Opteron processors speed HP workstations

The AMD-based xw9300 Workstation can be fitted with twin PCI Express graphics cards

HP last week introduced its first workstation line based on AMD's Opteron processors, and said that the new systems will offer dramatically improved graphics and computing performance, with the ability to run dual PCI Express graphics adapters.

Models in the HP xw9300 Workstation range are powered by twin Opteron processors with up to 16GB of memory, and are based on the Nvidia nForce Professional motherboard chipset that enables two Nvidia Quadro FX high-end graphics adapters to be used at the same time. The systems are being positioned above the Intel-based xw4200, xw6200, and xw8200 models in HP's workstation line-up.

Juergen Schlanke, HP's workstation business manager for Europe, said that the xw9300 provides more scalability than any previous personal workstation. "It will change the way people do high-end visualisation," he added.

The primary market for the xw9300 systems will be in oil and gas exploration, where geographic analysis requires high-performance processing and imaging. "Until today, customers had to run separate environments to do this," Schlanke said. Other key markets are scientific research, software development, computer-aided engineering and 3D animation.

Schlanke said that the workstation is not a "me too" product, as it was designed around next-generation technologies such as PCI Express for graphics and I/O, and supports forthcoming Serial ATA II hard disks. Comparable systems from rivals still use legacy AGP and PCI-X technologies, he said.

Prices start from £1,890 + VAT.