The record was set with a Bull NovaScale 5080 server equipped with 8 Intel Itanium 2 processors, running Microsoft SQL Server Database on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. It demonstrates the exceptional capabilities of FAME (Flexible Architecture for Multiple Environments), the architecture for Bull's NovaScale servers.

At 175,366 tpmC, the Bull NovaScale 5080 server's result is 12% higher than the previous record for 8-way servers.

"Today's result is a milestone in the history of standards-based computing", stated Bruno Pinna, Director of NovaScale servers, Bull. "It confirms the superiority of Bull NovaScale servers and of the Intel Itanium technology."

According to IDC, Bull NovaScale was ranked #2 in the 8-way Intel Itanium server market, for market share (shipments and value) in Western Europe in 2003.

The Bull NovaScale family consists of modular mainframe-class servers built on Intel Itanium processors and standard components. Bull NovaScale servers are designed within the framework of a close co-operation with Intel around server architectures based on Intel Itanium. NovaScale servers benefit from the Bull's expertise in mainframes and open systems.