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Samsung debuts first 32GB DDR3 memory module

by Donald Melanson, posted Jun 18th 2009 at 3:38PM

Samsung has been making promises about a 32GB DDR3 memory module since it rolled out its first 50nm 4Gb DDR3 memory chip way back in January, but it looks like it's now finally delivered. While it won't be headed for regular desktops or laptops just yet, the company does have a new 1.35 volt 32GB module for servers which, in addition to packing that record-breaking capacity, also boasts a 20% better throughput compared to previous 1.5 volt modules and, of course, a lower power consumption to boot. As some math not performed by us will reveal, the module itself is made up of 72 of those 4Gb memory chips, which are lined up in rows of nine quad-die packaged 16Gb DDR3s mounted on each side of the circuit board. No word on pricing just yet, nor is there any word about Samsung's promised desktop and laptop memory, which are apparently still in the works -- in the form of 8GB DIMMs, at least.

Intel's new Nehalem-EX CPUs rock servers with eight cores, 16 threads, infinite sex appeal

by Tim Stevens, posted May 27th 2009 at 8:06AM

What's that, you have an array of six-core CPUs in your rack? That is so last year. You're going to feel pretty foolish when all the cool admins start popping eight-core chips up in their closets this fall. That's the number on offer in Intel's latest, the Nehalem-EX. It's an evolution of the architecture that some of you may be spinning in your Core i7 machines, but boosted to support up to 16 threads and 24MB of cache. 2.3 billion transistors make the magic happen here, and Intel is pledging a nine-times improvement in memory bandwidth over the Xeon 7400. Chips are set to start hitting sockets sometime later this year, and while nobody's talking prices, staying hip in the enterprise server CPU crowd doesn't come cheap.

Acer launches easyStore Home Server: 1TB expandable storage for $400

by Ross Miller, posted May 21st 2009 at 1:19AM

Acer's entering the home server market, and its first entry's gonna be the easyStore AH340-UA230N with built-in Windows Home Server. It's juiced up with Intel Atom 230 processor and 2GB DDR2 RAM, and in addition to 1TB of storage, you've got three 3.5-inch hot swappable bays for a possible total of 7TB of storage. Throw in some DLNA 1.5 certification and a $400 price tag, and you've got yourself pretty decent competitor to HP's MediaSmart lineup. According to the presser, it should be available sometime around now-ish. Mosey on after the break for a look at the its innards.

Continue reading Acer launches easyStore Home Server: 1TB expandable storage for $400

HP MediaSmart LX195 boasts 640GB HDD, 1.6GHz Atom, $400 MSRP

by Ross Miller, posted Apr 29th 2009 at 8:39PM

Yearning for more info on the HP MediaSmart LX195? Here's some new concrete details for you to go along with the leaked images from earlier this month. As previously suggested, it's got a a single 640GB internal SATA drive with 7200RPM, with the only option for expansion being via the four USB 2.0 ports in the back. We're also looking at a 1.6GHz Atom 230 processor, 1GB RAM, Windows Home Server software and support for Apple's Time Machine. Mum's the word on price, but if you're looking to start saving early, suggested retail price is just under four Benjamins.

Gallery: HP MediaSmart LX195 boasts 640GB HDD, 1.6GHz Atom, $400 price tag

Swedish museum puts Pirate Bay server on display

by Donald Melanson, posted Apr 16th 2009 at 3:46PM

The Pirate Bay itself may now be entangled in a high-profile court battle, but it looks like Sweden's National Museum of Science and Technology figured that was the perfect time to grab a piece of the site's controversial history and put it on display. While it may not look like much, that server above is in fact one of the original servers that was used by the Pirate Bay and confiscated by the police in January, 2008. Despite that storied past, however, the museum was apparently able to acquire the server for just 2,000 kronor (or about $240), and it's now found a home alongside a 1970s-era cassette tape recorder in an exhibit that's intended to "stimulate interest in finding out more about the area of intellectual property rights" -- which, unfortunately, is not called "Steal this Exhibit."

[Via The Register]

HP MediaSmart Server LX195 lights up in leaked images

by Ross Miller, posted Apr 13th 2009 at 1:47PM

Not even two weeks have passed since we first spotted HP's 640GB MediaSmart Server LX195 in boxed form, care of Mr. Blurrycam, and now we've got what appears to be a couple of official press photos. Stylish aesthetics aside, it's sporting four USBs, an ethernet port, and DC input for a power brick. What we're not seeing is any way to swap out or add storage, so it looks like that "single drive server" speculation might be on the money. Speaking of which, the company still hasn't made this official, and as such, there's no word on pricing or availability.

[Via MediaSmartServer.net]

Microsoft launches entry-level Foundation Server 2008

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Apr 1st 2009 at 7:41PM

Microsoft has just announced the release of Windows Server 2008 Foundation. Codenamed Lima once upon a time, this release is being billed as a low cost alternative to Windows Small Business Server. Squarely aimed at the OEM set (Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and various Chinese software pirating syndicates have already have expressed interest), this licensing scheme limits the server to fifteen users (even as a member server on a Windows domain), doesn't include hypervisor, and does away with the need for Client Access Licenses (CALs). With today's announcement, Foundation is available in 40 countries in English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish.

[Via ZDNet]

New HP MediaSmart Server LX195 caught out there by Mr. Blurrycam

by Richard Lawler, posted Mar 31st 2009 at 8:49AM

HP MediaSmart Server enthusiast skeeter has uncovered what looks like the latest addition to the line, the LX195. Sporting a mere 640GB, MediaSmartServer.net speculates this edition could be a single drive model, slotting in below the EX475 and EX485 with additional hard drive space added via USB. That's all there is to know, at least until someone gets a peek at one outside the box.

CyberPower intros Atom-powered Windows Home Server 100

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 17th 2009 at 5:59PM

The Windows Home Server parade has slowed to a crawl, but we figure we speak for each and every streaming media lover out there when we invite more companies to give this whole thing a go. CyberPower, a firm that generally sticks to gaming towers, has apparently done just that with its Windows Home Server 100, a plainly styled SFF machine that automatically backs up local PCs and provides networked access to all sorts of files. But for those who look closely, you'll realize that the model name here is just coincidental, as it's "Windows 2003 Server OEM version" running the show. If you're still interested, the rig boasts a 1.6GHz Atom 330 processor, a mini-ITX motherboard, GMA 950 graphics, gigabit Ethernet, a 500GB SATA II hard drive and 2GB of DDR2 memory. Shame on you for getting our hopes up, CyberPower.

HP issues software update for MediaSmart Server

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 23rd 2009 at 9:02AM

It's been forever and a day since HP issued a MediaSmart Server update, but now -- at long last -- owners can suck down some more new software in order to implement a few minor changes. The HPMSS-1.3-R1 update adds in a Rollback feature, improves image processing performance in HP Photo Webshare, corrects error messages displayed using SSL and TZO certifications and removes unnecessary temperature sensor displays. Give it a go and let us know how things turn out, will ya?

[Thanks, Duane]

HP MediaSmart Server ex487 gets hands-on love and full-blown review

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 29th 2008 at 8:18AM

HP's 1.5TB MediaSmart Server ex487 (and its smaller 750GB sibling, the ex485) were just announced hours ago, but that hasn't stopped a few lucky reviewers from putting their hands-on pictures and impressions online for the world to pore over. The biggest knocks that seemed to really grate the nerves of critics were that the single eSATA port was not port-multiplier aware, and despite the bump to 2GB of RAM, the TwonkyMedia and Remote Media Streaming software were still deemed "quirky and in need of some polish." Those gripes aside, the newfangled unit was pretty well adored. In fact, WeGotServed flat-out called the device "stunning," praising HP for its tightly integrated applications that worked fairly well on top of Windows Home Server. For those eying a simple-to-use media server, it looks like HP finally produced one that can be purchased sans regret; the real question, however, is will the outfit push these delectable new features down to existing ex470 / ex475 owners?

Read - MediaSmartServer review
Read - WeGotServed review / hands-on

HP debuts Mac-compatible MediaSmart ex485 / ex487 home servers

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 29th 2008 at 12:42AM

It's been a long, long while since we've heard the words HP MediaSmart, and in fact, the last mention that was made wasn't exactly positive. HP's looking to put the past away and forge ahead with two new ones in the line: the Mac-friendly ex485 and ex487. Both devices are (of course) based on Microsoft's Windows Home Server platform, and just like their predecessors, these are meant to automatically backup machines around the home and act as a network-accessible repository for all things media. The pair features HP's Media Collector (used to schedule, copy and centralize digital files from networked PCs) and also acts as an iTunes server and an external backup device for Macs running Leopard and using Apple's Time Machine software. As for specs, you'll find a 2GHz Celeron CPU in each with 2GB of DDR2 RAM, gigabit Ethernet, four USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA jack and four internal HDD bays. The February-bound duo can be pre-ordered on January 5th for $599 (ex485; 750GB) / $749 (ex487; 1.5TB), and each can be scaled up to 9TB. Full release is after the break.

Gallery: HP debuts Mac-compatible MediaSmart ex485 / ex487 home servers

Continue reading HP debuts Mac-compatible MediaSmart ex485 / ex487 home servers

VIA's ARTIGO A2000 wants to be your own private server

by Laura June, posted Dec 10th 2008 at 11:25AM

VIA's new ARTIGO A2000 is a low-power barebones masquerading as a miniscule server. The squat PC features a 1.5GHz VIA C7-D CPU atop the company's VX800 chipset, a whopping single slot for DDR2 RAM (up to 2GB), two 3.5-inch SATA II drive bays, bootable CF support, gigabit Ethernet (as well as an optional 802.11b/g module), a slew of USB ports, and the rest of the familiar jacks, nozzles, and switches. The company is aiming the system squarely at BitTorrenters and those in need of lightweight file serving, and with supposedly low-noise fan and small power footprint, we can't say we disagree. No word on price or street date -- but you'll know more when we do.

Update: Looks like the ARTIGO's going to sell for $299 and that it'll be available by the end of January of 2009.

[Via SlashGear]

AMD launches first 45nm, quad-core Shanghai Opterons, hitting desktops Q1

by Thomas Ricker, posted Nov 13th 2008 at 4:17AM

Intel might get all the consumer praise, but AMD has been blazing architectural trails well before Nehalem. As EE Times points out, AMD's 65-nm Barcelona was the first quad-core processor with 2MB of shared L3 cache integrated with the Northbridge memory controller. Now AMD has (finally) caught up with its own 45-nm technology under the code-name, Shanghai. AMD's newest quad-core Opteron server chip with 6MB L3 cache now offers up to 35 percent better performance while drawing 35 percent less idle power. Better yet, it's drop-in compatible with Barcelona which should keep IT-types happy as they extend the life of their server farms. Available immediately in 75-watt, quad-core versions running clock speeds from 2.3GHz to 2.7GHz. Desktop-class "Dragon" chips should hit the PC market in Q1. Great, now where are those 45-nm netbook procs, eh AMD?

[Via EE Times and CNET]

AMD's 45nm Shanghai enters production, next stops are Deneb, Istanbul

by Tim Stevens, posted Sep 30th 2008 at 10:49AM

Let's not beat around the bush: AMD's oft-delayed Barcelona quad-core processor was a flop. It arrived late and buggy, an undesirable reception that helped to drive the company's $1.2 billion Q2 loss this year. AMD can't afford another flub like that and is hoping that processor's successor, Shanghai, finds more success in the server market. It's a 45nm quad-core chip with three times the cache (6MB) and HyperTransport 3, apparently equating to a 20 percent boost in speed and even thriftier power consumption. AMD is saying the chip is already under production and will be available for sale before the year is out, actually beating expectations for once. That should be shortly followed by the release of 45nm Deneb processors for desktops, then six-core Istanbul chips sometime late 2009. Meanwhile, Intel's six-core, 45nm server chips are now shipping.