ARMONK, N.Y.--IBM today announced that the first servers based on its next generation POWER5(TM) microprocessors are up and running in IBM's Poughkeepsie labs. Initial internal performance tests indicate that POWER5 based eServer(TM) systems are expected to offer four times the system performance over the first POWER4(TM) based servers(1). POWER5 based eServer systems are expected to start shipping to customers next year in IBM eServer pSeries(TM) and iSeries(TM) systems as well as IBM TotalStorage(TM) Enterprise Storage Server. "This is a significant milestone for IBM and our customers," said Adalio Sanchez, general manager, IBM eServer pSeries. "Since its inception IBM has delivered the POWER technology roadmap with substantial performance improvement from one generation to the next. IBM is committed to winning by consistently delivering customers the best performing technology at the lowest possible cost." POWER5 based eServer pSeries systems will be available with AIX(R) -- the industry's fastest growing UNIX(R) operating system (2) -- or Linux, offering customers the widest possible choice for proven application support. IBM previously announced that the Department of Energy will use over 12,000 POWER5 microprocessors to power ASCI Purple, the world's first supercomputer that will be capable of up to 100 teraflops of processing power, which will be more than twice as fast as the most powerful computer in existence today. IBM's POWER family of microprocessors is among the most widely used in the industry and can be found in Nintendo game consoles, Apple computers and some of the world's most powerful supercomputers and storage systems. (1) - Based on IBM internal performance measures. (2) - Based on year-to year IDC Q1 03 UNIX server tracking data.