Multicore Chip increases enterprise computing throughput.
Press Release Summary:
Vega 2 single-chip, 64-bit processor utilizes 90 nm process, 9-layer copper/low-k interconnect, and multi-threshold transistors. It integrates 48 cache-coherent processor cores and consists of 812 million transistors, enabling future generations of Azul Compute Appliances to scale up to 768-way symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) systems with up to 768 GB memory.
Original Press Release:
Azul Systems First to Deliver 48-Way Multicore Chip, Redefining Standard in Enterprise Computing
Vega 2 Processor Previews With 812 Million Transistors, Enables More Efficient Computing and Unprecedented Throughput While Eliminating Significant Cost
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 27 / -- Azul Systems, Inc., the pioneer of the industry's first network attached processing solution designed to deliver compute and memory resources as a shared network service for transaction-intensive applications, today announced their next generation Vega 2 processor, the world's first and only single-chip 64-bit processor with 48 cache-coherent processor cores for use in the company's industry-leading, award winning compute appliances.
Designed by Azul and fabricated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the Vega 2 processor utilizes an advanced 90nm process, a 9-layer copper/low-k interconnect, and multi-threshold transistors for optimal performance-power efficiency. This revolutionary processor is poised to spur more energy-efficient, higher density, and larger capacity compute appliances that meet critical data center needs such as higher asset utilization, improved security, and lower-cost per transaction, all while reducing real-estate, electricity and associated management costs.
The Vega 2 processor integrates 48 cores and consists of 812 million transistors to enable future generations of Azul Compute Appliances to scale up to 768-way symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) systems with up to 768 GBytes of memory. By comparison, the world's largest and most power efficient SMP system built today is the Azul Compute Appliance 3840, which is based on the current generation Azul Vega 1 processor (a 24-way multicore chip) and provides 384 processor cores and 256 GBytes of memory in an 11U rack-mountable enclosure and consumes only 2700 watts of electricity.
"Multicore chip architectures are quickly taking their place as the industry de facto standard for enterprise computing," said Vernon Turner, vice president and general manager, enterprise computing, IDC. "The Azul Vega chip is revolutionary in its sheer multicore scale and power and density characteristics. This design criterion will be critical as more and more next generation enterprise systems come to market and deliver compute resources as a shared network service across all types of heterogeneous workloads."
"It's a tribute to our world-class engineering team that we have achieved working Vega 2 chips in our engineering labs in record time and have met our performance, power, and yield criteria," said Scott Sellers, vice president of hardware engineering and co-founder of Azul Systems. "This is a monumental achievement and helps ensure that Azul customers will continue to have access to the kind of technology that can dramatically reduce the cost and complexity of their IT organizations."
Systems based on the Vega 2 chip are scheduled for general availability in 2007.
About Azul Systems
Azul Systems Inc, has pioneered the industry's first network attached processing solution, designed to unbound compute resources for transaction-intensive applications and services. Without application level modifications, binary compatibility requirements or operating system dependencies, this fundamentally new approach eliminates the need to capacity plan at the application level and dramatically lowers the cost and complexity associated with the traditional delivery of computing resources. More information on Azul Systems can be found at www.azulsystems.com.
Legal Notices
Azul Systems and Azul are registered trademarks, and the Azul arch logo and Vega trademarks of Azul Systems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other marks are the property of their respective owners and are used here only for identification purposes.
CONTACT: Karen Reynolds of Azul Systems, +1-650-230-6581, or karen@azulsystems.com; or Elyce Ventura of Eastwick Communications, +1-650-480-4054, or elyce@eastwick.com, for Azul Systems
