Understanding IBM’s “PVU” terminology
If you have ever purchased software from IBM, you know they license processors based on the concept of a PVU. A processor may have a different PVU based on its type. I found a good link that helps explain how many PVU’s you need based on the system you will be running the key solution on.
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/lotus/passportadvantage/pvu_licensing_for_customers.html
Keep in mind that the performance on a Power architecture can be substantially different than x86. In some cases you get more for your money on x86. It all depends on the type of workload to be performed. Some do better on RISC based systems, other on x86. Comparing a multi-core system muddies the water a bit. I highly recommend you investigate performance measurements and white papers before choosing a platform. It can pay off in spades in the end.
