HP Boosts Server Lines with Dual Core-based Platforms.

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- HP (NYSE:HPQ)(Nasdaq:HPQ) today announced that the next-generation of its HP ProLiant and HP BladeSystem server lineups will include models powered by Intel's latest dual-core technologies -- the Intel(R) Xeon(TM) 5100 and 5000 processor series.

The new x86 processor-based HP ProLiant and HP BladeSystem servers address customer needs of power, cooling and virtualization through a balanced architecture design, simplified platform transitions and improved IT efficiency.

Additionally, HP advancements in key subsystems around management, networking, storage and power efficiency, as well as the control afforded by new HP ProLiant Essentials software, help reduce the cost of ownership and improve system performance for customers.

For certain enterprise applications, the HP ProLiant servers can improve power-to-performance ratios and increase overall system performance by as much as 48 percent(1) and improve certain enterprise application performance by nearly 101 percent.(2)

"HP leads the industry in offering x86 server customers cutting-edge server innovations, including virtualization management and energy savings across the data center," said James Mouton, senior vice president and general manager, Industry Standard Servers, HP. "With HP ProLiant servers, customers are able to take full advantage of the latest dual-core Intel technology allowing them to grow and align their IT infrastructure with changing business needs."

New innovations drive customer value

HP has improved key server components to deliver a balanced system architecture that maximizes dual-core processor performance and increases total system performance for critical applications and virtual server environments. Architecture enhancements include new HP Smart Array RAID controllers and small form factor Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) technologies, multifunction networking, increased memory capacity and high-speed, remote "lights-out" access.

For current HP ProLiant dual-core Intel Xeon processor-based server customers, HP is the first server vendor to simplify the transition to new platforms through a straightforward, point-and-click process. Using the new HP ProLiant Essentials Server Migration Pack: Physical to ProLiant edition, customers can migrate any x86 Microsoft Windows(R)-based server to HP's next-generation, high-performance platforms.

HP also announced a new universal drive for all HP ProLiant servers utilizing small form factor SAS disk drives. This approach eliminates multiple drive technology transitions for customers and simplifies management.

Lastly, HP introduced the Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) 2 management processor with high-speed, virtual KVM and improved power management capabilities. iLO 2 offers complete control of HP ProLiant and HP BladeSystem servers from any web browser, driving down the cost of managing the platforms by reducing visits to remote sites and lights-out data centers while eliminating the need for multiple remote management solutions.

New servers deliver leading performance

Dual-core-based HP ProLiant servers can substantially increase the performance of business-critical applications such as database, enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, mail and messaging, virtual machines and terminal services, without adding systems costs.

For example, in a two-processor (2 processor / 4 cores / 4 threads), two-tier SAP(R) Sales and Distribution (SD) Standard Application Benchmark test released today, the dual-core HP ProLiant ML370 G5 server delivered world-leading results, supporting 1,200 SAP SD Benchmark users at 1.99 seconds average dialog response time while achieving 6,000 SAPS, 120,000 fully processed order line items per hour and 360,000 dialog steps per hour. CPU utilization was balanced across the processors at 99 percent on the central server, average database request time (dia/upd) was 0.030 sec/0.009 sec. The server supported 603 more SAP SD Benchmark users than the single-core ML370 G4 did in a previous two-tier SAP SD Standard Application Benchmark, equaling a nearly 101 percent performance improvement.(2)

In online transaction processing, the HP ProLiant ML370 G5 utilizing the Intel Xeon 5160 processor delivers the world's fastest two-processor x86 server performance with an industry-leading TPC-C benchmark of 169,360 tpmC @ $2.93/tpmC. This result is No.1 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft SQL Server 2005, and is 48 percent faster than the closest U.S. competitor.(1)

"Intel and HP have worked closely together to deliver a broad new portfolio of servers and workstations to the market, based on the new Intel Xeon processor 5000 sequence," said Kirk Skaugen, vice president, Digital Enterprise Group, Intel. "As demonstrated around the world at Intel's Developer Forum, these new HP products are expected to deliver outstanding performance and new levels of energy efficiency."

The new servers available with Intel Xeon 5100 and 5000 processors include the HP ProLiant DL140, DL360 and DL380 rack-optimized servers, the HP ProLiant ML150, ML350 and ML370 tower servers, and the HP ProLiant BL20p server blade. These servers have been qualified against and will support all industry-standard major operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Linux and VMware.

In addition, HP recently introduced four Intel-based workstations that enhance the performance and extend the boundaries of workstation computing beyond the office. The desk-side HP xw6400 and xw8400 Workstations feature dual-core Intel Xeon processors along with easy expandability, while the HP Compaq nw8440 and nw9440 mobile workstations offer the power of a workstation with the convenience of a notebook to video editors, engineers, designers and animators.

To assist customers in maximizing the potential of the HP servers, HP Services provides a wide range of cost-effective data center services for continuous care and support for the servers' entire lifecycle. Drawing on research from HP Labs, the data center power and cooling services have delivered as much as 20 percent savings in cooling power consumption.

Pricing and availability

The dual-core HP ProLiant DL140, DL360, DL380, ML150, ML350, ML370 and BL20p servers are expected to be available late June. Pricing will be available at that time.

More information on HP ProLiant servers is available at www.hp.com/go/proliant and more information on HP BladeSystem technology is available at www.hp.com/go/bladesystem.

More information on services for HP industry-standard servers is available at http://h20219.www2.hp.com/services/cache/10768-0-0-225-121.html.

About HP

HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2006, HP revenue totaled $88.9 billion. More information about HP is available at www.hp.com.

Note to editors: HP news releases are available via RSS feed at www.hp.com/hpinfo/rss.html.

(1) TPC-C results as of May 22, 2006, www.tpc.org: HP ProLiant ML370 G5 - 169,360 tpmC @ $2.93/tpmC - available Nov. 22, 2006 - (2 processor / 4 cores / 4 threads). TPC-C is a trademark of the Transaction Processing Performance Council.

(2) Results of the HP ProLiant ML370 G5 on the two-tier SAP SD Standard Application Benchmark were achieved during tests performed on May 12, 2006 by HP in Houston and certified on May 23, 2006 (the SAP certification number was not available at press time and can be found at www.sap.com/benchmark), achieving a result of 1,200 SAP SD Benchmark users. The benchmark was performed with the mySAP(TM) ERP 2004 application running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition (64-bit) and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise x64 Edition (64-bit). The benchmark configuration included a dual-core HP ProLiant ML370 G5, two-way SMP (2 processor / 4 cores / 4 threads), Intel Xeon Dual-Core processor (3.0 GHz), 32 KB L1 cache, 4 MB L2 cache and 32 GB main memory. Results of the single-core HP ProLiant ML370 G4 on the two-tier SAP SD Standard Application Benchmark were certified on Feb. 14, 2005 (Certification number 2005005) achieving a result of 597 SAP SD Benchmark users. The HP ProLiant ML370 G4 model HPS was configured as a 2-way SMP with Intel Xeon, 3.6 GHz, L1 Execution Trace Cache, 2 MB L2 cache and 16 GB main memory. The benchmark was performed with SAP R/3(R) Enterprise Release 4.70 (32-bit) software running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit) and Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition (32-bit). Results included 1.96 seconds average dialog response time and throughput as follows: 60,000 fully processed order line items per hour, 180,000 dialog steps per hour, and an average database request time (dialog/update) of 0.061 seconds/0.016 seconds. CPU utilization of the central server was 99 percent. More information can be found at www.sap.com/benchmark. All performance comparisons are as of May 23, 2006.

Intel and Xeon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corp. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. SAP, mySAP, R/3 and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries all over the world.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to anticipated operational and financial results; statements of expectation or belief; and any statement of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the achievement of expected results and other risks that are described from time to time in HP's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to the risks described in HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended Jan. 31, 2006, and other reports filed after HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 2005. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

(C) 2006 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.