Intel is gearing up to make a significant leap in artificial intelligence processing capabilities with its upcoming Xeon 6 processors. The tech giant claims these new chips will deliver up to 17 times better AI performance compared to their predecessors from just four years ago.
Dramatic AI Performance Improvements
According to Intel's recent announcements, the next-generation Xeon 6 processors are set to offer:
- 1.9x higher AI inference performance across key benchmarks compared to 5th gen Xeon Emerald Rapids CPUs
- Up to 17x performance uplift in AI tasks versus 3rd gen Xeon Cascade Lake processors from 2019
These claims are based on results from the industry-standard MLPerf Inference v4.1 benchmark suite, where Intel submitted scores for its flagship Xeon 6980P processor.
Xeon 6980P: A Powerhouse for AI Workloads
The top-end Xeon 6 model, the 6980P, boasts impressive specifications:
- 128 cores / 256 threads
- Clock speeds: 2.0 GHz base, up to 3.2 GHz boost
- 504 MB of L3 cache
- 500W TDP
This processor is part of the Granite Rapids-AP lineup, which will launch in September 2023. The full Xeon 6 series will include models ranging from 72 cores/144 threads up to the 128 core flagship.
New Workstation CPUs Also Announced
Alongside the server-focused Xeon 6 news, Intel unveiled two new workstation processor families:
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Xeon W-3500 series
- Up to 60 Performance-cores / 120 threads
- 8 more cores than previous W-3400 chips
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Xeon W-2500 series
- Up to 26 Performance-cores / 52 threads
- 2 more cores than previous W-2400 chips
These workstation processors offer enhanced AI capabilities, higher frequencies (up to 4.8 GHz turbo), increased cache, and support for DDR5 memory.
Pricing and Availability
While exact pricing for the full lineup hasn't been disclosed, Intel mentioned that the new Xeon W series will range from $609 for the entry-level w3-2525 to $5,889 for the top-end w9-3595X.
The Xeon 6900P Granite Rapids-AP processors are scheduled to launch in September, with systems featuring the new workstation chips expected around the same time.
As AI workloads become increasingly crucial across various industries, Intel's focus on dramatically improving AI performance in its mainstream server and workstation processors could help the company maintain its competitive edge in the data center and high-performance computing markets.