Intel has unveiled its latest Xeon 6 processors at Computex 2024, marking a significant step forward in high-performance computing.
The new processors, named E-Core “Sierra Forest” models, boast cutting-edge features designed to cater to a variety of demanding workloads.
Xeon 6 E-Core Processors
The Xeon 6 E-Core processors are engineered for power efficiency in dense computing environments. With up to 144 cores per socket, these processors are optimized for cloud-native workloads, DevOps, databases, CDNs, and storage applications.
Alongside the Xeon 6 announcement, Intel has shed light on the Gaudi 3 AI accelerator and the upcoming P-core Xeon 6 “Granite Rapids” processors. These processors are tailored for high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), and other compute-intensive tasks.
Performance and Benchmarks
Intel’s marketing materials highlight up to 3.7x better performance in AI inferencing compared to current AMD EPYC processors.
Initial benchmarks for Xeon 6 Sierra Forest processors demonstrate promising performance gains, setting the stage for further advancements in the Granite Rapids lineup.
Comparison with Competitors
Intel’s Xeon 6700E series competes with AMD EPYC “Bergamo” processors, offering superior performance and power efficiency.
While AMD’s upcoming 5th Gen EPYC processors promise increased core counts, Intel leads in core count advantage for the time being.
Memory and Connectivity
The Xeon 6700 series supports eight-channel DDR5-6400 memory, while the Xeon 6900 series boasts 12-channel DDR5-6400 memory and enhanced PCIe 5.0 connectivity. These features ensure optimal performance and scalability for diverse workloads.
Software Support and Compatibility
Intel Xeon 6700E/6900E series processors offer robust software support, with compatibility across Linux and other platforms. While the E-core processors lack AVX-512 support and AMX, they deliver efficient performance for cloud-native environments.
Intel Gaudi 2 and Intel Gaudi 3 AI Accelerator Kits Pricing
Intel Gaudi, introduced at Intel’s Vision 2024 conference, promises powerful AI performance at a good price. At Computex, Intel revealed the pricing for Intel Gaudi setups:
- A basic kit with eight Intel Gaudi 2 accelerators and a universal baseboard (UBB) costs USD 65,000. This is about a third cheaper than similar products from other brands.
- Another kit with eight Intel Gaudi 3 accelerators and a UBB is priced at USD 125,000. This is around two-thirds cheaper than similar offerings from competitors.
Moreover, Intel announced partnerships with six new system providers: ASUS, Foxconn, Gigabyte, Inventec, Quanta, and Wistron. They will be joining Dell, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Lenovo, and Supermicro in offering Intel Gaudi 3 systems.
Availability
The Xeon 6700E series, featuring up to 144 E-cores, is now available. The Xeon 6900P, part of the Granite Rapids family, is set to launch globally in the third quarter of 2024, offering up to 128 performance cores.
Additional models, including the Xeon 6700P and Xeon 6300P series processors, are slated for release in the first quarter of 2025.