The BOXX 8550 Xtreme is a dual processor workstation well suited for design visualization specialists or CAD/CAE software users who need a system to perform multiple simulations or toolpath calculations at the same time.
A test machine featured two Intel Xeon X5680 processors, but instead of the 3.33GHz clock speed they usually run at, both chips have been overclocked to an 4.2GHz. Naturally, this creates a lot of heat and a sophisticated liquid cooled sub-system is used to keep them running within their thermal limits.
The result of having two Xeon chips run at such speeds is an exceptionally fast workstation. It recorded the fastest ever time our 3ds Max benchmark, using its 12 physical and 12 virtual HyperThreading cores to full effect, rendering the test scene in 96 seconds.
It also made light work of our PowerMill CAM test, setting new records when running two and three tests concurrently.
The BOXX 8550 Xtreme is also well equipped in the graphics department. The 2GB Quadro 4000, one of Nvidia’s high-end Fermi graphics cards, recorded impressive results in our SolidWorks graphics test.
Storage is a little underwhelming for a machine of this caliber, comprising one 160GB 2.5” 7,200RPM SATA hard drive for operating system and applications and a 500GB drive for storage.
However, optional Solid State Drives (SSDs) are also available in sizes of 60GB – 256GB. All drives are tucked behind the motherboard.
BOXX Technologies
