Good day everyone,

I am about to decide on a purchase of a new medium-size database
server (to run Oracle 9i RDBMS) and I have received two quotes from
local supplier. Machine configurations are quite similar - both come
with 4-way CPU, 8GB RAM, 4x72 GB ULTRA3 SCSI disks. Storage option is
separate (DS4300 storage expander) and is same for both models.

The first option is p650 7038-6M2-450 with 1.45 GHz POWER4+ CPU, and
the second is p570E 9117-570 with 1.65GHz POWER5 CPU. Second option is
a bit cheaper and (to me) seems to be more sophisticated in terms of
both technology and performance. I used the document called "IBM p5,
pSeries, OpenPower and IBM RS/6000 Performance Report October 15,
2004" for comparison. Almost all measurements show better figures on a
p5-570, for example, LINPACK index is 27,520 vs 14,480 on the p650.
Unfortunately, not all figures are available for both models,
especially on TPC-C series of tests with Oracle, but 570e outperforms
noticeably similar (or are they not similar?) models 655 and 660-M1
with same number of CPUs. I have asked our IBM supplier, but they did
not go further than 'more expensive model is definitely better in a
way'.

Now, I do understand there is no free lunch and there MUST be some
sort of a 'trade-off' in a cheaper p5-570E option (probably far more
expensive upgrades). Anyone on the list had experience with
comparing/upgrading/maintaining these machines or could give some sort
of advice? The price difference is not too big, but it gives me an
option to add some 4GB of RAM, if I go for the 'cheaper' p5-570 model
(and my budget is fixed). Any ideas?


Alexey