Lenovo ThinkStation S20 / D20 sport new Xeon CPUs, Tesla C1060 GPU
By Darren Murph 
posted Mar 24th 2009 12:01AM
posted Mar 24th 2009 12:01AM
Lenovo Turbo-Charges Its Performance Engine with New ThinkStation Workstations
Powering eLounge for Virtual E-Commerce Customer Experience
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – March 24, 2009: Lenovo today announced two new workstations – the ThinkStation S20 and D20 - designed exclusively for specialized professionals in fields such as computer-aided design, digital content creation and oil and gas. Powered by ThinkStation workstations, Lenovo is also debuting its new e-commerce platform, the Lenovo eLounge, to give customers a new, first-of-its-kind interactive way to experience Lenovo computing solutions online anywhere in the world.
"Designers, engineers, developers and scientists require the highest levels in computing performance to help them produce breakthrough innovations," said, Tom Tobul, executive director, Enterprise, Software and Peripherals, Lenovo. "The new ThinkStation workstations deliver not only the utmost in performance, but also a user-centric design with an emphasis on quiet operation, even during heavy processing."
Turbo-Charged Performance
Turbo-charged for performance, Lenovo's latest workstations can even be configured for personal supercomputing, helping enable professionals to innovate faster and reduce the time between an idea and a product. Adding the NVIDIA Tesla C1060 GPU platform to the workstations offers 240 additional cores of dedicated math processing power to help speed up calculations dramatically. In addition to this super performance boost and quieter computing experience over previous Lenovo workstations, the new workstations also feature the latest, high performance technologies including:
• Choices of the latest Intel® Xeon processors 5500 and W3500 Series for increased efficiency and performance with optional Intel Turbo Boost technology for extra performance during peak processing
• Choices of the latest NVIDIA Quadro line of professional graphics cards or optional ATI FirePro graphics
• Certifications from leading independent software vendors to help ensure compatibility between workstations and major applications
• Preloaded with Windows Vista with support for RedHat Enterprise Linux 5.2.
• ThinkVantage Technologies to help with tasks such as data recovery, data migration and more
"There has been a revolution in our industry for building information modeling, and we're finding that with large 3D model files it takes a long time to get them open and started," said Tom Toot, IT manager, Anshen + Allen. "We've found that the Lenovo ThinkStation D10 performed better than workstations from other vendors with equal specs. We look forward to seeing the next generation of workstations from Lenovo."
Powering Green Computing Solutions
Not only are Lenovo's next generation of workstations higher performing, they are greener. Lenovo is helping to lead the industry in using recycled materials with both workstations using 50 percent recycled content. In the ThinkStation D20 workstation, nearly 30 percent of the recycled content comes from post consumer recycled content, which is equivalent to the weight of approximately 19 plastic drinking water bottles. Lenovo also tested the workstations to be GREENGUARD certified, meaning they meet standards for more than 2,000 chemical tests.
The workstations also meet the Energy Star 5.0 criteria taking effect in July, and select workstation models are rated Gold by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool for their environmental attributes.
Workstations Fuel Virtual e-Commerce Experience
The Lenovo eLounge creates a new e-commerce platform by merging the customer service available at brick-and-mortar stores with the convenience of online shopping. Built on the Unreal Engine from Epic Games and powered by a ThinkStation D Series workstation, Lenovo is giving customers a new, interactive way to learn about and purchase Lenovo computing solutions.
Customers can enter the virtual world from anywhere with an Internet connection anytime, create an avatar and browse the product showcase and speak directly with Lenovo sales representatives. The eLounge also extends the idea of collaborative shopping. For example, a father and son who live in different cities decide to shop for a PC together. In the Lenovo eLounge, they can shop for a PC and receive answers in real-time from Lenovo representatives to help them pick the right technology for them. Customers can visit the eLounge during normal business hours in the U.S.
Advancing Game Developer Innovation
Lenovo is working with Epic Games, maker of the "Unreal" series of games and "Gears of War" franchise, to showcase the latest enhancements in Unreal Engine 3 on the new ThinkStation S20 and D20 workstations at the Epic Games booth (ES#144) at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, March 25 – 27, 2009.
"The ThinkStation workstations are really well built, quiet and fast," said Mark Rein, vice president, Epic Games. "The service and support from Lenovo has been outstanding as well. We really put our workstations through the ringer when we're building games and engine technology, and the ThinkStation workstations have proven to be valuable and reliable tools."
Lenovo will be providing several workstations to the Phase 3 winners of the Epic Games $1 Million Make Something Unreal Contest. In the contest, aspiring game developers create modifications for the PC version of Unreal Tournament 3 in several categories, including levels, characters, weapons, game types, tools, vehicles and more.
Pricing and Availability1
The ThinkStation S20 and D20 will be available beginning in 1Q with pricing for models starting at approximately $1,070 and $1,550, respectively. The workstations will be available through business partners and www.lenovo.com.
About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovo's business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.
1Prices do not include tax or shipping and are subject to change without notice and is tied to specific terms and conditions. Reseller prices may vary. Price does not include all advertised features. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice.
Epic, Epic Games, Gears of War, Unreal, Unreal Engine, and Unreal Tournament are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. in the United States of America and elsewhere.
Whats with the bottles?
I was going to ask the same thing.
Powering Green Computing Solutions
Not only are Lenovo's next generation of workstations higher performing, they are greener. Lenovo is helping to lead the industry in using recycled materials with both workstations using 50 percent recycled content. In the ThinkStation D20 workstation, nearly 30 percent of the recycled content comes from post consumer recycled content, which is equivalent to the weight of approximately 19 plastic drinking water bottles. Lenovo also tested the workstations to be GREENGUARD certified, meaning they meet standards for more than 2,000 chemical tests.
Try reading the article for a change. Even if you're too lazy to do that, the least you could do is CTRL+F.
it is to put the fire out when the thing overheats.
So, when these go off lease and are on sale at tigerdirect, and geeks, they won't need that lead content warning before the product description?
The real question is how did they stack them like that?
Glue, most likely the toxic, give you cancer kind.
It drinks a lot of bottled water and works out.
I LOVE LENOVO
If you love Lenovo so much, why don't you marry---er, buy this computer?
But how do you really feel?
Beauty is only skin deep...
Just a minor correction:
Its spelled "Nehalem," not "Nahalem"
Take this as you will, I know very little about video editing:
Isn't nearly all video editing done on a mac, these days? I understand CAD being largely PC based, but do companies who budget desktops primarily for digital video content really work on Windows?
I understand Mac is a popular platform for video editing, and my personal preference, but Windows also has some great software too.
Ho yes they do, windows is the way to do for everything actually. Avid is still the best for editing. Final cut pro is nice but there is too much problems for be acceptable in a post-production company. You cant charge your client 300$/hour for a final cut pro room.
@ Boards:
And Avid was originally made for and runs primarily on what platform?
(excepting Newscutter, which I don't think you're talking about since you referenced Final Cut)
p.s. I worked on the EditDroid
You are right dyt, for the mac! I remember envying the Avid guy next to me cause he had a powermac 9500, 180mhz, because me I had a 8500 150mhz...
Still now its mostly DS stations...
so if you can get OSX on this essentially you have a quad core mac pro for like half the price?
Yes.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Apple+Tax
If you haven't seen their systems already, you should take a look at Psystar.
They offer some pretty impressive systems with prices that are pretty darn good, even in the PC world.
Comprable to the iMac (Without the built-in display)
OSX + 2.8GHz C2D + 2GB RAM + 500GB HDD + 9500GT 512MB (DVI + VGA) = $718.99
Comprable to the Mac Pro
OSX + 2.4GHz C2Q + 8GB RAM + 1TB HDD + 9800GTX = $1399.99
Hey josh, its not comparable to the mac pro, get a Studio XPS dell, for 999$ you get 2.6ghz i7, 4gb, 1TB, and good graphics.
I wonder what the benchmarks would be vs. the hd 4870?
Considering the price of the Tesla C1060, that's a steal:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4259469&CatId=4044
(seriously, did they steal it?)
@ Bandit5317
But you have to take into account the fact that Lenovo is obviously getting the Tesla C1060 for a lot less than that, given that they're getting them in bulk. Still, that is an amazing price for that kind of computing power. (And I'm referring here to the Lenovo computers that come loaded with the Tesla GPU, though come to think of it, the GPU by itself offers amazing power for the price as well, at least if NVIDIA's marketing claims are to be believed.)
I don't think the base configs come with the tesla card, the release says "Adding the NVIDIA Tesla C1060 GPU..." so it's probably an optional upgrade which probably doubles the price.
what happened to core i7s? is xeon the new trend now?
i personally prefer the core i7s over the xeons.
Nehalem is Core i7
Dont worry, the only advantage of Xeon is you can stack 2 for get 8 cores.
No, it won't run Crysis?
Sounds like a Candidate Hackintosh!
Absolutely a hackintosh candidate....but these look like the low-end Gainestown / Bloomfield CPUs (which is why the price is so low).
Yeah, I don't read the articles either
Oh snap. I'm having a mathgasm. CUDA here I come...
If the 8cores is 1550$ it will kill the 3300$ mac pro!
Even if it is 1 quad core you could buy 2 of these systems and still come under the Mac Pro price an be able to split up the work with 2 people and what you lose in CPU speed you make up with user speed and come out ahead with price!!!
It's right there in the specs that the starting point is a single CPU dual-core 1.86GHz, which seems to fit the quoted low price. The specs seem to imply that with the D20, the second processor is optional, so the $500 price premium is to allow for the second CPU.
When you get up into Mac Pro performance, you're probably talking pretty close to Mac Pro price.
@Adam
In some businesses human labor is the biggest expense. If you wipe the sweat out of your eyes with your apron you might see it too.
@dyt1983 :
I highly doubt it. At same performance, I've never seen a company reaching the stratospheric Apple prices...
Many have tried but noone can steal like Apple.
Who said that macs are best in price/performance ratio?
@Félix
The Mac Pros were the cheapest for their specs last time. HP and Dell's 8 core 2.8GHz workstations in January 2008 were over $1500 more than the 2008 Mac Pro. Things are different this time from Apple, but if companies like Dell, HP and Lenovo continue to put large premiums on dual socket workstations then the Mac Pros are likely to be of a similar price.
But...but...the Mac Pro is NOT overpriced! BAWWWWWWW
I tell you what sucks; the Nehalem Xeon is still only available in the Mac. I don't know if there really is an exclusivity deal with Apple, but Intel has been promising these processors for a long time now, and they should be available in the retail market already as parts... but no, still not available. The only company with parts is Apple.
The Lenovo will work out close to what the Mac Pro costs once you upgrade parts so they're comparable. The advertised price is low because the parts are the lower end parts. Once they have these on their website ready for customization, the price will increase quickly as you swap out crap for the goods. :)
"Choices of the latest Intel® Xeon processors 5500" these are the Nehalem chips. So no needing to upgrade parts so they are comparable, they are running the same chips. Thanks for playing.....
There are 15 variants on the Nehalem processor, in the Xeon configuration. Unless you match up the PC vs Mac to the same speed processor, you're not comparing equals. I don't even like Apple, but all I'm saying is that the prices listed above are for configurations that are not equal to the Mac Pro, so you can't say the PC is cheaper based on that misrepresentation. Once you have both systems equalized, you can. And at that point, the PC will be a few hundred less or more.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20081118082708_Intel_to_Initiate_Shipments_of_Nehalem_Processors_Early_Next_Year.html
By the way, the old Mac Pro's became popular for a reason... they were $1000 less than a comparable system from Dell, HP, IBM, Boxx, you name it. It is the reason many people bought the Mac Pro and used Bootcamp on it. I know, I priced them out myself at the time, 2006.
If it makes you feel any better, I'll be building my own PC workstation soon, based on Windows.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/14/apple-nehalem-based-mac-pro-unboxing-and-hands-on/
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/21/dells-first-cellphone-prototypes-said-to-lack-differentiation/
damn- I hate having hardware envy. This announcement makes my D10 sad... I hope Lenovo continues to include the 3 year on-site warranty, the warranty alone was enough to convince me to buy my D10 a year ago