IBM’s new POWER 7 processor

IBM introduces new processor POWER7 multicore chips.  The release of the new processor set's new expectations as the competition over the Server market increases due to take over of SUN microsystem by Oracle Corporation.

Comparison of POWER processors:

 

					Cache
Chip	Size	Speed in GHz	SMT thread / core	Cores	L1	L2	L3	System's
POWER5	90-130nm, 389 mm2	1.5 – 2.2	2	2	32+32kB/core	1.875 MB/core	36 MB/chip (off chip)	p505, p510, p520, p550 p505Q, p510Q, p520Q, p550Q
POWER6	65nm, 341 mm2	3.5 – 4.7 Power 6+ – 5.0	2	8-64	64+64KB/core	4 MB/core	32 MB/chip (off chip)	p520, p550, p560, p570, p595
POWER7	45nm, 567mm2	3.0 – 4.14	4	8-64	32+32kB/core	256 kB/core	32 MB/chip	P750, P755, p770, P780

 

The POWER7 processors are expected to run faster than the predecessor's even though the speed of 3.0 – 4.14 GHz is lesser than that of the POWER6+ processor's which can reach up to 5.0GHz. This is been achieved by making the 32MB L3 cache on the same chip rather than an new chip for L3 cache which is the case in both POWER5 and POWER6 processors.

The latest POWER7 processor looks to have more cores and improved multithreading capability to boost the server performance. The server range is expected to serve any sized business, from entry to midrange to high end servers. This is the IBM's tendency in server business.