Which IBM server is better for Informix

Is there anyone out there who could help us? Here's our case: We are currently using IBM SP2 high node, 8-way CPU's with 200MHz in speed but since our load is too high where we max out our CPU's we are considering getting an IBM S7A, 12-way CPU's with 262MHZ or an IBM S80, 6 CPU's with 450MHZ. Now, our question is, which one is better for informix database (7.3x) more CPU's but lower in speed or a lesser CPU's but faster in speed. Thanks for any input. Erick Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

As Rick Bernstein pointed out, it depends. Assuming that you're talking about an equal number of "total MHz," and same-generation processors, my preference is to lean toward more CPUs. By "total MHz," I mean number of CPUs times MHz speed of the CPUs. If the total MHz differs, I'd go with the higher total MHz. If the "fewer" processors are not only faster in MHz, but also a newer generation of CPU (e.g., P-III vs. P-II), then I'd go with the fewer. Now, if the CPUs are the same generation (e.g., both P-II), and the total MHz is the same (2 x 400 MHz vs. 4 x 200 MHz), then it's going to depend on what you typically do. If you tend to have large, single-threaded batch jobs that run, then I'd go fewer faster CPUs. If you've got an OLTP environment that has lots of concurrent users, I'd go for the more, slower CPUs. If you've got a mix of the above, I'd go with whichever solution is more cost effective (be sure to factor in future expansion when figuring cost). But it's really going to depend on your environment. Hope this helps, - Tom Girsch TJG Technical Services <remics@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:821drs$1n4$1@nnrp1.deja.com... > Is there anyone out there who could help us? > > Here's our case: > > We are currently using IBM SP2 high node, 8-way CPU's with 200MHz in > speed but since our load is too high where we max out our CPU's we are > considering getting an IBM S7A, 12-way CPU's with 262MHZ or an IBM S80, > 6 CPU's with 450MHZ. Now, our question is, which one is better for > informix database (7.3x) more CPU's but lower in speed or a lesser > CPU's but faster in speed. > > Thanks for any input. > > Erick > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.