The 64-bit Intel Xeon™ processor extends the choices for organizations developing and deploying enterprise applications based on Oracle Database 10g. This architecture joins the Intel Itanium® Processor Family as a compelling value proposition for large-scale data-driven applications. Each of these processor families provides outstanding performance, as detailed on Intel's performance Web page. This article provides decision makers and developers working with Oracle solutions with the background to differentiate functionally between the two types of 64-bit Intel® architecture, as well as to take the next steps toward deciding upon a deployment platform.

The scalable 64-bit Intel Xeon processor MP-based server platform with the Intel E8500 chipset provides faster system responsiveness and performance than the previous generation. In addition to enabling servers to run 64-bit operating systems and applications, breaking through the 4GB memory limitation that constrains 32-bit platforms, systems based on the 64-bit Intel Xeon processor also run 32-bit applications natively, on the same server as 64-bit applications. This flexibility allows a single machine to meet a wide variety of needs, supporting each with high performance and scalability.

The Intel Itanium 2-based systems continue to be the platform of choice for migration from proprietary RISC platforms, and they are Intel's premiere platform for the largest and most demanding enterprise solutions. The Itanium Processor Family's explicitly parallel architecture, massive caches, and other heavy-duty processing capabilities will continue to make it Intel's highest-performing and most reliable server platform for many years to come, for the very largest enterprise workloads. Deciding between the 64-bit Intel Xeon and Itanium 2 processor platforms requires an understanding of the architectural advantages of each, as well as the ability to test solutions on each platform. The tools and support provided by Intel help you get the best performance possible out of either platform.

Oracle Database 10g: built on and for Intel architecture
Very early in the design cycle for Oracle Database 10g, teams from Intel and Oracle began working together to tune the platform for 64-bit Intel architecture. These same teams had achieved substantial performance gains during the development of Oracle 9i, in part through the use of the Intel Compilers. Building on those performance gains, the teams applied substantially more aggressive optimizations with the compilers, pushing performance higher with ever-growing workloads. That process is ongoing, and it continues to build performance with each successive Oracle release.