System x3550 M3: Overview

Highlights

Get higher performance per watt for greater cost efficiency
Simplify management and serviceability with flexible design
Maintain availability and lower risk through a resilient architecture

Innovative technology in slim package

The IBM System x3550 M3 builds on the latest Intel Xeon processor technology with extreme processing power and superior energy-management and cooling features. With twice the performance of previous generations and a flexible, energy-smart design that integrates low-wattage components, the x3550 M3 can help you meet demanding workloads at a lower cost per watt.

Simplifying management and serviceability

The x3550 M3 offers a flexible, scalable design and simple upgrade path from four to eight hard disk drives. Comprehensive systems management tools such as advanced diagnostics and the ability to control resources from a single point make it easy to deploy, integrate, service and manage.

Product features

Outstanding power-optimized performance that can double compute capability of previous generation two-socket servers
Innovative, energy-smart 1U design to help lower operational costs
Better serviceability with a highly scalable, flexible design that is easy to deploy, integrate, service and manage
Easier risk management with resilient architectures and virtualized environments

Hardware summary

1U chassis
Up to two 3.33 GHz six-core (3.46 GHz four-core) Intel Xeon 5600 series processors with QuickPath Interconnect technology, up to 1333 MHz memory access speed
Low 675 W design and up to 92% efficient power supplies, six cooling fan modules, new UEFI BIOS, altimeter monitored by Integrated Management Module and IBM Systems Director Active Energy Manager
Up to 192 GB RDIMMs¹ or 48 GB UDIMMs¹ high-performance, new generation DDR-3 memory
Internal storage flexibility with up to 8 2.5" hot-swap SAS/SATA HDDs or SSDs
Up to 2 PCIe slots
VMware ESXi 4.0 embedded hypervisor support with optional 2 GB USB key for virtualization

¹ Maximum RDIMM support for 192 GB when 16 GB DIMMs are available 2Q 2010, and maximum UDIMM support for 48 GB when 4 GB DIMMs are available 2Q 2010.