HP recommends Windows Vista® Business
Do I need a business desktop or an entry workstation? What is the difference?
The value of a workstation when compared to a business desktop PC is characterized by several things:
•Multi-display, high-performance 3D OpenGL graphics and professional 2D graphics—for extreme visualization and design interaction experience
•Professional ISV certifications on technical applications—for guaranteed compatibility and reliability, optimized performance and supportability
•High-performance I/O devices and components (including SAS hard disk drives, controllers, RAID, etc.)—for superior application performance
•Choice of operating system (Genuine Windows Vista® Business (32- or 64-bit), Genuine Windows Vista downgrade to Genuine Windows XP Professional (32- or 64-bit), Red Hat Enterprise Linux® WS 4 64-bit, or HP Installer Kit for Linux)—for flexibility of working environments and IT infrastructure
•ECC memory—for error correction and improved data integrity
•High power—for rich configurations
•2 GB DIMM support—for greater expandability
What are the benefits of Intel High Definition Audio?
Intel High Definition (HD) Audio delivers significant improvements over previous generation integrated audio and sound control cards. Intel HD Audio is architected to help prevent occasional glitches or pops that other audio solutions can have by providing dedicated system bandwidth for critical audio functions.
Intel HD Audio features multi-streaming capabilities that give users the ability to send two or more different audio streams to different places at the same time, from the same workstation. This addresses the need to play back two different audio tracks, such as a CD and a DVD simultaneously. For more information, go to: www.intel.com/design/chipsets/hdaudio.htm
Will I have to change my golden image on the HP xw4600 Workstation?
Yes. The HP xw4600 is a completely new platform based on new technology from Intel. Most of the system drivers will be different than those used on the HP xw4400; therefore you will have to create a new golden image. Manageability software is available to help with this image building process.
Intel® Core™ microarchitecture
What is Intel® Core™ | The Intel Core microarchitecture is a foundation for Intel architecture-based desktop, mobile and mainstream server |
microarchitecture? | multi-core processors. This state-of-the-art, multi-core optimized microarchitecture delivers new and innovative features that set |
| new standards for energy-efficient performance. The processors offered on the HP xw4600 represent the second |
| generation of Core architecture products, and offer significantly enhanced performance for a given price point. |
What are the benefits of Quad-Core processors?
The Intel Quad-Core processor provides double the processing resources in the same footprint compared to similar Dual-Core offerings. Quad-Core processors are ideal for usage models requiring multi-tasking (running many applications or simulations at once); working on spreadsheets while listening to music with virus checkers and system backups running (power office); or using applications that can split a task across processors (multi-threaded), like animation/
rendering in Digital Content Creation.
Does the Quad-Core processor offer any performance improvement over Dual-Core processors?
Yes, the new Quad-Core processors from Intel offer significant performance improvement over previous generation Dual-Core processors on many applications and in many work environments.
What’s important to know about the Dual-Core processor architecture?
The new converged core architecture provided by the Intel Core 2 Duo processors enables more work to be done per clock cycle, resulting in significant performance gains despite the lower clock speeds compared to previous generation processors. Additionally, the new architecture leads to significant performance gains even on single-threaded applications compared to legacy Intel Pentium® 4/D processors. Finally, the new architecture consumes significantly less power than previous generations—Pentium 4 or Pentium D, which may result in lower energy bills and cooler workspaces.
Dual-Core. Dual-socket. Dual-Core: Each CPU has exactly two cores
Quad-Core. Multi-Core. Dual-socket: Two physical CPU sockets are available on the motherboard
What do these terms mean? Quad-Core: Each CPU has exactly four cores Multi-Core: CPU has two or more cores
Dual processor: Old terminology for a system with two processors in two sockets
