IBM introduced a new version of the breakthrough computing system based on the Cell Broadband Engine--<A HREF="http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/22258.wss">the IBM BladeCenter QS21</A>--that delivers twice the memory, density and I/O throughput as well as enhances power efficiency and the ability to work with existing IT infrastructure for both current and new customers. Also announced is the IBM Software Development Kit for Multicore Acceleration Version 3.0--the cornerstone of the Cell/B.E. software ecosystem and developer enablement program.

The IBM BladeCenter QS21 is the width of one blade computing system, allowing a customer to fit a maximum of 14 IBM BladeCenter QS21's per BladeCenter chassis as opposed to only seven with the previous version--effectively doubling the compute density. As well the QS21 offers an additional two gigabytes of I/O buffer memory, a feature that was not available on the previous version of the product. The I/O throughput of the IBM BladeCenter QS21--a measurement of the ability for data to travel in and out of the system--supports 16 lanes of single data rate Infiniband.