Intel has introduced its 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, Xeon CPU Max Series, and Data Center GPU Max Series to boost data center performance, security, efficiency, and capabilities for AI, edge, network, and cloud. These CPUs are the most environmentally friendly yet and provide clients with various powers and performance controls to achieve their sustainability objectives.
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With over 100 million Xeons installed in the market, they power everything from dedicated servers to networking hardware. The 4th Gen Xeon series is purpose-built and significantly improves on Intel's workload-first strategy. Apart from handling large workloads and data sets, Xeon processors are well-suited for web hosting, database management, and high-performance computing, among other enterprise-level tasks.
Using built-in accelerators, 4th Gen Intel Xeon clients can improve performance per watt efficiency, save up to 70 watts of power per CPU using Optimized Power Mode with little performance loss, and realize a 52-66% lower TCO compared to previous generations. Intel has also made strides in reducing energy consumption using air and liquid cooling and constructing 90% or more of the 4th Gen Xeon using renewable power.
Intel had hoped to bring DDR5, PCIe 5.0, and CXL technologies for server chips to the market first, but it was delayed and AMD's Epyc Genoa chips with these features were released before Intel's offerings. The delay was due to the Intel 7 technology node, an improved 10-nm technology named so because Intel considers it comparable to TSMC and Samsung's 7-nm designs.
The new Xeon Scalable processors include dozens of models in Standard and Max product families, being sold as Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Max SKU. Intel's most powerful 60-core Max processor will retail for $17,000, while the top 56-core Platinum Xeon will cost just over $11,000.
The 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors bring several improvements and new features to enhance data center performance, security, efficiency, and capabilities. Here are some key highlights:
Performance: The 4th Gen Xeon CPUs are designed to handle large workloads and data sets efficiently. They offer higher core counts, increased memory capacity, and improved instructions per clock (IPC) performance compared to previous generations.
Security: Intel has integrated advanced security features into the 4th Gen Xeon CPUs to protect against various vulnerabilities. These include hardware-enhanced security measures like Intel SGX for secure data processing and Intel Crypto Acceleration for faster encryption and decryption.
Power Efficiency: The 4th Gen Xeon CPUs incorporate built-in accelerators that improve performance per watt efficiency. For example, by using Optimized Power Mode, clients can save up to 70 watts of power per CPU with minimal performance loss.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Intel claims that the 4th Gen Xeon CPUs can deliver a 52-66% lower TCO compared to previous generations. This reduction in TCO is achieved through improved power efficiency, increased density, workload optimizations, and enhanced management capabilities.
Sustainability: Intel has taken steps to reduce energy consumption and enhance sustainability with the 4th Gen Xeon CPUs. They have made efforts to use renewable power sources for manufacturing and have incorporated air and liquid cooling technologies to improve energy efficiency.
4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors offer an optimized combination of performance, security, power efficiency, and sustainability, making them well-suited for diverse data center workloads, including AI, edge computing, networking, cloud computing, and high-performance computing.