INDUSTRY

ARMONK, NY -- IBM today announced that the just-introduced IBM eServer xSeries(TM) 440 has achieved leadership performance in both eight-processor and four-processor Intel®-based server performance in the SAP® Sales and Distribution (SAP SD) two-tier Standard Application benchmark, Release 4.6C, beating their corresponding nearest competitor results by 36.5%(1) and 24.8%(2) respectively. The IBM x440 together with the x360 became the first servers using the new Intel Pentium 4 Xeon MP processors to attain SAP certification. The x440 features mainframe-inspired technologies such as self-healing capabilities and support for partitioning for enterprise class performance. This SAP benchmark achievement is a testament to IBM Enterprise X-Architecture(TM) technology and all the capabilities delivered through the IBM eServer x440. The newly certified IBM eServer x440 results from SAP surpass all previously posted Intel-based SAP SD two-tier Standard Application results as detailed below -- demonstrating the scalability and performance advantages of the IBM Enterprise X-Architecture technology and IBM eServer xSeries 440. Based on the certified SAP SD two-tier Application Benchmark results to-date, the eight-processor xSeries 440 server's achievement of 520 SD benchmark users with 1.85 seconds average dialog response time, 158,000 dialog steps per hour (52,670 fully business processed order line items per hour) with 99% CPU utilization is the highest eight-processor result to-date. The four-processor IBM eServer xSeries 440 achieved a similar feat by attaining 312 SD benchmark users with 1.98 average dialog response time, 94,000 dialog steps per hour (31,330 fully business processed order line items per hour) with 97% CPU utilization. These benchmarks fully comply with the SAP Benchmark Council´s issued regulations and have been audited and certified by SAP AG. More information is available under www.sap.com/benchmark. "The SAP benchmark validates groundbreaking technologies in the new IBM eServer," said Deepak Advani, vice president, IBM eServer xSeries. "The IBM Enterprise X-Architecture technology will bring new flexibility, reliability and performance to this crucial market."