Concluding what it believes is the era of enterprise computing and heralding the start of a new generation of platforms, Intel Corp. announced its last planned single-core Intel Xeon processor, while unveiling new low voltage versions of its Intel Xeon processors.
As the company shifts to enterprise platforms with processors having two or more cores, Intel said it is “aggressively driving the transformation to an entire new generation of multi-core servers,” according to Diane Bryant, VP of Intel’s digital enterprise group and general manager of Intel’s server platforms group, in a statement.
“As we support the transition to multi-core enterprise computing, Intel is already sampling next-generation processors and platforms that will consume orders of magnitude less power and incorporate new platform technologies that deliver leadership manageability, virtualization and I/O efficiency,” she added.
As part of its power efficiency strategy, the company detailed new low voltage versions of its Xeon processors: the 64-bit Intel Xeon processor LV 3 GHz with a 55W processor power envelope and the 64-bit Intel Xeon processor MV 3.20 GHz with a 90W processor power envelope – both of which are aimed at server rack and blade applications where space is constrained and power-efficiency is a priority.
Intel also introduced a new 64-bit Intel Xeon processor with 2MB of L2 cache running at 3.80 GHz that is drop-in compatible with the previous Intel Xeon processor platforms and continues to allow power-saving features with demand-based switching, enhanced performance and flexibility with support for Hyper-Threading Technology, DDR2-400 memory and PCI Express.
Additionally, Intel detailed a 64-bit Intel Xeon processor 2.80 GHz with 2MB L2 cache for servers used in small and medium business environments.
“Building on our history of delivering high-performance and innovative platforms to customers in high volume, Intel has an impressive roadmap of dual-core and multi-core Intel Xeon platforms under development,” Bryant continued.
In the coming weeks, Intel said it would introduce its first dual-core Intel Xeon processor, code-named “Paxville,” originally scheduled for 2006, meant to deliver improved performance for both dual-processor and multi-processor-based servers.
Early next year, Intel said it plans to deliver another server platform, code-named “Bensley,” that includes a dual-core Intel Xeon processor, code-named “Dempsey,” a chipset optimized for dual-core, code-named “Blackford,” and technologies meant to improve performance, manageability, reliability and productivity. At that time Intel said it would bring to market a dual-core Intel Xeon processor-based workstation platform, code-named “Glidewell,” also including the Dempsey processor, and a new chipset, optimized for workstations, code-named “Greencreek.”
To further reduce server power consumption, Intel also plans to deliver next year a new dual-core processor, code-named “Sossaman,” targeted at power-constrained environments. And later next year, Intel plans to introduce a dual-core Intel Xeon processor-based platform, code-named “Woodcrest,” designed on its 65nm manufacturing process, and based on Intel’s power-optimized micro-architecture.
64-bit Intel Xeon processors with 2MB L2 cache at operating speeds of 3.80 GHz and 2.80 GHz are available now for $851 and $198, respectively, in 1,000-unit quantities. The 64-bit Intel Xeon processor LV 3 GHz is priced at $519 in 1,000-unit quantities. The 64-bit Intel Xeon processor MV 3.20 GHz is priced at $487 in 1,000 unit quantities.
Intel Corp.:
www.intel.com
