ACADEMIA

SANTA CLARA, Calif. --Intel Corporation, HP (NYSE:HPQ) and MSC.Software (NYSE:MNS) today announced that the Chrysler Group, a unit of DaimlerChrysler, has migrated part of its High Performance Computing (HPC) center to Intel(R) Itanium(R) 2 processor-based HP Workstation zx6000 with HP-UX in a rack configuration running MSC.Software's Virtual Product Development applications. According to the Chrysler Group, the new solution is expected to help improve simulation time for vehicle noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) testing by up to 50 percent versus its former RISC-based computing environment. The Chrysler Group's HPC center will use an HP workstation cluster powered by nearly 200 Itanium 2 processors with MSC.Software's Virtual Product Development applications to simulate vehicle components such as suspensions, chassis, and interiors. With the addition of these Itanium 2-based systems and previously deployed Intel(R) Xeon(TM) processor-based solutions, Intel-based servers and workstations are an integral part of the computing backbone for the Chrysler Group's HPC center. "The Chrysler Group continuously looks for innovative ways to help streamline and improve the design process. High-performance computing enables our engineers to perform complex design computations in a timely manner, which enables improved designs while accelerating the design cycle," said John Picklo, high performance computing manager, the Chrysler Group. "We selected the HP, Intel and MSC.Software team because they have the configuration expertise and technical solutions to help us architect and install quality computing clusters." "The combined expertise of HP, Intel, and MSC.Software in the HP and Intel(R) Solution Center provided a secure environment in which we could demonstrate real performance to the Chrysler Group by using their own applications and data as well as show our commitment and strategic focus to deliver a differentiated Intel(R) Itanium(R) 2-based solution to our customers," said Jim Zafarana, vice president and worldwide marketing manager for HP's workstation business unit. "For Itanium 2-based computational needs, HP offers the choice of the HP Workstation zx6000, which can be re-deployed as graphics systems, or HP's 'rx' servers optimized for these types of applications." "Intel works closely with OEMs, software developers, system integrators and end users to ensure that companies like the Chrysler Group can realize the benefits of deploying Intel-based solutions in their business," said John Davies, vice president, Solutions Market Development Group, Intel. "These benefits include increased productivity, lower operating costs and improved customer satisfaction." "The best way to reduce costs and speed development is through the use of virtual product development products and high performance computing systems like those offered by MSC.Software, HP and Intel. We are working hard to provide customers like the Chrysler Group the software, systems and services they need to improve the product development process and save time and money," said Frank Perna, chairman and chief executive officer, MSC.Software.