Capability-Class and Capacity-Class HPC
Computers
IDC defines capability-class
computers as systems purchased primarily to tackle the largest, most
complex single problems.
Capability-class HPC systems are generally priced at $2
million to $4 million or more, with costs occasionally approaching or
even exceeding $100 million.
Traditional symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) technical servers and
supercomputers of sufficient size fall into this category, but
large-scale clusters also qualify as capability-class systems if they
are purchased primarily to address large single problems.
Capacity-class systems are purchased
primarily to solve many small and mediumsized problems. Capacity-class
HPC systems may also be priced at more than $1 million and may include
any category of HPC computer. IDC further divides capacity-class
computers/servers by price band:
- Enterprise: $1 million or higher
- Division: between $250,000 and $1 million
- Department: below $250,000
The primary purchasing rationale
differentiates capability- and capacity-class systems.
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