7 August 2007 -- Today, Sun introduces the UltraSPARC T2 processor, the highest performing, most energy-efficient processor on the market.[1]

With eight cores and 64 threads, the UltraSPARC T2 processor is a "server on a chip," blending high performance and low power consumption with three, essential functions integrated right into the chip: Multi-threaded 10 GbE networking, crypto acceleration and PCI-Express I/O expansion.

The chip's thrifty, energy-efficient design continues Sun's commitment to delivering eco-friendly processors, systems, programs and services to help enterprises reduce environmental impact and energy costs.

"This is truly a server on a chip", says Fadi Azhari, Marketing Director for Sun's Microelectronics Group. "Nobody in the world has even a fraction of the threads we are delivering. And we've taken major steps with the integration of additional chip multi-threading capabilities right on the chip. When it comes to serving the thread-rich environment that's growing out there, this is the highest performance processor in the industry.

Visit Sun's Web event to get more information and watch a live Webcast of the General Session keynote with CEO and President Jonathan Schwartz.

Throughput and Performance

Sun's new UltraSPARC T2 processor raises the chip multi-threading (CMT) bar set in 2005 by the UltraSPARC T1 processor. The new version is unique in that it scales its performance through threading, not through increases in the clock speed, massive enlargement of the caches or through packaging gimmicks, such as MultiChip Modules (MCMs).

"The competition is simply continuing the brute-force method of increasing clock speed and creating trade-offs between performance and power consumption", says Azhari. "Sun's approach with this processor line is much more holistic, based on efficient threading and the integration of key functions onto the chip itself."

Sun's unique, multi-threaded 10 GbE technology allows for network-interface virtualisation, which eliminates bottlenecks when consolidating multiple applications on a single server and accelerates server-to-server communications for better rack performance.

Meanwhile, integrated, accelerated cryptography capabilities built into the chip enable full security without the performance penalties associated with cryptography in software.

Open Source Processor

What's more, Sun is giving developers a first look at the inner workings of the processor by releasing the OpenSPARC T2 Technology Programmer Reference Manual and the OpenSPARC T2 Technology Microarchitecture Specification through the GPL, and launching an NDA Developer Beta program. Developers will find all of these at opensparc.net.

Application Support

The chip's 64 processor threads, multi-threaded networking, and Solaris 10 OS Containers and Logical Domains (LDoms) make it an optimum platform for consolidation projects, allowing as many as 64 domains on a single processor.

The flexible new processor is also well-suited for a diverse set of applications, including enterprise-grade Java, database and mail servers, and ERP, CRM and HPC applications. This commodity processor is also available for OEMs--potential embedded uses for it include network infrastructures, next-generation telco, and WiMax infrastructure and proxy servers.

Multi-threading Throughout the Stack

The new UltraSPARC T2 processor is a natural progression of Sun's CMT efforts, which rely strongly on the multi-thread capabilities inherent in its flagship Solaris OS and associated CoolThreads technology. "We've thought through multi-threading at OS level, as well as CPU level, as well in networking. This has been our vision forever", Azhari says. "Solaris gives you the premier mission-critical operating system in the industry and it's been multi-threaded for years."

Learn more about the UltraSPARC T2 processor.