X-bit labs

Intel Pushes Itanium 2 Lineup into Mainstream (page 2)

Category: Editorial

by Anton Shilov

[ 08/23/2004 | 02:53 AM ]

Itanium 2 Systems Still Expensive

While Intel is desperately trying to lower the costs of Itanium 2-based computers, such server and workstation systems are still more expensive compared to those based on the Intel Xeon processors since mainboards and other components for Itanium 2 cost a lot more compared to infrastructure for Xeon chips.

Currently the price gap between approximately similarly configured 4-way servers based on Xeon MP 3.00GHz/4MB processors and 1.50GHz/6MB Itanium 2 chips from HP is about 100% with the Xeon MP-based machine quoted at about $16 000, while the Itanium 2 powered system is priced at approximately $31 000.

Intel Itanium 2-based server from Bull, picture by X-bit labs

However, the main problem for the Itanium 2 popularity is not the cost, but compatibility with broad range of x86 applications. Since the Itanium-series uses completely different IA64 EPIC architecture, incompatible with the IA32, performance of the Itanium 2-based computers in conventional applications is tangibly below that on Pentium 4 or Xeon-based machines. As a consequence, customers who choose Itanium 2 should invest heavily into new software and practically wave goodbye to legacy applications.

Let the Customers Choose: Xeon or Itanium 2?

Nowadays server and workstation platforms based on Intel Itanium 2 and Intel Xeon-series processors use different sockets, mainboards and chipsets. While some components may be used on both platforms, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet controllers, in generally platforms are not compatible or interchangeable.

Intel Itanium 2 chip, picture by PC Watch, Japan

Intel Xeon MP processors are plugged into mPGA603 ZIF sockets, Intel Itanium 2 are plugged into mPGA700 ZIF sockets.

Intel Itanium 2 chip, picture by PC Watch, Japan

Since Intel Xeon and Intel Xeon MP processors are extremely popular on the market, provided that Xeon and Itanium infrastructures are compatible, the Itanium 2 offspring will definitely benefit from this. Transition to IA64 for customers will no longer be associated with substantial investment in hardware, as the Itanium 2 and Xeon chips cost approximately the same amount of money even now, while the cost of Intel Xeon infrastructure has already proved to be cost-efficient, but will be limited to certain investments in software.

Nevertheless, Intel will still have to explain potential customers the need to spend rather lot of additional funds on IA64 software, as Intel’s Itanium processors only unleash their potential in environments specifically tailored for them and cannot offer a lot of power in conventional 32-bit apps. There is one more trick here: both Xeon DP has 64-bit capability now, while the Xeon MP will acquire it in less than a year time. Santa Clara, California-based chipmaker in this case will have to insist on the micro-architecture and raw performance of the Itanium rather than on its 64-bit capability.