Appro XtremeWorkstation for Multicore Processing
Meets professional users' needs in advanced 3D workstations.
| Published February 6, 2008
For professionals who must handle demanding compute- and memory-intensive CAE, design, graphics, and scientific visualization applications, a mid- to high-end solution is offered in the Appro XtremeWorkstation WH5548H from Appro International, Inc. (Milpitas, CA). The workstation uses the 64-bit quad-core AMD Opteron 8000 series processor that, Appro says, enables the WH5548H to deliver the speed, high performance, and efficiency required in such computationally extreme and graphics-demanding environments as, automotive, aerospace, petroleum exploration and production, and 3D numerical modeling.
Appro says that its XtremeWorkstation delivers a validated optimized platform that meets 
the demands of multicore processing. The XtremeWorkstation supports two to four processors with up to 128GB of memory and two PCI-Express x16 slots for high-end graphics cards such as the NVIDIA Quadro FX4500 X2 or the NVIDIA Quadro FX5500. And, with 128GB of memory, the new Appro workstation provides more than four times the graphics, processor, and memory bandwidth, providing 25 percent lower memory latency and twice the compute power of prior models. Additionally, the processors help reduce power and cooling costs by lowering the energy consumption of existing IT infrastructures.
"Appro delivers a high-performance and memory-intensive visualization workstation while offering computing flexibility and investment protection." — John Lee, Appro, VP of Advanced Technology Solutions |
The WH5548H XtremeWorkstation offers redundant and hot-swappable features that simplify installation and maintenance. Miscellaneous features include up to 8.0TB SATA or 8.0TB SAS storage capacity, two PCI-X slots, one 3.5-inch drive, and support for two external 5.25-inch drives. I/O capabilities include a single VGA port, one serial port, two PS/2 connectors, one audio port, IEEE-1394a (FireWire) port, external SAS connector, and four USB ports.
The AMD processors’ Direct Connect Architecture directly connects system memory to the CPU, optimizing memory performance and reducing latency delays during memory access over traditional front-side bus-based memory controllers. Plus, the processors deploy AMD Virtualization (AMD-V) Technology, which is said to increase the 
performance of virtualized applications while enabling faster switching between virtual machines thereby providing a powerful, flexible, secure server solution.
"Appro XtremeWorkstation continues to set industry standards for high-performance workstations to meet the demands of multicore computing," said John Lee, VP of Advanced Technology Solutions of Appro. "By combining four socket, Quad-Core AMD Opteron 8000 Series processors with memory scalability, performance-per-watt capabilities, virtualization tools, and outstanding graphics cards, Appro delivers a high-performance and memory-intensive visualization workstation while offering computing flexibility and investment protection."
The WH5548H XtremeWorkstation runs Windows or Linux OS.
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Click here to read why DE's Editors made this a Pick of the Week.
Click here for specific information about the Appro XtemeWorkstation WH5548H.
Click here for WH5548H Technical Specs and Resources from Appro.
Click here to access Appro’s White Papers.
Click here to read David Cohn’s review of the WH5548H published in DE, February 2008, p. 30.