ComputerWorld continues the discussion of Intel Atom in Servers.

Intel pushes Atom processor every which way but one

Will Atoms cannibalize server processors, too?

By Eric Lai

March 3, 2009 (Computerworld) Intel Corp. desperately wants the hit Atom netbook processor inside smartphones, cars -- and even factory robots.

After initial reluctance, it's also pushing Atoms for use in lower-end desktop and notebook PCs.

There's only one market for which the Atom is entirely verboten: servers. Intel wants to protect this plum market, where it sells its latest and fastest processors and reaps its highest profits. Its Xeon family of server CPUs range in price from $200 to $3,000 for those destined for four-way to eight-way servers, according to Nathan Brookwood, an analyst at Insight64. Intel sells its Atom CPU for as little as $29.

Marketed like sports cars, blazing-fast server CPUs are also power hogs, unable to tamp down their consumption even at idle.

"If you want Ferrari-like performance, you're going to get Ferrari-like mileage," said Ian Lao, an analyst at In-Stat Inc.

But as energy prices rise, an increasing number of users and vendors are experimenting with the Mini Cooper approach -- the idea that smaller can get you there just fine and for less money.

I had fun talking to Eric Lai about this.

"People may laugh at the idea of an Intel Atom server, but it all depends on what you want to do," said consultant andGreen Data Center Blog author Dave Ohara. .

also, found this forum http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/32026-12-flops-watts-comparison-intel-atom-xeon-core2duoquestion on Tom’s Hardware.

Hi,
As my semester project, I have to measure Flops/Watts for Intel Atom, Xeon and core2duo using some benchmark(e.g. SPEC2005). Based on those results I have to compare these systems.
The second part is optimise these systems to increase Flops/Watts.
Can anyone help me to get started.
Thanks,
Tariq