Supermicro Launches 4W and 8W Atom Server Solutions

[btarunr]

Super Micro Computer, Inc., a leader in application-optimized, high performance server solutions, today announced the launch of 4-watt and 8-watt Intel Atom processor-based Server Building Block Solutions. These extreme low-power and quiet solutions deliver the best expansion and storage features of any Atom-based platform and are designed for embedded industrial PC (IPC) applications.

These quiet, energy saving solutions make ideal storage and network appliances or print and email servers. In addition, Supermicro's mini-tower chassis with advanced user-friendly design features create a very cost-effective home or office workstation for basic computing including Internet usage, office and educational applications.



"Bringing the low-power consumption advantages of Atom processors to the server appliance market empowers our customers with energy-saving, quiet solutions that provide flexible expansion and storage features previously unattainable with Atom solutions," said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro.

Optimized for the single-core Atom 230 processor, which consumes only 4 watts of power, Supermicro's cost-effective X7SLA-L platform supports up to four SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10, along with seven USB 2.0 headers, 2 GB DDR2 memory, Intel GMA 950 graphics and a Gigabit Ethernet port. For more performance-intensive applications, the high-end X7SLA-H integrates the dual-core Atom 330 processor, which consumes 8 watts of power and expands upon the features of the X7SLA-L with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, an additional onboard Type A USB 2.0 connector and an extra internal serial port.

Weighing only ten pounds and with a depth of 9.8 inches, Supermicro's mini-sized 5015A SuperServers feature a high-efficiency, quiet power supply, two internal hard drives, and a full-height, half-length expansion card option. The fan-less design of Supermicro's SC502-200B chassis enables silent operation and minimizes system power consumption.

For greater expansion and storage features, Supermicro offers the SuperServer 5035A, which supports four hot-swap drive bays and three add-on cards. This server features a high-efficiency 300-watt power supply that has earned the 80-Plus Bronze level certification for achieving 85%+ power efficiency. The system's mini-tower chassis (SC731i-300B) also includes a host of user-friendly design features for easy installation. These quick-and-easy features include a toolless side panel, toolless drive bays, 90-degree pivoting hard disk drive cage, and stamped motherboard support (no standoffs required). This small footprint server also supports two external 5.25" bays and Kensington lock security to safeguard the system.

Supermicro Server Building Block Solutions offer exceptional flexibility and outstanding features. For more information on Supermicro's comprehensive line of server solutions please visit Supermicro.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Wagoo]

Nice headline, but I'm sure they clock in higher wattwise once you add the crusty old intel chipset all atom boards use. When are intel going to do the Atom justice by pairing it with a die shrunk chipset?

 

[Mussels]

Nice headline, but I'm sure they clock in higher wattwise once you add the crusty old intel chipset all atom boards use. When are intel going to do the Atom justice by pairing it with a die shrunk chipset?

they have released a new chipset, similar name but much lower power requirements.

 

[lemonadesoda]

Why can I see active cooling on the chipset on the picture? :shadedshu

Why did they bother with the Atom 230? This is not powered by batteries, but is plugged in to the wall. Atom 330 does have power management features... that means an idle 330 hardly uses any additional power to an idel 230. And all of that is peanuts compared to the mainboard, active cooled chipset :shadedshu, HDD, RAM and PSU

And how much more does a 330 CPU cost over a 230? Less than $5. :shadedshu

 

[dchrsf]

How quick can 8watts be?

I almost laughed when I saw this, but correct me if i am wrong...I just don't see such a low wattage part serving any useful purpose in terms of computing power.

So how much power do these Atoms have anyways... How would these Atom CPUs compare to lets say my Athlon XP 3200+ @2.4.

 

[Mussels]

I almost laughed when I saw this, but correct me if i am wrong...I just don't see such a low wattage part serving any useful purpose in terms of computing power.

So how much power do these Atoms have anyways... How would these Atom CPUs compare to lets say my Athlon XP 3200+ @2.4.

it would probably match your athlon XP. they're in the same ball park, performance wise.
Remember that these are related to core 2 duo technology, and they're pretty efficient power wise.

 

[dchrsf]

it would probably match your athlon XP. they're in the same ball park, performance wise.
Remember that these are related to core 2 duo technology, and they're pretty efficient power wise.

Wow, I'm suprised! I need to get in on some core 2, or better yet i7 action! If that 8w part is comparable to my XP, I could see one of these Supermicro servers very useful.

 

[lemonadesoda]

I almost laughed when I saw this, but correct me if i am wrong...I just don't see such a low wattage part serving any useful purpose in terms of computing power.

So how much power do these Atoms have anyways... How would these Atom CPUs compare to lets say my Athlon XP 3200+ @2.4.

No need to compare it to an XP. A NAS/basic server has a critical bottleneck: gigabit ethernet. So long as you can serve at those speeds, you are fine. You dont try to break superpi records with a NAS.

An Atom 330 is pretty much equivalent to 4x Pentium 3 Tualatin Servers. And at just 8W that is pretty amazing stuff compared to 4 old server rigs. Pentium 3 Tualatin servers are more than sufficient for NAS, mail servers, web servers, bulletin boards, etc. And with the Atom 330, it is equivalent to having 4 of them.

You wouldnt use this for running games, or encoding video, or as the backbone of a very high transaction ERP/SAP database.

But the system could easily handle 50 simultaneous NAS/FTP users and probably a couple of thousand bulletin board users, or concurrent web surfers, without a hitch.

Look ye here: http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?p=1173493

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Who'd a thunk it? Stick a mobile processor in a server rackmount. As long as it is uber cheap compared to alternatives, this might sell very well.

 

[Tau]

Bah.

I wouldent waste my time or money on one..... Unless i was serving like... 1 low hit webserver with no database.... lol

 

[Wagoo]

they have released a new chipset, similar name but much lower power requirements.

I don't suppose you know if any boards are using it yet? The D945GCLF2 still seems to use the power hungry one.

I wonder if these supermicro servers allow 4GB of RAM, since there's 2 DIMM slots in the one pictured.

 

[lemonadesoda]

IIRC, Atom is limited to 2GB on the Atom, not on the chipset, so 2GB it is then. The dual DIMM slots are so that you can run dual channel for better performance, and have the flex to use 2 cheaper 1GB sticks rather than 1x 2GB stick. Of course, the 1 stick solution uses less power

 

[PCpraiser100]

Despite that its not really apowerful processor, I luv it's efficiency.

 

[suraswami]

This is awesome.

 

[Hayder_Master]

very nice , small , low power , low price sure cuz atom cpu's are cheap

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Heh, you can already rent a server with these processors:
https://interserver.net/custom-managed-dedicated-servers.html?gclid=CLG4jr7BxJoCFQVfFQodmgz-sA

$39/month ...pretty tempting.