IBM to boost server memory capacity

IBM on Tuesday will introduce a new class of industry-standard servers that it hopes will widen its market-share lead and put rivals such as HP and Dell on defence.

The company's new family of servers, dubbed the eX5 portfolio, features architecture tweaks that allow the customer to add more memory without buying an entirely new server. IBM spent three years engineering the systems, which will be previewed at CeBIT in Germany.

IBM plans to alter the industry standard server return equation via memory expansion options and an extra chip that is designed to coach the system to better performance. IBM said it will announce three eX5 systems through 2010: a four processor version; a new blade design; and an entry-priced two-processor server (pictured).

For more on this story, see IBM hopes to upend industry standard server ROI equation on ZDNet.com.