Sun Microsystems Inc. and NVIDIA Corp. have joined forces to deliver leading NVIDIA Quadro graphics solutions on Sun Java workstations running Solaris, Windows or Linux operating systems. Through this alliance, Sun has bundled NVIDIA technology with its recently announced Sun Java Workstations W1100z and W2100z, based on the AMD Opteron processor with Direct Connect Architecture. Sun is committed to delivering NVIDIA technologies with future Sun products, and the two companies are working together to tune and optimize the OpenGL implementation for Solaris on x86 and deliver an open, standards-based development environment.
With a single architecture, Sun Java workstations support simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing with no compromises in performance, allowing users to maintain their existing x86 infrastructure while still enabling a smooth migration to next-generation 64-bit operating systems and applications when required. Sun offers a comprehensive suite of NVIDIA solutions in its Sun Java Workstations, including:
* NVIDIA Quadro FX 4000 for Extreme 3D Performance* NVIDIA Quadro FX 3000 for High-End 3D Performance* NVIDIA Quadro FX 1100 for Mid-Range 3D Price/Performance* NVIDIA Quadro FX 500 for Entry-Level 3D Value* NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280 for Professional 2D
Sun Java workstations, based on the AMD Opteron processor, offer the market outstanding flexibility, reliability, scalability, performance and OS leadership, said Brian Healy, director of workstation product marketing at Sun Microsystems Inc. By partnering with NVIDIA, we can now deliver best-in-class graphics solutions that benefit our customers across multiple industries.
The Sun Java workstation with NVIDIA Quadro graphics technology provides customers a high performance, visualization-class graphics solution that will run across multiple operating systems. By adopting the NVIDIA Quadro technology, Sun can deliver across the board 2D and 3D performance improvements, including higher bus bandwidth, increased memory bandwidth, higher rendering speeds and the ability to deploy large data sets.
Sun's long-standing presence in the workstation market, now coupled with optimization of the Solaris OS for AMD Opteron systems and NVIDIA's graphics expertise, enables the two companies to drive new joint opportunities with a strong price/performance advantage.
Together, Sun and NVIDIA will target customers in graphics and compute intensive markets such as Oil & Gas, Life Sciences, Defense, CAD/CAM, EDA, Financial Services, Professional DCC (Digital Content Creation) and Software Engineering. By leveraging Sun's sales organization and network of channel partners, NVIDIA now has greater access to the industry ecosystem needed to extend its reach with Sun solutions targeted at these market segments.
"NVIDIA and Sun are bringing to bear our combined expertise in industry leading workstation solutions" said Jeff Fisher evp of worldwide sales at NVIDIA. "The net effect is the delivery of outstanding performance and value to customers, especially those who benefit from 64-bit processing and the highest performance application-tuned graphics."
Sun Microsystems Inc. (www.sun.com) is a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work.
NVIDIA Corp. (www.nvidia.com) of Santa Clara, California, is a worldwide leader in graphics and
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
