Sun takes UltraSPARC IV+ upmarket

Sun Microsystems will finish what it started with the UltraSPARC IV+ chip, bringing it to midrange and high-end Solaris systems in the near future.

In September, Sun pushed out the 1.5GHz UltraSPARC IV+ chip for four- to 24-way servers. Now it looks like existing customers of Sun's entire midrange and high-end server lines will be able to upgrade to motherboards with the new chip, starting tomorrow. Customers will then be able to buy new systems with the faster processor as of Nov. 8, according to the Sun System News site.

Sun's server designs make it possible to run chips of different speeds and different generations in the same box. So, customers with UltraSPARC III or UltraSPARC IV-based servers can buy new "Uniboards" and slot them into their servers. Sun typically offers a nice discount to those who upgrade in this fashion.

Otherwise, you'll have to wait and grab the new gear - Sun wouldn't mind that either.

The dual-core UltraSPARC IV has improved the performance of Sun's Unix line, although rival IBM continues to receive far more accolades for its Power5 chip. IBM just put out the new Power5+ chip last week. ®