2004 reviews: Hardware

20.12.2004
Von InfoWorld staff

The world of server hardware revolved around newfangled 64-bit systems this year, with Advanced Micro Devices Inc."s Opteron generating most of the buzz until late summer, when Intel?s answer to x86-compatible 64-bitness -- the Xeon processor with EM64T (Extended Memory 64 Technology) -- finally arrived. In our benchmarking tests, the new Xeon proved far superior to the old model in 32-bit performance. Although it edged the Opteron in our floating-point tests, it was soundly defeated by AMD?s chip in our real-world Web server and database tests when running 64-bit code. A server is more than a processor, of course. We saw some first-rate servers based on Opteron from Hewlett-Packard Co., Newisys, and Pogo Linux, and some disappointments, notably from IBM Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. HP also makes great Xeon-based servers and workstations, and delivered an interesting PC blade system last spring. Management software also got better, courtesy of vendors such as Microsoft Corp., which added smart app management capabilities to MOM 2005; RLX, which improved on the best blade server management software going; and Vieo, whose management appliance is leading the way.

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End-user hardware

Apple Power Mac G5

Apple Computer Inc.

Excellent. 8.8

Cost: Starts at US$1,799; $4,498 as tested

Bottom line: Power Mac G5 presents the ideal balance of compatibility, performance, usability, and value. This high-performance workstation has serious number-crunching capabilities, and outshines Intel-based systems when performing complex operations on massive disk and/or RAM-based data sets.

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HP Consolidated Client Infrastructure

Hewlett-Packard

Excellent. 8.6

Cost: Custom solutions, including implementation, training and support, start at $1,399 per seat

Bottom line: Combining other vendors? popular management tools with its own thin clients, blade PCs, and management software, HP CCI aims to dramatically reduce the cost and pain of managing user applications while offering unrivaled reliability and scalability.

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HP Workstation xw8000

Hewlett-Packard

Excellent. 8.9

Cost: $1,944 (refurbished)

Bottom line: HP"s xw8000 is a well-designed, very capable workstation that easily handles the heaviest workloads. It comes with single or dual Xeon processors running as fast as 3.06GHz and offers tool-free maintenance. It sets the standard for dual-processor workstations, and it bested Opteron in heavy multitasking tests.

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IBM IntelliStation A Pro with AMD Opteron Processor

IBM

Very Good. 7.7

Cost: $8,345 as tested

Bottom line: The IBM IntelliStation A Pro is a very fast machine -- as long as you"re only trying to do a few tasks at a time. It"s well-designed, and access is easy and convenient. However, if you load it down with heavy processing, the 2.4GHz Opterons show their limitations and the A Pro starts to crawl.

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MPC NetFrame 600 (Workstation version)

MPC Computers LLC

Very Good. 8.5

Cost: $6,055 as tested

Bottom line: The NF 600 is big, and it has the hot-swap redundant features you"d expect from a server. There"s plenty of room for storage in this workstation version, and it includes a wide variety of high-end video cards and an office-friendly case. Unfortunately, its server roots show in its lack of an IEEE 1394 port. Its 3.2GHz Xeons helped make this the performance king.

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Physical infrastructure

APC Environmental Monitoring Unit

American Power Conversion Corp. (APC)

Very Good. 8.2

Cost: Base price, $899

Bottom line: An intelligent controller for APC"s rack environment systems, the EMU does an admirable job, especially when coupled with APC"s other rack-monitoring systems. It ties several environment systems into a centralized management system, even across racks.

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APC NetworkAir PA

APC

Very Good. 8.5

Cost: Base price, $3,499

Bottom line: The NetworkAir PA is more than just a portable air conditioner. It"s self-contained and designed specifically for office datacenters, providing optimized settings and airflow for that environment.

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APC Rack Air Removal Unit

APC

Very Good. 8.3

Cost: Base price, $699

Bottom line: Although large, the Rack Air Removal Unit"s clever design affords it zero rack space while enabling a fully automated ecosystem within each rack enclosure. This means administrators can take granular control of equipment environments, even between neighboring racks.

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Printers -- color

Brother HL-4200CN

Brother International Corp.

Good. 5.9

Cost: Printer: $1,999. Consumables: black cartridges, $60; color cartridges, $150; drum, $400; fuser, $230; transfer mechanism, $55

Bottom line: Brother"s HL-4200CN boasts a low price and a good set of features, but its sluggish color-printing speed and high consumables costs make it expensive and unfit for high-volume offices. The Oki Data C7300n and Xerox Phaser 6250N are better buys.

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Dell 5100cn

Dell Inc.

Very Good. 7.4

Cost: Printer, $999. Consumables: black cartridges, $50; color cartridges, $170 each; fuser and rollers, $199 (free during warranty); transfer mechanism, $140

Bottom line: Considering its modest price, Dell"s 1500cn delivers surprisingly good print quality at speeds that can satisfy a workgroup of as many as 20 people. It"s easy to operate and inexpensive to maintain, although paper-handling options are somewhat expensive. Dell also built a Web site into the 1500cn to track the printer"s status remotely over a network.

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HP Color LaserJet 5500n

Hewlett-Packard

Very Good. 7.3

Cost: Printer, $3,549. Consumables: black cartridges, $226; color cartridges, $316; fuser, $278; transfer mechanism, $200

Bottom line: This is a strong midrange printer choice for many reasons: It offers a good set of features for the price, it prints graphics more quickly than most, and it"s easy to use. Xerox Corp."s Phaser 7300DN, however, offers comparable speed and lower long-term costs.

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HP Color LaserJet 9500n

Hewlett-Packard

Very Good. 7.1

Cost: Printer, $6,799. Consumables: black cartridges, $153; color cartridges, $310; drums, $1,690; fuser, $280; transfer mechanism, $380

Bottom line: Great print quality, a great design, and economical consumables make HP"s Color LaserJet 9500n a better long-term buy than many lower-priced color printers. However, the Xerox Phaser 7750DN overshadows it in almost every respect.

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IBM Infoprint Color 1354n

IBM

Very Good. 7.2

Cost: Printer, $2,300. Consumables: black cartridges, $203; color cartridges, $449; fuser, $299; transfer mechanism, $399

Bottom line: The Infoprint 1354n is identical to the Lexmark C752n in nearly every way, unfortunately including mediocre text speed and high overall cost. It"s still a very good printer, but HP"s Color LaserJet 5500n and Xerox"s Phaser 6250N are better alternatives.

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Konica Minolta Magicolor 3300 DN

Konica Minolta Printing Solutions USA Inc.

Good. 5.7

Cost: Printer, $2,185. Consumables: black cartridges, $47; color cartridges, $148; drum, $315; fuser, $213; transfer mechanism, $39

Bottom line: This printer offers basic office color for a low purchase price, but its speed and print quality trail the rest of the pack. In the same price range, the Oki Data C7300n and Xerox Phaser 6250N are better buys.

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Kyocera Ecosys FS-C5016N

Kyocera Corp.

Good. 6.7

Cost: Printer, $2,356. Consumables: black cartridges, $66; color cartridges, $99; drum, $618

Bottom line: Kudos to Kyocera for having the least costly consumables of all printers tested. Unfortunately, the printer was also extremely slow, making it fit only for low-volume offices with patient users.

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Lexmark C752n

Lexmark International Inc.

Very Good. 7.2

Cost: Printer, $2,339. Consumables: black cartridges, $197; color cartridges, $434; fuser, $106; transfer mechanism, $555

Bottom line: The C752n"s average performance and high cost of consumables outweigh its fine points. As a result, HP"s Color LaserJet 5500n and Xerox"s Phaser 6250N offer better overall value.

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Oki Data C7300n

Oki Data Americas Inc.

Very Good. 7.1

Cost: Printer, $1,900. Consumables: black cartridges, $84; color cartridges, $157; drum, $558; fuser, $140; transfer mechanism, $185

Bottom line: If the Oki Data C7300n were faster, it would rule the entry-level color printer market. As it stands, its economy and office-readiness make it the only real alternative to the Xerox Phaser 6250N.

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Oki Data C9500dxn

Oki Data Americas

Good. 6.8

Cost: Printer, $4,629. Consumables: black cartridges, $101; color cartridges, $229; drum, $666; fuser, $191; transfer mechanism, $238

Bottom line: Despite the C9500dxn"s hefty set of features, it lacks the power of the other printers in this class, including its near-twin, the Xerox Phaser 7300DN. This printer needs lower than moderate consumables costs to rise above the competition.

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Sharp AR-C200P

Sharp Electronics Corp.

Good. 6.8

Cost: Printer: $2,299. Consumables: black cartridges, $115; color cartridges, $210; drum, $840; fuser, $197; transfer mechanism, $264

Bottom line: Thanks to good print quality and excellent management tools, the Sharp AR-C200P would be as highly rated as its twin, the Oki Data C7300n, if it weren"t for the overpriced consumables. The AR-C200P is a capable and useful printer, but Oki Data"s version is a better buy.

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Xerox Phaser 6250N

Xerox

Very Good. 7.4

Cost: Printer, $2,299. Consumables: black cartridges, $60; color cartridges, $200; drum, $270; fuser, $200; transfer mechanism, $42

Bottom line: The Xerox Phaser 6250"s competitive color speed might help you forget the printer"s dark side: middling print quality, an odd output tray design, and costly consumables. Among entry-level color printers, Oki Data"s C7300n is more economical.

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Xerox Phaser 7300DN

Xerox

Very Good. 7.4

Cost: Printer: $4,199. Consumables: black cartridges, $150; color cartridges, $280; drum, $520; fuser, $180; transfer mechanism, $210

Bottom line: The Phaser 7300DN would fit well into a busy office. It prints good-looking output at a fast clip, and it has the paper capacity and features to meet heavy demands. HP"s Color LaserJet 5500n offers better speed and quality, but it costs more over time.

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Xerox Phaser 7750DN

Xerox

Very Good. 8.0

Cost: Printer: $6,799. Consumables: black cartridges, $150; color cartridges, $280; drum, $330; fuser, $190; transfer mechanism, $140

Bottom line: This printer has it all: speed, great print quality, and tons of features. Even its high price is mitigated by its cheap consumables. It would be overkill for offices with basic color needs where one of the other Xerox printers or HP"s 5500n would be a better fit.

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Printers -- monochrome

HP LaserJet 9000dn

Hewlett-Packard

Very Good. 7.6

Cost: Printer: $3,799. Consumables: toner cartridge, $269.99; drum/fuser/transfer kit, $369

Bottom line: The LaserJet 9000dn impressed with excellent design, heavy-duty features, fast speeds, and reasonable consumables costs. The Kyocera, however, offers better overall print quality and superaffordable consumables.

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IBM Infoprint 1372n

IBM

Very Good. 7.3

Cost: Printer: $1,747. Consumables: toner cartridge, $317; drum/fuser/transfer kit, $300

Bottom line: This low-cost office printer offers good speed, print quality, and plenty of room to grow. It"s even cheaper than its Lexmark T634 twin, but its ill-designed control panel and cheap construction dampen our enthusiasm.

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Kyocera Ecosys FS-9520DN

Kyocera

Very Good. 7.8

Cost: Printer: $3,500. Consumables: toner cartridge, $124; drum/fuser/transfer kit, $599

Bottom line: The Ecosys FS-9520DN takes on HP"s LaserJet 9000dn with competitive speed, print quality, and features. Because it"s a little cheaper to acquire and a lot cheaper to maintain, the FS-9520DN is an equally good buy.

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Lexmark T634

Lexmark International

Very Good. 7.1

Cost: Printer: $1,879. Consumables: toner cartridge, $405; drum/fuser/transfer kit, $350.75

Bottom line: Lexmark"s T634 rates high in expandability and speed but low in design and value. Its twin, the IBM Infoprint 1372n, is the better deal, but the Xerox Phaser -- although less expandable -- is otherwise best in this class.

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Xerox Phaser 4500N

Xerox

Very Good. 7.9

Cost: Printer: $1,199. Consumables: toner cartridge, $229.99; drum/fuser/transfer kit, $258.99

Bottom line: Xerox"s Phaser 4500N may lack the speed and expandability of rivals, but it leads in design and overall execution. Consider fuller-featured Phaser 4500 models ahead of the pricier IBM Infoprint 1372n or Lexmark T634.

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Servers

Apple Xserve G5

Apple

Excellent. 8.9

Cost: Cluster Node and single-CPU configurations from $2,999; dual 2Ghz CPUs from $3,999 (includes unlimited-client Mac OS X Server)

Bottom line: When factoring in the OS cost, Xserve remains a smart server choice for budget-conscious operations that don"t need an all-Microsoft ecosystem. If Xserve G5 falls short anywhere, it"s on features that may be unnecessary outside the most demanding environments.

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Dell PowerEdge 1850

Dell

Very Good. 8.2

Cost: Starts at $1,799; $5,799 as tested

Bottom line: This low-profile server boasts not only two of the high-performance Intel Xeon Nocona processors but also a strong management processor and excellent high-availability features. The next-gen chips offer the most horsepower you"ll find in a 1U Intel server, making it a worthy server for any high-density application.

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Dell PowerEdge 2850

Dell

Very Good. 7.7

Cost: Starts at $1,899; $6,641 as tested

Bottom line: A straightforward upgrade to its strong PowerEdge 2650, Dell"s 2U solution starts with Xeon Nocona processors and adds plenty of drives, expansion slots, and strong management features. Beyond the new processors, however, there"s little exceptional about this solid workhorse offering.

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HP ProLiant DL360 G4

Hewlett-Packard

Very Good. 8.4

Cost: Dual 3.4GHz processors, 1GB RAM, two 36GB hard drives, $3,699; OS cost not included

Bottom line: This updated 1U rack server offers the fast Nocona-series Xeon processors with 800MHz front-side bus and E64MT 64-bit extensions. HP improved its high-availability features with redundant cooling and online spare memory. Add new management deployment options and a faster RAID controller, and this server has no traditional 1U form-factor limitations.

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HP ProLiant DL580 G2

Hewlett-Packard

Excellent. 8.6

Cost: $13,494 as tested with two 2.5GHz Xeon MP processors, 2GB of RAM, and 146GB of hard disk storage

Bottom line: HP"s DL580 G2 is aimed squarely at the enterprise datacenter, where manageability and serviceability are musts. Its Integrated Lights-Out management vastly simplifies a manager"s tasks, and a host of redundant and hot-swappable components maximize availability.

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HP ProLiant DL585

Hewlett-Packard

Excellent. 8.6

Cost: $23,792 for four 2.2GHz Opteron 848 processors, 4GB RAM, RAID controller, four 36GB Ultra320 SCSI hard drives

Bottom line: The DL585 four-processor server makes virtually no compromises -- other than few high-availability features -- in exchange for the Opteron"s high-performance memory and I/O interconnects. The price is significantly lower than HP"s equivalent Xeon-based server. Too bad it doesn"t yet support 64-bit OSes.

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IBM eServer 325

IBM

Good. 6.6

Cost: Base single-processor 1.6GHz system with 1GB RAM, $3,299; closest available production system according to IBM"s online calculator, with dual 1.6GHz Opteron 242 processors, 2GB RAM, one 80GB ATA hard drive, $5,237

Bottom line: As the first Opteron-based server from a top-tier server vendor, the eServer 325 is a building block for 64-bit Linux supercomputer clusters and a testbed platform for enterprises seeking experience with AMD64 architecture. The real test, however, will be software availability.

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IBM xSeries 365

IBM

Very Good. 8.5

Cost: $10,899 as tested

Bottom line: This is a powerful, scalable server that is easy to manage, very serviceable, and cost-effective. With the xSeries 365, IBM has clearly worked hard to simplify the life of managers and technicians who must deal with servers on a daily basis.

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MPC NetFrame 3610

MPC

Cost: As tested with two 3.06GHz Xeon DP processors, 2GB of RAM, 2TB hard disk storage, $6,006

Bottom line: The NetFrame 3610 aims for the smaller enterprise, where datacenter conditions are less crowded and high availability isn"t quite as critical, but where performance is still key. MPC has gained ground in management and serviceability, but still has a way to go to catch HP.

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Newisys4300

Newisys Inc.

Very Good. 8.5

Cost: $12,999 as tested

Bottom line: Newisys" second server offering screams -- literally and figuratively. The four-processor 2.2GHz Opteron 848-based 4300 is built for speed and performed very well, yet it clocks in at an eardrum-splitting 95 decibels during operation. The dedicated Service Processor is great but needs more functionality.

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Pogo Linux PerformanceWare 3564

Pogo Linux Inc.

Excellent. 9.1

Cost: $17,751 as tested

Bottom line: This Opteron-driven 3U server is a powerful, easily managed Linux server, providing top-of-the-line performance at a bargain-basement price. It has a feature set that rivals the larger vendors, including an integrated management processor, lots of preinstalled software, and a nice GUI configuration tool.

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Sun Fire B1600 Blade Platform

Sun Microsystems

Very Good. 7.4

Cost: B1600 chassis, $4,795; B100s Sparc-based blade or B100x AthlonXP-based blade, $1,795; dual-processor Xeon-based blade, $3,790; B10n content load balancer blade, $9,375; B10p SSL proxy blade, $13,800; per B1600 chassis for N1 software, $3,920

Bottom line: This high-density blade system boasts a unique three-architecture design and offers plenty of horsepower for the money. Its weak spot is a command-line-oriented management system that relies primarily upon terminal and Telnet-based admin.

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Sun Fire V20z

Sun Microsystems

Good. 6.6

Cost: With dual 2.2GHz AMD Opteron model 248 processors, 4GB RAM, and 73GB disk space, $4,995

Bottom line: This 1U-high rack-mount server is suitable for deploying 32-bit applications under Linux or Solaris, or for running at higher throughput under 64-bit Linux. Sun"s first Opteron-based system offers strong management features at a good price, but suffers from high-availability hardware that"s weaker than others in the 1U space, and also from limited device compatibility with Sun"s storage peripherals.

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Unisys ES7000 Orion 540

Unisys

Good. 6.6

Cost: As tested with 32 processors, 32GB RAM, redundant Sentinel servers, $393,650

Bottom line: The Unisys ES7000 Orion truly scales Windows to levels generally associated with mainframes, with 32 processors and other resources that can be partitioned into multiple logical servers capable of handling large-scale applications. The high price and limited memory within the system are major weaknesses, however.

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Systems management

Altiris 6

Altiris Inc.

Very Good. 8.1

Cost: $80 per managed node (including all three suites); volume discounts available

Bottom line: This version of Altiris" lifecycle management suite, reworked around a .Net architecture, has an unusually adaptive Web interface to guide users through tasks. The ability to deliver OS upgrades and application patches -- as well as remote diagnostics and backup -- and server provisioning maximizes server uptime.

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Microsoft Operations Manager 2005

Microsoft

Very Good. 7.4

Cost: $795 per server

Bottom line: MOM 2005 is a significant departure from its MOM 2000 predecessor, with powerful new features and added complexity. Although the new features and training time are a tradeoff, MOM"s continued devotion to the Windows server line limits its usefulness in heterogeneous environments.

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RLX Control Tower 6G

RLX Technologies Inc.

Very Good. 7.5

Cost: Control Tower 6G and license for as many as 250 servers, $4,999; Provisioning Manager, $199 per server; Workload Inspector, $299 per server; Automation Policy Manager, $399 per server

Bottom line: The best blade-server management tool gets better, with active probes, server TCP/IP stack monitoring, and multistep respon-ses to scheduled events or errors. Control Tower 6G remains limited to RLX"s server, and its programmability doesn"t approach that of a general datacenter management suite.

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Vieo1000 v1.1

Vieo Inc.

Excellent. 8.7

Cost: Starts at $150,000 for 24 managed nodes; expands to a total of 144 ports in 12-port increments

Bottom line: The Vieo 1000 represents a fundamental shift in delivering application QoS. It directly connects to each host and network component to continuously learn about their behavior, then it reacts to datacenter changes by provisioning existing resources dynamically.