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IBM Power Systems performance benchmarks

Including performance benchmarks for Power servers, System p, and System i

Power = performance + scalability

IBM Power™ Systems demonstrate IBM's continued commitment to organizations of all sizes. The family of IBM Power Systems includes the new Power servers as well as earlier System p™ and System i™ servers. In addition to energy efficiency and virtualization technologies, Power systems offer outstanding performance. In fact, IBM Power Systems took the lead in over 70 key computing performance benchmarks. But don't take our word for it. Read the results below.

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LINPACK

Measures how fast a dedicated system can solve a dense system of linear equations as a means of determining the floating-point performance of the system. It is used to gauge effectiveness for high performance and technical computing.

  • A 1-core IBM Power 570 (5 GHz) is the best 1-core HPC result (17.47 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 4-core IBM Power 520 (4.7 GHz) is the best 4-core HPC result (65 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 4-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) is the best 4-core Linux RISC SMP HPC result (60.08 Gigaflop/sec).
  • An 8-core IBM Power 550 (5 GHz) is the best 8-core HPC result (137.6 Gigaflop/sec).
  • An 8-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) is the best 8-core Linux RISC SMP HPC result (118.4 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 16-core IBM Power 570 (5 GHz) is the best 16-core HPC result (277.7 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 16-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) is the best 16-core Linux RISC SMP HPC result (235.1 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 32-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) is the best 32-core HPC result (500.0 Gigaflop/sec, Linux).
  • A 64-core IBM Power 595 (5 GHz) is the best 64-core RISC SMP HPC result (1,050 Gigaflop/sec, Linux).

Source: http://performance.netlib.org/performance/html/PDSreports.html (link resides outside of ibm.com)

Stream

Measures sustainable memory bandwidth and the corresponding computation rate for simple vector kernels.

  • A 2-core IBM System p5 520 (1.9 GHz) is the best 2-core result (10,319 MB/s Triad tuned).
  • A 4-core IBM System p5 570 (1.9 GHz) is the best 4-core result (26,214 MB/s Triad tuned).
  • An 8-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core result (100,523 MB/s Triad tuned).
  • A 16-core IBM System p5 575 (1.9 GHz) is the best 16-core result (86,379 MB/s Triad tuned).
  • A 64-core IBM Power 595 (5 GHz) is the best 64-core result (805,804 MB/s Triad standard).

Source: http://www.cs.virginia.edu/stream/ (link resides outside of ibm.com)

SPECOMPM2001

Measures a system's parallel processing capabilities for medium problem sizes using a suite of applications based on the OpenMP standards for shared-memory parallel processing. It is used to gauge effectiveness for high performance and technical computing.

  • A 2-core IBM BladeCenter JS12 Express (3.8 GHz) running Linux is the best 2-core (1 chip, 4 threads) result (12,885 SPECompMpeak2001).
  • A 4-core IBM Power 520 (4.2 GHz) running Linux is the best 4-core (2 chip, 8 threads) result (20,443 SPECompMpeak2001).
  • A 16-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) running Linux is the best 16-core (8 chip, 32 threads) result (94,350 SPECompMpeak2001).
  • A 64-core IBM Power 595 (5 GHz) running Linux is the best overall (32 chip, 128 threads) result (242,116 SPECompMpeak2001).

Source: http://www.spec.org (link resides outside of ibm.com)

SPECOMPL2001

Measures a system's parallel processing capabilities for large problem sizes using a suite of applications based on the OpenMP standards for shared-memory parallel processing. It is used to gauge effectiveness for high performance and technical computing.

  • A 64-core IBM System p5 595 (2.3 GHz) is the best 64-core (32 chips, 128 threads) result (1,056,459 SPECompLpeak2001).

Source: http://www.spec.org (link resides outside of ibm.com)

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SPECfp2006

Measures the compute-intensive floating point speed of the computer processor, memory architecture, and compilers.

  • A 1-core IBM Power 595 (5 GHz) is the best 1-core result (24.9 SPECfp2006 result, 1 core, 1 chip, 2 cores/chip, 1 thread/core).
  • A 1-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) is the best 1-core Linux result (22.5 SPECfp2006 result, 1 core, 1 chip, 2 cores/chip, 1 thread/core, Linux).

Source: http://www.spec.org (link resides outside of ibm.com)

SPECfp_rate2006

Determines the number of tasks from a collection of 17 floating-point compute intensive programs that can be run in a specified time.

  • A 2-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) is the best 2-core system (58.0 SPECfp_rate2006 result, 2 cores, 1 chip, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • A 4-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) is the best 4-core system (116 SPECfp_rate2006 result, 4 cores, 2 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • An 8-core IBM Power 550 (5 GHz) is the best 8-core system (222 SPECfp_rate2006 result, 8 cores, 4 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core, Linux).
  • An 8-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) is the best 8-core Linux result (216 SPECfp_rate2006 result, 8 cores, 4 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • A 16-core IBM Power 570 (5 GHz) is the best 16-core system (544 SPECfp_rate2006 result, 16 cores, 8 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core, Linux).
  • A 32-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) is the best 32-core system (839 SPECfp_rate2006 result, 32 cores,16 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • A 32-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) is the best 32-core Linux result (813 SPECfp_rate2006 result, 32 cores,16 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • A 64-core IBM Power 595 (5 GHz) is the best 64-core system (2,180 SPECfp_rate2006 result, 64 cores,32 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core, Linux).

Source: http://www.spec.org (link resides outside of ibm.com)

SPECint2006

Measures the compute-intensive integer speed of the computer processor, memory architecture, and compilers.

  • A 1-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) ranked #1 1-core Linux result in the industry (21.7 SPECint2006 result, 1 core, 1 chip, 2 cores/chip, 1 thread/core, Linux).

Source: http://www.spec.org (link resides outside of ibm.com)

SPECint_rate2006

Determines the number of tasks from a collection of 12 integer compute intensive programs that can be run in a specified time.

  • A 2-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) is the best 2-core system (60.9 SPECint_rate2006 result, 2 cores, 1 chip, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • A 4-core IBM Power 520 (4.7 GHz) is the best 4-core system (124 SPECint_rate2006 result, 4 cores, 2 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • A 4-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) is the best 4-core Linux system (118 SPECint_rate2006 result, 4 cores, 2 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • An 8-core IBM Power 550 (5 GHz) is the best 8-core system (263 SPECint_rate2006 result, 8 cores, 4 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • An 8-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) is the best 8-core Linux system (243 SPECint_rate2006 result, 8 cores, 4 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • A 16-core IBM Power 570 (5 GHz) is the best 16-core system (542 SPECint_rate2006 result, 16 cores, 8 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core, Linux).
  • A 32-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) is the best 32-core system (934 SPECint_rate2006 result, 32 cores,16 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • A 32-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) is the best 32-core Linux system (928 SPECint_rate2006 result, 32 cores,16 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core).
  • A 64-core IBM Power 595 (5 GHz) is the best 64-core system (2,160 SPECint_rate2006 result, 64 cores,32 chips, 2 cores/chip, 2 threads/core, Linux).

Source: http://www.spec.org (link resides outside of ibm.com)

SPECfp2000

Measures how fast a single processor, cache, and memory can run a collection of 14 floating-point compute-intensive programs.

  • A 1-core IBM System p5 595 (2.3 GHz) ranked #1 in the industry (3,642 SPECfp2000 result).

Source: http://www.spec.org (link resides outside of ibm.com)

SPECfp_rate2000

Determines the number of tasks from a collection of 14 floating-point compute intensive programs that can be run in a specified time.

  • A 2-core IBM System p5 520 (1.9 GHz) is the best 2-core system (67.6 SPECfp_rate2000 result).
  • A 4-core IBM System p5 550 (2.1 GHz) is the best 4-core system (149 SPECfp_rate2000 result).
  • An 8-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (382 SPECfp_rate2000 result).
  • A 16-core IBM System p5 575 (1.9 GHz) is the best 16-core system (571 SPECfp_rate2000 result).
  • A 32-core IBM eServer p5 590 (1.65 GHz) is the best 32-core system (870 SPECfp_rate2000 result).
  • A 64-core IBM System p5 595 (2.3 GHz) is the best 64-core system (2,406 SPECfp_rate2000 result).

Source: http://www.spec.org (link resides outside of ibm.com)

SPECint_rate2000

Determines the number of tasks from a collection of 12 integer compute intensive programs that can be run in a specified time.

  • A 64-core IBM System p5 595 (2.3 GHz) is the best 64-core system (1,513 SPECint_rate2000 result).

Source: http://www.spec.org (link resides outside of ibm.com)

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SIMULIA

Abaqus is SIMULIA's flagship product and provides a comprehensive, general-purpose finite element analysis tool that includes a variety of time and frequency-domain analysis procedures. A lower number indicates faster performance.

Abaqus/Standard Version 6.6

  • A 1-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) shows best 1-core Abaqus/Standard performance (elapsed times for s2a:2318, s2b:1882, s3a:446, s3b:2369, s3c:2077, s4b:8450, s4c:4592).
  • A 2-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) shows best 2-core Abaqus/Standard performance (elapsed times for s2a:1231, s2b:1008, s4b:4745, s4c:2933).
  • A 4-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) shows best 4-core Abaqus/Standard performance (elapsed times for s2a:683, s2b:564, s4b:2912, s4c:1941,s6:3185).
  • An 8-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) shows best 8-core Abaqus/Standard performance (elapsed times for s2b:353, s4a:340, s4b:2002, s4c:1509).
  • A 16-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) shows best 16-core Abaqus/Standard performance (elapsed times for s2b:262, s4b:1608, s4c: 1534).

Abaqus/Explicit Version 6.6

  • A 4-core IBM System p5 570 (2.2 GHz) best 4-core Abaqus/Explicit performance (elapsed time for e3:3033).
  • An 8-core IBM System p5 570 (2.2 GHz) shows best 8-core Abaqus/Explicit performance (elapsed time for e3:1556).

Source: http://www.simulia.com/support/sup_systems_info.html (link resides outside of ibm.com)

ANSYS — ANSYS V11

ANSYS is a Finite Element Analysis Simulation Software package that provides solutions for conceptual design through final stage testing and performance validation from design concept to final-stage testing and performance validation. The ANSYS Product Suite is used in Structural, Thermal, Mechanical, Acoustics, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Electrical and Electromagnetic Analyses

  • A 1-core IBM Power 550 (4.2 GHz) is the best 1-core system (BM-5:287).
  • A 2-core IBM Power 550 (4.2 GHz) is the best 2-core system (BM-5:186).
  • A 4-core IBM Power 550 (4.2 GHz) is the best 4-core system (BM-5:154).
  • An 8-core IBM Power 550 (4.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (BM-5:151).

Source: www.ansys.com/services/hardware-support-db.htm (link resides outside of ibm.com)

CD-adapco - STAR-CD Versions 3.20

STAR-CD is a general purpose, unstructured grid, finite volume CFD application. It is efficiently programmed and highly parallel using the MPI communication protocol. STAR-CD is able to solve steady state or time dependent problems with the optional solution of moving grids, thermal transport, chemical reactions, multiphase fluids, and species concentrations. A lower number indicates a faster result.

  • A 1-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 1-core system (A-Class model: 3,830 seconds, Large A-Class model: 35,635 seconds).
  • A 2-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 2-core system (A-Class model: 1,885 seconds, Large A-Class model: 18,807 seconds).
  • A 4-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 4-core system (Engine Block model: 104 seconds, A-Class model: 980 seconds, Large A-Class 9,382 seconds).
  • An 8-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (Engine Block model: 56 seconds, A-Class model: 465 seconds, Large A-Class 4,821 seconds).
  • A 16-core IBM System p5 575 cluster (2.2 GHz, equipped with the High Performance Switch Option) is the best 16-core system (A-Class model: 240 seconds, Large A-Class 2,197 seconds).
  • A 32-core IBM System p5 575 cluster (2.2 GHz, equipped with the High Performance Switch Option) produced leadership performance parallel runs for the 32-core A-Class (125 seconds) and Large A-Class (1,107 seconds) test cases.
  • A 48-core IBM System p5 575 cluster (1.9 GHz, equipped with the High Performance Switch Option) produced leadership performance parallel runs for the 48-core A-Class (99.76 seconds) test case.

Source: http://www.cd-adapco.com/products/STAR-CD/performance/320/index.html (link resides outside of ibm.com)

FLUENT - FLUENT V6.2

Leading Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Software package used for simulation, visualization, and prediction of fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, and chemical reactions. FLUENT along with its suite of pre- and post-processor software solutions covers the entire CFD modeling process - concept, design, analysis and simulation. A higher number indicates a faster result.

  • A 1-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 1-core system (Ratings for small class FL5S2:5197, FL5S3:2307, medium class FL5M3:309 and large class FL5L2:145, FL5L3:25).
  • A 2-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 2-core system (Ratings for small class FL5S2:9757, FL5S3:4363, medium class FL5M2:2592, FL5M3:599 and large class FL5L2:296, FL5L3:49).
  • A 4-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 4-core system (Ratings for small class FL5S2:14606, FL5S3:7663, medium class FL5M2:4994, FL5M3:1127 and large class FL5L1:692, FL5L2:597, FL5L3:104).
  • An 8-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (Ratings for medium class FL5M2:8816, and large class FL5L1:1297, FL5L2:1205, FL5L3:214).
  • A 64-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz, equipped with the High Performance Switch Option) is the best 64-core system (Ratings for medium class FL5M2:26381, FL5M3:4895 and large class FL5L1:4459, FL5L2:6106, FL5L3:1259).

Source: http://www.fluent.com/software/fluent/index.htm (link resides outside of ibm.com)

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MSC.Software

MSC Nastran is a structural analysis program utilizing simple to complex, linear and nonlinear analyses techniques for analyzing stress, vibration, dynamic, nonlinear and heat transfer characteristics of structures and mechanical components.

MSC.Nastran MDR3

  • A 1-core IBM Power 570 (4.7 GHz) is the best overall (GM20:13699, Inrecase:8966, MDMDF:911, XLIMF:958, VLSST:132)

MSC.Nastran V2005

  • A 1-core IBM Power 550 (4.2 GHz) is the best-in-class 1-core system (BI:5332, OX12:11136, XLTDF:1986, XXAFST:515, XXCMD:5882, XLEMF:1388, XXCMDA:1325)

MD Nastran V2006

  • A 1-core IBM Power 550 (4.2 GHz) is the best 1-core system (XLTDF:2340, XXCMDA:5474, XXCMDA:1107, XXIMA:8208)
  • A 2-core IBM System p5-570 (2.2 GHz) is the best 2-core system (XLTDF:1216, XXCMD:3424, XXCMDA:714, XXIMA:1938)
  • A 4-core IBM System p5-570 (2.2 GHz) is the best 4-core system (XLTDF:672, XXCMD:1568, XXCMDA:505, XXIMA:1350)
  • An 8-core IBM System p5-570 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (XLTDF:424, XXCMD:1071, XXCMDA:411)
  • A 16-core IBM System p5-570 (2.2 GHz) is the best 16-core system (XLTDF:375)

Source: http://www.mscsoftware.com/support/prod_support/nastran/performance/ (link resides outside of ibm.com)

MM5 Weather Model

The PSU/NCAR mesoscale model (known as MM5) is a limited-area, nonhydrostatic, terrain-following sigma-coordinate model designed to simulate or predict mesoscale atmospheric circulation. The model is supported by several pre- and post-processing programs, which are referred to collectively as the MM5 modeling system. A higher number indicates a faster result.

MM5 Version 3.6 (Standard)

  • A 1-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 1-core system (1.62 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 2-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 2-core system (3.22 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 4-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 4-core system (6.23 Gigaflop/sec).
  • An 8-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (11.89 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 16-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (22.90 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 32-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (41.17 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 64-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (68.56 Gigaflop/sec).

MM5 Version 3.6.2 (Optimized)

  • A 1-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 1-core system (2.33 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 2-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 2-core system (4.51 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 4-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 4-core system (8.91 Gigaflop/sec).
  • An 8-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (17.05 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 16-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (31.68 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 32-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (55.18 Gigaflop/sec).
  • A 64-core IBM System p5 575 (2.2 GHz) is the best 8-core system (86.20 Gigaflop/sec).

Source: http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/mm5/ (link resides outside of ibm.com)

WRF Version 2.1.1

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model is a next-generation mesoscale numerical weather prediction system designed to serve both operational forecasting and atmospheric research needs. It features multiple dynamical cores, a 3-dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation system, and a software architecture allowing for computational parallelism and system extensibility. WRF is suitable for a broad spectrum of applications across scales ranging from meters to thousands of kilometers. One test case was run: Standard 12km CONUS input (seconds per step averaged over 149 time steps).

  • A 1-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) is the best 1-core system (12.17 seconds per step).
  • A 2-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) is the best 2-core system (6.38 seconds per step).
  • An 4-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) is the best 4-core system (3.43 seconds per step).
  • An 8-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) is the best 8-core system (1.80 seconds per step).
  • A 16-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) is the best 16-core system (0.92 seconds per step).
  • A 32-core IBM Power 575 (4.7 GHz) is the best 32-core system (0.49 seconds per step).
  • A 64-core IBM Power 575 cluster (4.7 GHz) is the best 64-core system (0.27 seconds per step).
  • A 128-core IBM Power 575 cluster (4.7 GHz) is the best 128-core system (0.16 seconds per step).

Source: http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrf/WG2/bench/ (link resides outside of ibm.com)

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All benchmark claims are based on published information as of April 23,2009. IBM Power 550 5 GHz and Power 520 4.7 GHz results to be submitted as of April 28, 2009.

IBM, the e-business logo, eServer, the eServer logo, AIX, AIX 5L, DB2, DB2 Universal Database, Domino, IBM Virtualization Engine, Micro-Partitioning, OpenPower, Power Architecture, POWER, POWER5, POWER5+, POWER6, Power Systems, System p and System p5 are trademarks or registered trademarks of the International Business Machines Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other company, product and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the United States and other countries.

SPECjbb, SPECweb, SPECint, SPEComp, and SPECfp are registered trademarks of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC).

©2009 IBM Corporation. All rights reserved.

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