Feature - From chips to systems via packaging - A comparison of IBM's mainframe servers

This paper gives a comparison the IBM main frame packaging technology and hardware system structure for the last three CMOS generations (z900, z990 and z9) and presents an outlook on the key challenges for the future. The chip and packaging technologies have enabled a node like structure which resulted in a modular concept supporting the IBM On Demand Business Concept. The key challenges for the high-end servers which are the continuously increasing data bandwidth and the increasing node power are discussed