Server vendors tap ARM chips to give users alternative to Intel

For a while it was hard to get your hands on an ARM server, but that may not be the case soon.

Five computer makers have announced servers with ARM processors that will challenge x86 systems in the mainstream market. The systems are largely for Internet and cloud workloads and have the 48-core Cavium ThunderX chip, which is based on 64-bit ARM architecture.

The servers from Gigabyte, Inventec, Wistron, Penguin Computing and E4 Computer Engineering are based on designs commonly used in x86 servers, but have ARM processors. An interesting twist in some new servers is the ability to also use Nvidia's Tesla graphics processors, adding extra processing punch for graphics, engineering and other high-performance computing applications.

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