Re: well maybe I've overreacted ..
but "cheap" 256 gbyte systems could be nice for AMD.
Nothing is cheap about large memory systems.
Here are the memory cost adders for HP's DL585 (AMD Opteron 4-socket):
- 2x512MB 1Rank DIMMs - $129.00 per pair
- 2x1GB 1Rank DIMMs - $229.00 per pair
- 2x2GB 2Rank DIMMs - $459.00 per pair
- 2x4GB 2Rank DIMMs - $1699.00 per pair
So for 128GB of memory, it costs $25,485.00 to populate. If we are to expect that DRAM manufacturers double the density of DIMMs at the same price, and AMD can take advantage of it to implement 256GB of memory, that's still an expensive proposition, even using our best case assumptions.
For HP's DL580 (Intel Caneland), the costs are about the same (i.e. ZERO FB-DIMM cost adder, unless you go for LP low power DIMMs). However, it requires an additional $299 for a second memory board if you want to reach 32 DIMM slots. Otherwise, you only get 16. The Opteron system already has 32 slots to begin with, thanks to 4-sockets worth of integrated memory controllers. However, you have to have all 4 CPUs installed to take advantage of that.
From what I can see, the most cost effective large capacity situation is by maxing all DIMM slots with 2GB DIMMs (64MB total), which would require 2 memory boards in the case of Caneland, and 4 CPUs installed in the case of Opteron. In the case of the Intel system, it costs $7,184, and for AMD it costs $6,885. Again, it's only the difference of the memory board, but the Intel system allows functionality with fewer than 4 CPUs installed. Some customers like that option.
