8-core NextDimension PC stretches the definition of portable

No, the laptop industry hasn't bypassed the idea of quad-core laptops in favour of octo-core machines, since NextComputing's 8-core flextops are machines you wouldn't want anywhere near your lap. Based as they are around the Intel Xeon 5300 processor, the NextDimension Pro and Evo can take advantage of the relatively low power requirements of 100W for two quad-core CPUs (down from 160 Watts for its power hungrier desktop equivalent). For a sense of just how expandable the NextDimension machines are, consider that they can hold up to twelve 160GB 2.5-inch 7200RPM hard disk drives. They also manage to pack in four PCI / PCI-e slots in the Evo model, and Firewire, Gigabit Ethernet, and support for 24GB of memory through four DMA channels on both models. These 20-pound desktop machines with a handle will be shown off at Interop Las Vegas later this month, but beyond that we're not sure when or for how much you'll be able to lug one away.

[Jagannath A @ May 19th 2007 1:54PM]

luggable :P

[Paul @ May 19th 2007 2:38PM]

are "lan parties" still hip or did broadband kill that fad?perhaps this case design is 8 years too late

[Phi Nguyen @ May 19th 2007 2:55PM]

I love the briefcase look, with the handle.

[scott @ May 19th 2007 2:55PM]

That thing's gotta sound like a leaf blower, never mind the 8 cores, think about the heat from memory and twelve drives... couldn't they have just allowed for four 3.5 inch drives instead?

Also suspect is shock absorption, that thing cant be too happy after being dropped 6 inches...

Anyhoo, very cool, very expensive, and i must say very unsuspecting

[elan @ May 19th 2007 3:14PM]

NextDimension? Where have I heard this name before? ;)


Can Steve Jobs sue?

[Brandy @ May 19th 2007 3:26PM]

Dude, that things must be insanely heavy compared to a 14.1" luggable laptop. I couldn't really see anyone wanting to carry that thing around, unless they are built like Arnold Swarzzenegger. Dude, I hate carrying my 14.1" around UCLA with my books. Anyways, you have to run server software on there. When are we gonna see this new 2 socket desktop motherboard Intel has been promising? I would love to run 2 Quad Core CPU's, as long as I can do so in Vista. However, I can't find any info stating if Vista is capable of doing so. With the Q6600 dropping to $266 soon, it's about time they release a dual socket motherboard that supports those CPU's and is Vista capable.

Maybe I'm dreaming.... just maybe?

[markie @ May 19th 2007 4:54PM]

>it's about time they release a dual socket motherboard that supports those CPU's

well, look no further than Intel's own line of S5000 motherboards... dual Xeon, capable of running the quad-cores... it's probably what's inside this thing also ;-)

http://www.intel.com/products/server/motherboard/index.htm?iid=mbd_main+sv#dsxeon

now what I'm curious about, next to the high-end quad-cores, there's also the much cheaper E5310 running at 1.6GHz. Now if only someone would put that into a Mac Pro to get a budget 8-core... ^_^

[steve @ May 19th 2007 5:10PM]

core 2 duos aren't multiprocessor capable so i'd imagine that it will be running Xeons

[steve @ May 19th 2007 5:10PM]

and markie 4 cores at 2.6 will work out better day to day than 8 at 1.6

[ethana2 @ May 19th 2007 5:19PM]

Vista capable? Sucker. Time to recompile my Linux kernel for SMP.

[ethana2 @ May 19th 2007 5:23PM]

Oh, almost forgot. If anyone has any questions about using Linux or open source in general, feel very free to ask me at [e-mail]. No trouble at all.

[markie @ May 19th 2007 5:40PM]

>core 2 duos aren't multiprocessor capable so i'd imagine that it will be running Xeons

...I was referring to Xeons... the single socket X3200 is nothing more than a rebadged quad-core core2... ;-)

>and markie 4 cores at 2.6 will work out better day to day than 8 at 1.6

depends on what you want to do with it... it's quite a bold statement to put it like this if you don't know how the machine is used... ;-)

[Zeus the God @ May 19th 2007 6:12PM]

@Paul:

"are "lan parties" still hip or did broadband kill that fad?perhaps this case design is 8 years too late"

Yes, LAN parties are still "hip", and broadband could never kill it. There is nothing faster than LAN.
No, this case design isn't too late, because even if LAN parties were dead, portability would still be a big issue for a lot of people.

[Jesse S @ May 19th 2007 9:40PM]

8 cores? Not waiting for Vienna?

[samo @ May 20th 2007 12:22PM]

With the space for 12 hard drives I hope it comes with wheels and a pull out handle ;-)

[Aaron @ May 20th 2007 10:38PM]

12 2.5in 160gb HD = 1.92TB or they could have gone with the easier solution of(4) 3.5in HD @ 500GB/ea with 2TB total and it would have been a)cheaper, b)easier to upgrade to 750GB and more but c) MAYBE a little heavier..but I doubt it. Though, I am sure they had a reason for doing it this way.

[lh @ May 21st 2007 2:15AM]

不错，手提很方便～就是看看价钱了。

[pencap23 @ May 21st 2007 6:42AM]

Yeah you're right

[pencap23 @ May 21st 2007 6:41AM]

Hmmm well, we'll have to find a solution for a monitor. Then this would be ridiculous.

[Wep @ May 21st 2007 11:57AM]

Actually, they have 2 versions with an integrated monitor: http://www.nextcomputing.com/products/nextdimpro_hd.shtml.

http://www.nextcomputing.com/products/nextdimevo_hd.shtml

[pencap23 @ May 21st 2007 2:57PM]

That is insane!