HP xw4300 Workstation Features New Dual-Core Intel Pentium for Power and Memory

By DE Editors

Entry-level Hewlett-Packard offering can be configured with new dual-core Intel Pentium D processors for greater performance on multithreaded software or the Pentium 4 single-core processor with up to 2MB L2 Cache for better speed in single-app operation for the MCAD market.

HP (Palo Alto, CA) introduced an entry-level workstation today that features new dual-core Intel Pentium D processors for greater performance on multithreaded software for the MCAD, video, and digital content creation markets. An optional configuration is based on the Pentium 4 single-core processor with up to 2MB L2 Cache. Both configurations pack additional power with increased memory support of up to 8GB of capacity and up to 667 MHz of bandwidth. It also has integrated Serial ATA-II 3.0Gbps RAID functionality that is more commonly found on higher-end workstation and server platforms.

Operating system options on the workstation include 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows XP Professional and 64-bit Red Hat Linux. The xw4300 also has a robust 460W power supply to support powerful processors and graphic applications, giving customers significant increases in productivity now and headroom to expand later.

Clock speeds of 3.2 GHz for the Intel Pentium D 840 dual-core processor and 2.8 to 3.8 GHz for the single-core Pentium 4 processor provide options for designers. The new Intel Pentium D 840 processor incorporates two physical processors and L2 caches into one piece of silicon, giving a significant performance boost to multithreaded applications for CAD/CAE design and analysis and DCC rendering software with multiple applications running at the same time. Customers may expect up to 20 percent performance gains in these application environments with the dual core processor.

The HP xw4300 also incorporates Intel’s 955X Express high-end performance chipset; PCI Express (x16) graphics; integrated Serial ATA controller with RAID 0/1/5/10 capability; and integrated, high-definition audio. Entry-level and mid-market MCAD users will benefit from enhanced performance on 2D and 3D CAD software and more storage for large models.

“Users of Solidworks design analysis software, COSMOS, should be thrilled … as we believe they will see a significant improvement in processing time,” said Brian Houle, partner program manager, SolidWorks Corp. “COSMOS Solver’s multithreaded nature allows users to get the maximum performance out of this leading-edge workstation technology.”

A machine with the 3.6GHz Pentium 4 660 CPU, an 800MHz front-side-bus with 2MB L2 cache, the new Glenwood chipset, an NVIDIA Quadro FX3400 graphics card, 2GB DDR2-667 Memory (2 X 1GB), 48X Combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM, and other MCAD-appropriate options will run about $3,917. A similarly constructed dual-core xw4300 will cost about $4,847.

The HP xw4300 workstation is housed in a quiet, tool-less chassis and includes HP’s Performance Tuning Framework, which guides the system setup, allowing a “custom” configuration to best match the workstation to user requirements. For more information, click here.