Eight-Core Workstations Clock in at Over 4GHz

High-performance computer and rendering system developer BOXX Technologies Inc. recently extended its APEXX 4 and APEXX 2 workstation lines with new configurations leveraging eight-core Intel Core i7 processors with overclocked speeds exceeding 4GHz. Optimized for both single-threaded and multithreaded tasks, the new APEXX 4 7402 and APEXX 2 3402, says the company, are ideal for 3D modeling, animation, rendering and simulation because they “alleviate the single-threaded bottlenecks” in engineering applications and have an aggregate frequency that enables faster rendering and simulation.

BOXX explains that a stock Intel Core i7 processor offers clock speeds of 3GHz, while its overclocked APEXX models maintain a 4.125GHz speed. This, the company reports, results in improved performance for single-threaded tasks that are bound by the processor’s frequency and not by the number of processor cores or GPUs (graphics processing units). Such tasks can include actions like panning, zooming and manipulating 3D objects, opening and closing assemblies and rebuilding models.

For multithreaded tasks that require multiple cores, such as simulation and rendering, BOXX reports that its benchmarks indicate that the APEXX workstations’ eight cores and 33GHz of aggregate frequency often outperform the more costly 10-core Intel Xeon-based systems. This, says the company, is due to a 37.5% speed advantage of the overclocked eight-core processors compared with the clock speed of a stock processor. (Learn more about what BOXX’s overclocking technology means for users here.)

For engineering applications such as simulation and rendering, the APEXX 4 7402 workstation features an eight-core Intel Core i7 processor overclocked to 4.125GHz. This customizable workstation supports up to four GPUs (graphics processing units), 64GB of memory and up to 1.2TB of SSD 2.5 storage. Image courtesy of BOXX Technologies Inc.

Both the APEXX 4 7402 and the APEXX 2 3402 workstations are liquid-cooled, a standard feature of BOXX workstations, and deploy with an airflow cooling system that operates quietly while filtering out dust and particles from the GPU and processor heat exchanger. Additionally, both workstations are highly customizable with a variety of graphic acceleration and storage options.

The Windows-based APEXX 4 7402 supports up to 64GB of system memory and can accommodate up to 1.2TB of SSD (solid-state drive) 2.5 storage as well from 500GB to 4TB SATA hard-drive storage. The APEXX 4 7402 can house 300GB to 600GB of 3.5-in. SAS 15000 RPM storage when outfitted with an optional SAS controller. It supports four graphics accelerators. Graphics card options include AMD FirePro cards and NVIDIA’s Quadro, Tesla and GeForce cards. Miscellaneous options include the Linux operating system, support for as many as four monitors, a USB mouse/keyboard combination and a rack mounting kit. The system measures 6.85 x 18 x 20.2 in. (W x H x D; 17.4 x 45.7 x 51.3 cm).

In addition to its enhanced performance Intel Core i7 processor, a recommended APEXX 4 7402 workstation base configuration comes with 16GB of RAM, a 2GB NVIDIA Quadro K620 graphics system, 256GB of SSD primary storage, a 20X dual-layer DVD±RW writer optical drive or Blu-ray RW drive, Gigabit Ethernet and two front and six rear HD audio ports. User expansion capabilities include 12 USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, seven PCIe 3.0 expansion slots and a single M.2 port. Pricing for this system begins at $5,151, according to the BOXX Technologies’ website.

Built around an eight-core Intel Core i7 processor overclocked to 4.125GHz, the compact APEXX 2 3402 supports up to 32GB of memory. Image courtesy of BOXX Technologies Inc.

The APEXX 2 3402 has many features in common with the APEXX 4 7402, only it has less total memory and graphics processing capacity as well as fewer internal expansion slots. You can equip this system with up to two graphics cards, 32GB of memory, up to 1.2TB of SSD 2.5 storage as well as from 500GB to 4TB SATA hard-drive storage. It runs under 64bit Windows operating systems with Linux as an option. The BOXX Technologies’ website lists a starting price of $4,569 for a recommended 16GB version of the APEXX 2 3402 workstation.

“APEXX offers the best of both worlds,” said Shoaib Mohammad, BOXX VP of Marketing and Business Development in a press statement. “They alleviate the single-threaded bottlenecks found in Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya, Revit, Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks, and other professional applications, while also providing 33GHz of aggregate frequency for faster rendering and simulation.”

Click here for more details on the APEXX 4 line of workstations, including the APEXX 4 7402.

Download the APEXX 4 7402 spec sheet.

Click here for more details on the APEXX 2 line of workstations, including the APEXX 2 3402.

Download the APEXX 2 3402 spec sheet.

Read David Cohn’s recent Desktop Engineering review of the BOXX APEXX 2 2401 workstation.

See why DE‘s editors selected the APEXX 4 7402 and APEXX 2 3402 workstations from BOXX Technologies as their Pick of the Week.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.