enabling drop-in adoption,

Integrated top-of-rack switch, load balancer and consol server, simplify infrastructure by eliminating equipment that adds unnecessary cost and management complexity.

The SeaMicro SM10000-64 is now generally available in the U.S. and at select international locations. The US list price for a base configuration is $148,000. More information on SeaMicro and the SM10000-64 is available at www.seamicro.com.

About SeaMicro

SeaMicro is transforming the data center landscape by building servers that draw one-quarter the power and take one-quarter the space of traditional servers. By delivering breakthrough innovations borne of multiple technology domains – CPU design, virtualization, supercomputing and networking – SeaMicro has created a new server architecture purpose-built for scale out infrastructures such as those found in the web-tier, online gaming, search and index computation. SeaMicro was founded in 2007 and is backed by Khosla Ventures, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Crosslink Capital, as well as leading public corporations. The company also received the largest Department of Energy grant given to a server company, $9.3 million as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

*each dual core 1.66GHz Intel Atom N570 processor is supported by two 1 Gb NICs for a bandwidth per-unit compute of 2 Gb/3.32 GHz = 600 megabits/ GHz. A traditional dual socket quad core server with 2 Gb NIC delivers 111 Mb per GHz: 2 gigabit/( 2 sockets x 4 cores x 2.26 GHz per core)= 2/18, or 111 megabits/GHz.