Dell Adds InfiniBand Switches to Its High-Performance Computing Cluster Configurations.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ROUND ROCK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 2004

Agreement with Topspin Communications Helps Reduce the Cost of

High Performance Computing

Dell (Nasdaq:DELL) today announced that its supercomputing cluster configurations will be updated to include InfiniBand switches for high-speed, low-latency and standardized networking capabilities.

Through a new agreement with Topspin Communications, Dell customers can select InfiniBand switches for their high-performance computing clusters (HPCC) that perform as well as proprietary-based switching fabrics at a low cost.

As the leading provider of Intel-based Linux technical clusters with 35 percent share worldwide, per third quarter 2003 data from IDC(a), Dell is constantly evaluating new standards-based technologies to drive broader use of HPCC in corporate environments with simplified technologies and lower cost.

By providing customers with InfiniBand capabilities as an option for Dell's HPCC configurations, Dell will continue to lower the cost and increase the performance of high-performance computing, remarked Reza Rooholamini, director of engineering for Dell's Enterprise Product Group.

"InfiniBand is attractive to customers for HPCC applications because of its compelling price/performance and standards-based technology," Rooholamini said. "We also anticipate database clusters, such as Oracle 10g, will benefit from the Topspin switch fabric."

"Topspin's ability to marry the economics and flexibility of industry-standard servers with the performance and scalability previously reserved for proprietary high-end platforms has had tremendous resonance with our customers," said Krish Ramakrishnan, CEO of Topspin. "Combining our InfiniBand-based server switching solutions together with Dell, the leader in Intel-based high performance computing clusters, makes this value proposition even stronger."

Topspin InfiniBand switches and Host Connectivity Adaptors will be available in bundled 24- and 64-node Dell HPCC configurations running Red Hat Linux in the first quarter of 2004. Additional cluster sizes can be designed and delivered based on customer requirements. The switches also will be added to Dell certified configurations for Oracle10g later this year.

For more information on the Dell HPCC program, please visit: www.dell.com/hpcc.

About Dell

Dell Inc. (Nasdaq:DELL) is a premier provider of products and services required for customers worldwide to build their information-technology and Internet infrastructures. Company revenue for the past year totaled $41.4 billion. Dell, through its direct business model, designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements, and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained at www.dell.com.

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(a) IDC HPC Qview, Q3 2003