System x3500 M3: Overview

Highlights

Allows greater flexibility with storage upgrade options and increased memory capacity
Enables high availability with enhanced RAID support and integrated systems management tools
Leverages latest Intel Xeon technology for faster processing speeds and energy-smart design

Grow at your own pace

A high-performance dual-socket tower server, the IBM System x3500 M3 provides generous bandwidth, storage and expanded memory capacity up to 192 GB¹. Start with a single Intel Xeon six-core processor, and add a second to double your processing capability. You can even add processors, storage and memory independently of one another for maximum configuration flexibility.

Stay up and running

With no single point of failure, the x3500 M3 is designed to run the most demanding applications reliably. New 6 Gbps RAID, more RAID adapters and more concentrated memory support higher availability, while integrated systems management tools provide control of resources from anywhere for simplified serviceability.

Product features

Dual-socket computing power optimized for up to 12 total cores standard at lower power usage per core
Generous storage capacity and greater storage choices
Energy-efficiency features to save electricity and cooling costs and reduce noise
IBM mainframe-inspired reliability features to help minimize interruptions
Extensive systems management with remote management standard and easy access to components for better serviceability and scalability
Energy-efficient design with IBM Systems Director and IBM Systems Director Active Energy Manager
Support for high-performance SAS or low-cost SATA HDDs
Supports legacy PCI slots for smooth transition

Hardware summary

5U tower with optional rack-mount capability
Up to two six-core Intel Xeon X5680 3.33 GHz processors or four-core Intel Xeon X5677 3.46 GHz processors (configure to order only) with 12 MB of cache per processor socket
1333 MHz, DDR-3 registered DIMM memory
Up to seven high-performance PCIe I/0 slots standard, additional two PCI-X slots available via configure to order only (requires the removal of one standard PCIe I/O slot).
Supports up to 8 or 16 small form factor (2.5") hot-swap Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) or Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk drives (HDDs) standard; additional options available to support maximum 24 SFF 2.5" SAS/SATA HDDs; up to four 3.5" simple-swap SATA HDDs or up to eight 3.5" hot-swap SAS or SATA HDDs (available via configure to order only).
6 Gbps RAID and 3 Gbps adapters standard

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.