IBM has unveiled a new PC server architecture that promises to run 78% more "virtual servers" for the same license costs and slash middleware and application expenses dramatically.

The company’s new eX5 servers are the result of a three-year engineering effort to improve the economics of operating enterprise-sized, industry-standard-based systems.

IBM engineers claim to have radically expanded the capabilities of the x86 platform by decoupling memory from its traditional, tightly bound place alongside the server’s processor, eliminating the need to buy another server to expand memory resources.

The systems take advantage of integration with IBM middleware to create a highly virtualised environment that can reduce the number of servers needed by half; cut storage costs 97% and licensing fees by 50%.

A custom IBM chip allows processors on eX5 systems to access the extended memory very quickly.

IBM will introduce three new eX5 systems throughout 2010 -- an ultra-scalable, four-processor version; a new blade design; and an entry-priced server capable of enterprise-class operation.