Latest Company Press Releases

Performance engineering leaders to meet at first joint ACM/SPEC workshop in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif., December 17, 2009 – World leaders in performance engineering for computing systems will meet at the first joint workshop of The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Standard Performance Evaluation Corp. (SPEC), January 28-30 in San Jose, California, USA.  Discounted advance registration is available until December 31 at http://www.inf.pucrs.br/wosp/.

The joint ACM Workshop on Software and Performance and SPEC International Performance Evaluation Workshop (WOSP/SIPEW 2010) will feature four tutorial sessions and more than two dozen selected papers from industry and academia. The program also includes a panel discussion on future directions in performance engineering and seven poster sessions. 

David Patterson, the Pardee Professor of Computer Science at the University of California at Berkeley, will present the keynote address, “Software Knows Best: Portable Parallelism Requires Standardized Measurements of Transparent Hardware.”

In addition to the keynote, Jerry Rolia (HP), Diwakar Krishnamurthy (University of Calgary) and Giuliano Casale (SAP Research UK) will present an invited talk: “BAP: A Benchmark-Driven Algebraic Method for the Performance Engineering of Customized Services.”

For more information

WOSP/SIPEW 2010 is sponsored by ACM SIGSOFT and ACM SIGMETRICS in cooperation with SPEC.  Siemens is a corporate sponsor.  General chairs for the conference are Alan Adamson from the SPEC Board of Directors and Andre Bondi of Siemens Corporate Research USA.

Program information and registration fees may be obtained at http://www.inf.pucrs.br/wosp/.

New SPECjEnterprise2010 benchmark uses real-world workload to
characterize full-system performance for complete Java EE application stack

WARRENTON, Va., December 3, 2009 -- The Standard Performance Evaluation Corp. (SPEC) has released SPECjEnterprise2010, a new benchmark that measures full-system performance for Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) application servers, databases and supporting infrastructure. 

SPECjEnterprise2010 was developed by SPEC’s Java subcommittee, which includes AMD, HP, IBM, Intel, Oracle, Red Hat, SAP, and Sun Microsystems.

Tools to quantify Java EE performance 

SPECjEnterprise2010 includes a real-world workload and features that stress the capabilities of Java EE 5 or later application servers, databases, and supporting software infrastructure and hardware systems.

Java EE servers are used by organizations worldwide to implement applications utilizing web services, servlets, JSP, EJB 3.0 and JPA persistence providers.  SPECjEnterprise2010 is a full-system benchmark, going beyond the Java EE server to characterize performance for the complete application stack, including hardware (servers and storage), software, operating system and network. 

“Java EE products make up the core software stack in many modern e-commerce implementations and backend processing systems,” says David Dagastine, SPEC OSG Java subcommittee chair.  “SPECjEnterprise2010 uses proven SPEC methodologies to provide a level playing field on which to test and compare the latest Java EE hardware and software platforms.”

Exercising more capabilities 

SPECjEnterprise2010 expands the scope of SPEC’s SPECjAppServer2004 benchmark to exercise more capabilities of Java EE application servers.  The new benchmark tests performance for a representative Java EE application and each of the components that make up the application environment, including hardware, application server software, JVM software, database software, JDBC drivers, and the system network.  For the first time in a standardized benchmark, SPECjEnterprise2010 quantifies performance for the web services interface and JPA ORM engines.

The SPECjEnterprise2010 workload emulates information flow among an automotive dealership, manufacturing domain, supply chain management, and an order/inventory system.  Load drivers in SPECjEnterprise2010 access the application through a web layer (HTML/HTTP) for the automotive dealership and through web services and Enterprise Java Beans (EJBs) for the manufacturing domain.

Performance is measured in SPECjEnterprise2010 by a metric called EjOPS (jEnterprise Operations Per Second).  The metric is derived by adding the operations per second in the dealer domain to the work orders per second in the manufacturing domain.  

Available now

SPECjEnterprise2010 is available immediately from SPEC for $2,000; discounts are available for qualified non-profit and educational institutions.  More information is available at http://www.spec.org/osg/jEnterprise2010 or through e-mail at info@spec.org.

WD® ENTERS TRADITIONAL ENTERPRISE HDD MARKET WITH FIRST SAS PRODUCT

WD S25 SAS Hard Drives Provide High-Reliability and Performance for Mission-critical Server and Storage Applications

WD® (NYSE: WDC), known for its hard disk drive leadership in the desktop, mobile and consumer marketplaces, today announced its entry into the traditional enterprise market segment with volume production shipments of its first 10,000 RPM, 2.5-inch, small form factor, SAS interface hard drives. The WD S25 provides up to 300 GB of high-performance storage suitable for both mission-critical enterprise server and enterprise storage applications, such as high-I/O-driven applications and configurations, as well as data centres and large data arrays.

“Our entry into the traditional-enterprise market continues the strategic expansion and diversification of WD’s broad market and product portfolio, and significantly increases our addressable revenue opportunity,” said John Coyne, president and CEO of WD. “As with our previous market expansion and diversification efforts, WD will approach the traditional enterprise space with the same focus on quality, customer service, technology and value that has earned us strong positions in every market we serve.”

The WD S25 delivers ultra-high performance with its 3 Gb/s and 6 Gb/s SAS interfaces and a sustained sequential data rate of 128 MB/sec. In addition to all the speed required to service any enterprise need, the WD S25 also provides a 1.6 M hour MTBF rating.

The WD S25 is now available to select OEMs and shipments have begun to the two largest OEMs in the industry. “We are thrilled to launch a mission-critical-class hard drive to these high-end OEM customers,” said Tom McDorman, vice president and general manager of WD’s enterprise storage solutions business unit. “This new family of SAS products adds to our existing large capacity SATA near-line enterprise product portfolio. This first product is the foundation upon which we will expand into the previously untapped traditional enterprise market.”

More information about WD S25 enterprise SAS hard drives may be found on the company's Web site at http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=677.

Vienna, November 2nd 2009 - Noctua today officially presented its long-awaited NH-D14 premium CPU cooler. Combining a massive six heatpipe dual radiator design with an exquisite NF-P14/NF-P12 dual fan configuration, the NH-D14 is built to further improve the renowned quiet cooling performance of Noctua's award-winning NH-U12P series.

"Our NH-U12P coolers are widely regarded as one of the best solutions on the market, so it makes us especially proud that we can offer a further substantial improvement in quiet cooling performance with the new NH-D14", explains Mag. Roland Mossig, Noctua CEO. "The NH-D14 in Ultra-Low-Noise mode actually outperforms the NH-U12P at full fan speed, so we're confident that this cooler will appeal to overclockers and silent enthusiasts alike."

Providing more surface area, better heat-distribution and superior airflow efficiency than conventional tower style heatsinks, the NH-D14's six heatpipe dual radiator design was developed to provide ultimate quiet cooling performance with the supplied NF-P14 (140mm) and NF-P12 (120mm) fans. Both fans feature Vortex-Control Notches, SCD technology and SSO-Bearings in order to achieve a perfect balance of performance and quietness.

The NH-D14's asymmetrical design gives more clearance towards the RAM slots and thus ensures good compatibility despite of the cooler's size.    Hanging out at the bottom of the fin-stacks, the NF-P14 fan doesn't only contribute to the NH-D14's superb CPU cooling capabilities but also provides massive airflow over surrounding motherboard components and heatsinks.

Topped off with a tube of Noctua's award-winning NT-H1 thermal compound as well as the new SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system (LGA1366, LGA1156, LGA775, AM2, AM2+ and AM3), the NH-D14 is an elite choice for the highest demands in premium quality quiet cooling.

Price and availability.   The NH-D14 will be available by mid-November at a recommended retail price of EUR 74.90 / USD 84.90.

A snapshot of the effective NH-D14 Heatsink fan below

Corsair® Gets Tough on Storage with New 64GB Flash Survivor™ USB Drive 

FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 15, 2009 — Corsair,  a worldwide leader in high-performance computer memory, power supplies and flash memory products, including solid-state drives, today announced the new 64GB Flash Survivor USB drive, the most rugged high-capacity flash drive on the market.

Corsair’s ultra-durable Flash Survivor USB drives have proven extremely popular with consumers thanks to their super-strong, CNC-milled, aircraft-grade aluminium casing, which makes them practically indestructible. Each drive is also fitted with a molded, shock-dampening collar and EPDM seal, which provides water-resistance to a depth of 200 meters. In independent reviews, the Flash Survivor has been dropped, baked, boiled, encased in ice, zapped in a microwave and even run over by an SUV, yet it still came back for more!

The 64GB Flash Survivor boasts the same ultra-rugged credentials, with the added benefit of high storage capacity and higher performance compared to most other 64GB flash drives currently available.

 “The new 64GB Flash Survivor takes the industry’s most popular rugged USB drive and takes it to the next level, with a huge amount of storage space, plus best-in-class performance,” said Jim Carlton, VP of Marketing for Corsair. “The 64GB Survivor is ideal for storing and transporting your music, videos, pictures and other important files, safe in the knowledge that your data will be safeguarded inside the Survivor’s protective shell.”

The 64GB Survivor’s ruggedness and high capacity also makes it ideal for use as a super-secure data backup device, in combination with backup products, such as Corsair’s Flash Voyager™ Port. Combining the 64GB Survivor with the Disaster Recovery feature of the NovaBACKUP software bundled with the Flash Voyager Port creates a near disaster-proof backup solution.

The Corsair 64GB Flash Survivor is available immediately through Corsair’s worldwide authorized dealer channel. Each drive is bundled with a USB extension cable and dog tags, and is backed by a 10-year limited warranty and comprehensive customer support via telephone, email, forum and the Tech Support Express helpdesk.

WD® UNVEILS WD TV™ LIVE HD MEDIA PLAYER WITH NETWORK CAPABILITY AND ENHANCED USER EXPERIENCE

Consumers Can Stream HD Content from USB Drives, Network Drives and Popular Internet Sites
to Their Big Screen TVs

WD® (NYSE: WDC), the world’s leader in external storage solutions, today introduced the WD TV Live HD media player featuring network capability and Full-HD 1080p resolution. The new WD TV Live HD media player makes it easy for anyone to play HD (high definition) videos stored on USB and network drives, as well as Internet content from popular Web sites, on the biggest screen in their home -- their HD television. Building on the success of the WD TV HD media player, the WD TV Live HD media player offers a new, more responsive interface to help consumers enjoy a world of digital content in their living room, without a computer.

The network capability of the WD TV Live media player enables users to stream or transfer movies from PC or Mac® computers or a network-attached storage device such as WD’s My Book® World Edition™ and WD ShareSpace network drives to their HD TVs. The WD TV Live media player also allows users to stream rich content from YouTube™ and Flickr®. The HD onscreen menu brings together all of the users’ available media in an elegant and simple-to-navigate interface.

Like the popular first-generation WD TV HD media player introduced last autumn, the WD TV Live media player connects directly to a users’ HD TV and plays almost any file stored on a connected USB drive such as My Passport™ portable drive. The WD TV Live media player features powerful media processing, which enables playback in Full-HD 1080p resolution. WD TV Live media player also will play movies and photos stored on other popular USB devices such as digital camcorders and digital cameras. 

“The media enthusiast community has embraced the first WD TV HD media player and given us tremendous feedback,” said Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD’s branded products group. “With the new WD TV Live media player we’re giving them what they asked for -- network connectivity and Internet-content streaming capabilities -- and offering them a simple way to enjoy all of their digital media and enjoy it on their HD TVs.”

Pricing and Availability

The WD TV Live Media Player is available now at select retailers and online at www.shopwd.co.uk. Covered by a 2-year limited warranty, the MSRP for WD TV Live Media Player is £119.90.

Lexar Media Announces Next Generation Crucial Solid-State Drive Products

New M225 Solid-State Drive Series Boasts Read Speeds up to 250MB/sec and Write Speeds up to 200MB/sec

Crucial^® M225 Solid-State Drive (SSD) Key Messages:

• Fastest, highest capacity Crucial SSD's to date
• Available in capacities of 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB
• Featuring an industry standard 2.5-inch form factor, and a SATA 2.0 (3Gb/s) interface
• Excellent alternative to the traditional hard drive – quieter, cooler, and more durable
• Fully compatible with the Crucial SK01 External Drive Storage kit

FREMONT, Calif. & GLASGOW, United Kingdom 20^th July 2009 - Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, today announced its revved-up line of Crucial solid-state drive (SSD) products – the fastest, highest capacity Crucial SSD's to date. The most dramatic change in this new generation of Crucial SSD's is the blazing-fast read and write speeds. The flagship 256GB Crucial M225 SSD screams at an impressive 250MB/sec read speed and a 200MB/sec write speed. The new Crucial SSD's enhance system performance by improving operating system boot and application load times. They also utilize a SATA 2.0 (3Gb/s) interface and feature MLC NAND flash components housed in an industry standard 2.5-inch drive enclosure, making a Crucial M225 SSD easy to install.

“By upgrading their system with a solid-state drive, mobile computer users will enjoy a faster, more rugged system with storage built for mobility. The fact that SSD's don’t have any moving parts makes Crucial solid-state drives quieter, cooler, and more durable than traditional hard drives,” said Robert Wheadon, Lexar Media’s senior worldwide product marketing manager.

The benefits of an SSD aren't limited to notebooks; the Crucial SK01 External Drive Storage Kit (sold separately) is compatible with all three Crucial M225 solid-state drive products. This innovative device delivers the benefits of SSD technology to a user’s desktop, or as a portable storage device via a USB port. The kit includes a 2.5-inch USB 2.0 external enclosure, a 3.5-inch SATA 3Gb/s hot-swappable drive bay, and a 5.25-inch drive bay bracket. The Crucial SK01 kit comes with a five year limited warranty.

Visit www.crucial.com/ssd, www.crucial.com/uk/ssd, or www.crucial.com/eu/ssd to take advantage of free online tools, such as the Crucial SSD Advisor tool, which allows customers to find a compatible SSD simply by choosing their system make and model from a drop-down menu. Additionally, an online flash-based installation guide demonstrates how easy it is to install a Crucial M225 SSD.

SPECapc releases Autodesk Maya 2009 benchmark

WARRENTON, Va., July 8, 2009 – SPEC’s Application Performance Characterization (SPECapc) project group has released new performance evaluation software for systems running Autodesk Maya 2009 software.  Autodesk Maya 2009 is an integrated 3D modeling, animation, visual effects and rendering solution.

SPECapc for Maya 2009 was developed in close cooperation with Autodesk, the first independent software vendor to join the SPECapc project group.

“This is the first of what we hope will be many collaborations with Autodesk as an ISV member of SPECapc,” says Dan Bennett, SPECapc chair.  “Membership in SPECapc enables ISVs to work more interactively with us to develop benchmarks that directly benefit their customers.” 

SPECapc for Maya 2009 contains a major new workload – an animated toy store scene donated by AMD – as well as upgrades to the workloads found in SPECapc for Maya 6.5.  Nearly 40 individual tests are run on five workload models to reflect the processes used to model, animate and render scenes in Autodesk Maya 2009.  A particular emphasis is placed on testing performance for large texture sizes and multiple viewports.

Available now

SPECapc for Maya 2009 is available for free downloading on the SPEC web site: www.spec.org/gwpg.  It is available currently for Microsoft Windows XP and Vista 32- and 64-bit platforms.  Because of the workload changes, results from SPECapc for Maya 2009 cannot be compared to those from previous SPECapc Maya benchmarks.

The SPECapc group also provides free benchmarks for systems running Autodesk 3ds Max 9, NewTek LightWave 3D v9.6, PTC Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 2.0, SolidWorks 2007, and Solid Edge V19 and NX 4 from Siemens PLMS.

About SPECapc
SPECapc was formed in 1997 to address performance evaluation based on popular workstation applications.  Current members include AMD, Autodesk, Dell, Fujitsu Limited, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Lenovo, NEC and NVIDIA.  SPECapc is part of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corp. (SPEC), a non-profit corporation formed to establish, maintain and endorse a standardized set of relevant benchmarks that can be applied to the newest generation of computers.  For more information, visit: www.spec.org.

New SPECweb2009 benchmark adds ability to measure power consumption of web servers.

WARRENTON, Va., June 5, 2009 - The Standard Performance Evaluation Corp. (SPEC) has released SPECweb2009, new software that adds the ability to measure power consumption to the worldwide standard for web server performance evaluation.  SPEC members active in developing the benchmark include AMD, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, Intel and Sun Microsystems.

SPECweb2009 replaces SPECweb2005, and results are not comparable to its predecessor.  In addition to the three workloads in SPECweb2005 representing banking, ecommerce and support, SPECweb2009 provides a power workload with a measurement methodology taken from the SPECpower group.  Workloads in SPECweb2009 uncover key components that constitute a good, secure web server, including LAN performance, processing power, memory bandwidth, storage, and power usage.

Adding power to the equation

"We've responded to industry requests to provide a standardized method of including power measurement in the web server performance equation," says Rema Hariharan, chair of the SPECweb project committee.  "This continues the SPEC tradition of delivering the most objective and representative benchmarks for measuring performance, and now power, for the newest generation of web servers."

The new power workload in SPECweb2009 is based on the ecommerce workload run at six different load levels.  Testing begins at the maximum number of connections used in the ecommerce workload and ramps down to idle.  Each load level is run for a period of 10 minutes. The new benchmark also separates results using PHP scripts from those using JSP.

The metrics, called SPECweb2009_JSP_Power and SPECweb2009_PHP_Power, are a performance-to-power ratio representing the sum of simultaneous user sessions for total watts used. 

The banking, ecommerce and support workloads in SPECweb2009 measure peak performance as the maximum number of simultaneous user sessions that a web server is able to support while meeting specific throughput and error-rate requirements. Unlike SPECweb2005, there is no normalization of the scores against a reference platform.  Metrics called SPECweb2009_JSP_peak and SPECweb2009_PHP_peak consolidate the geometric mean of results from the three workloads.  The geometric mean of the average power consumed in watts while running these workloads is reported alongside the performance metric.

Available now

SPECweb2009 is available now on CD-ROM for $1,600 for new licensees, $800 for upgrades, and $400 for eligible non-profit organizations.  To order, contact the SPEC office: phone: 540-349-7878; fax: 540-349-5992; e-mail: info@spec.org; web: www.spec.org.

Golden Era for Supermicro Green Storage Solutions

Gold Level (93%+ efficiency*) 1200-watt Redundant Power Supplies

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 21, 2009 - Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMCI), a leader in application-optimized, high-performance server solutions, today announced that its latest generation of enhanced, high-capacity storage chassis with Gold Level certified 1200-watt redundant power supplies are shipping in volume. These chassis feature Supermicro's advanced cooling subsystem designs to deliver optimal system efficiency and TCO by reducing customers' energy bills.

A pioneer of high-efficiency server technology, Supermicro has been leading the way with the most efficient systems systems for years. As the APAC chair of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, the company has successfully encouraged others within the industry to improve, too. Enabling these new 93%+ power supplies has re-established Supermicro as the true leader in producing the industry's most energy-efficient systems.

"We are ushering in a golden era in storage solutions by upgrading our high-capacity storage chassis with Gold Level certified 1200-watt high-efficiency power supplies," said Charles Liang, CEO and president, Supermicro. "In addition to saving enterprises hundreds of dollars per system on their energy bills, these solutions also help preserve the environment. This new generation of 1U, 2U, 3U and 4U storage chassis feature optimized iPass connectivity, fully redundant power supplies with PMBus™ functionality for superior power management, SES-2 features and enhanced hard drive trays, as well as 100% recyclable, palletized packaging."

Supermicro's new SC826A-R1200LPB storage chassis supports 12 hot-swap SAS/SATA drives in 2U and up to seven low-profile add-on cards. The SC836A-R1200B and SC936A-R1200B chassis both feature 16 hot-swap SAS/SATA drive bays in 3U with support for seven full-size add-on cards. With 24 hot-swap SAS/SATA drive bays (and up to two internal drives) in 4U, the new SC846A-R1200B is a reliable and maintenance-free storage workhorse that also supports seven full-size add-on cards. For 2.5" storage, Supermicro's 1U SC113 chassis support eight hard drives, while its 2U SC213A and SC216A series chassis support 16 and 24 hard drives, respectively.

These new chassis, with iPass connectivity mapping four drives per cable for hassle-free maintenance, are optimized for direct-attach storage solutions. They support both 3Gbps and 6Gbps SAS interfaces for high-bandwidth storage applications. When combined with Supermicro's wide selection of network and storage controller cards, these systems are ideal for SAN or NAS as well as Cloud-based storage, SaaS, disaster recovery, and iSCSI solutions.

All of these chassis flexibly support both uni-processor (UP) and dual-processor (DP) motherboards and feature optimized hard drive signal trace routing and improved hard drive tray designs to dampen vibrations and maximize drive performance. Another unique Supermicro advantage is 100% cooling redundancy; even if an internal cooling fan fails, these systems will continue operating without any performance loss. In addition, heavy-duty palletized packaging is standard on these 1200-watt series chassis to ensure secure system reliability during shipping, and tool-less, roller rail designs for easy installation and maintenance come standard.

Supermicro Server Building Block Solutions® offer exceptional flexibility and outstanding feature advantages. For more information on Supermicro's complete line of server and workstation solutions go to www.Supermicro.com

About Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMCI)
Established in 1993, Supermicro emphasizes superior product design and uncompromising quality control to produce industry-leading serverboards, chassis and server systems. These Server Building Block Solutions provide benefits across many environments, including data center deployment, high-performance computing, high-end workstations, storage networks and standalone server installations. For more information on Supermicro’s complete line of advanced motherboards, SuperServers, and optimized chassis, visit www.Supermicro.com, email Marketing@Supermicro.com or call the San Jose, CA headquarters at +1 408-503-8000.

SMCI-F

Supermicro and Server Building Block Solutions are registered trademarks of Super Micro Computer, Inc. Other names, brands and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

* Peak power efficiency figures based on internal test results.

SPEC delivers blade server power-performance metric

SPEC introduces new capabilities with SPECpower_ssj2008 V1.10

WARRENTON, Va., April 8, 2009 -- The Standard Performance Evaluation Corp. (SPEC) has released SPECpower_ssj2008 V1.10, the latest version of the only industry-standard benchmark that measures power consumption in relation to performance for server-class computers.

The major new feature in SPECpower_ssj2008 V1.10 is support for measuring multi-node servers.  Other new features further automate power measurement, including support for multiple power analyzers.  In addition, a visual activity monitor (VAM) provides a real-time graphic display of data collected while running the benchmark.

"With this release, SPEC is responding to market demand to measure power and performance for blade servers," says Klaus-Dieter Lange, chair of the SPECpower committee.  "It further extends the benchmark as a comprehensive tool that assists IT managers in deploying energy-efficient data centers."

SPECpower_ssj2008 is both a benchmark and a flexible toolset that generates customized loads allowing site-specific, in-depth analysis of server efficiency.  Results from the latest version of the benchmark will be comparable to V1.00 and V1.01, although the previous versions are limited to measuring one server at a time.

Extending an industry milestone

"The first version of SPECpower was a milestone for the computing industry and V1.10 significantly extends the benchmark’s functionality," says Andrew Fanara, director of the Energy Star Product Specifications Development Team for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  "We will continue to work with the SPECpower committee on future Energy Star initiatives."

Kirk Cameron, director of the Scalable Performance Laboratory (SCAPE) at Virginia Tech and a pioneer in green computing technologies, sees SPECpower_ssj2008 V1.10 as an important tool for data center analysis.    "The latest SPECpower benchmark provides the kind of customization that will enable IT managers to analyze power-performance trade-offs and make better-informed server choices," says Cameron.

SPEC member companies active in developing SPECpower_ssj2008 V1.10 include AMD, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Intel, IBM, and Sun Microsystems.

About the benchmark

SPECpower_ssj2008 reports power consumption for servers at different performance levels -- from 100-percent to idle in 10-percent segments -- over a set period of time.  The graduated workload recognizes the fact that processing loads and power consumption on servers vary substantially over the course of days or weeks.  To compute a power-performance metric across all levels, measured transaction throughputs for each segment are added together, then divided by the sum of the average power consumed for each segment.  The result is a figure of merit called "overall ssj_ops/watt."

The benchmark workload represents typical server-side Java business applications.  The workload is scalable, multi-threaded, portable across a wide range of operating environments, and economical to run.  It exercises CPUs, caches, memory hierarchy, and the scalability of shared memory processors (SMPs), as well as implementations of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), JIT (just in time) compiler, garbage collection, threads, and some aspects of the operating system.

Available immediately

SPECpower_ssj2008 V1.10 is available immediately from SPEC for $1,600; discounts are available for qualified non-profit and educational institutions. The price includes benchmark support worldwide and future maintenance releases.  Free upgrades will be distributed to current SPECpower_ssj2008 customers.  More details and order information are available at www.spec.org/specpower or through e-mail at info@spec.org.

SPECapc releases new Lightwave 3D® benchmark

WARRENTON, Va., April 6, 2009 -- SPEC’s Application Performance Characterization (SPECapc) project group has released new performance evaluation software for systems running NewTek LightWave 3D® v9.6 software.  LightWave™ is a complete modeling, rendering and animation solution used worldwide for visual effects in television, film, broadcast graphics, games, visualization, print and web.

SPECapc for LightWave v9.6, developed in cooperation with NewTek, provides realistic workloads that simulate a typical LightWave 3D workflow.  Models ranging up to 1.75 million polygons represent such applications as 3D character animation, architectural review, and industrial design. Scores for individual workloads are composited under three categories: interactive, render and multitask. 

The benchmark puts special emphasis on processes that benefit from multi-threaded computing, such as animation, OpenGL playback, deformations, and high-end rendering that includes ray tracing, radiosity, complex textures and volumetric lighting.

"We at NewTek are proud of being chosen as a standard to determine the actual performance of any hardware system and to have LightWave included in the respected SPECapc suite of benchmarking tools for computationally intensive applications," says Jay Roth, president, 3D Division, NewTek. "Congratulations to all -- this is great work and provides a valuable industry metric."

"We are excited to deliver a benchmark with such a complete representation of a LightWave v9.6 workflow," says Dan Bennett, SPECapc chair.  "Our thanks to NewTek for its cooperation and input throughout the development process."

Available now

SPECapc for LightWave 3D v9.6 is available for free downloading on the SPEC web site: www.spec.org/gwpg.  It is available currently for Microsoft Windows XP and Vista 32- and 64-bit platforms.  A Mac OS X version is planned for the near future.