We all know that Sun started to utilize Intel Pentium III in its entry-level servers years ago and we know that now this company uses Intel Xeon CPUs in dozens of its systems as well. Well, we also have recently learnt that soon Sun will start using Intel’s Xeon MP processors in its 4-way server systems.

Sun has been saying that it only needs IA32 chips for lower-cost servers that are in demand nowadays, but 4-way systems are definitely not low-cost at all, but also in relatively nice demand, as a result, it looks like Sun has changed its initial IA32 strategy to offer more expensive solutions. Sun’s adoption of Intel Xeon MP platform means that this company may eventually introduce more expensive systems based on Intel’s technology.

Probably, wide-adoption of IA chips leads to gradual phasing out Sun’s proprietary processors, what is quite logical in current market condition; for instance, HP already announced its plans to cancel it PA-RISC family of chips in future. In case Sun decides to drop proprietary CPU development, the company will deploy servers based on currently hated Intel Itanium processor for different market segments, what will probably become the announcement of the decade.

And what about AMD Opteron and Sun servers?