SeaMicro reached out to Intel on features it sought in a low-power server chip as it looked to best its initial offering, Feldman said.

"The N570 is the highest performance, low-power processor bar none," Feldman said.

SeaMicro is also testing processors from ARM, Feldman said. ARM doesn't have a vibrant software ecosystem, which puts it at a disadvantage, as most data centers today have servers with x86 chips. But ARM is working to build the software ecosystem and SeaMicro is keeping its options open.

The SM10000-64 holds the Atom chips on miniature boards the size of credit cards and are interconnected by a fabric with a throughput of 1.28 terabits per second. The motherboard also holds an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), which virtualizes functions such as I/O, and that reduces the need for specific networking and storage components.

The server can hold up to 1TB of DDR3 RAM, and up to 64 hard drives or solid-state drives (SSDs). The server size is 10 rack units tall, or 17.5 inches.