Intel Launches Most Secure Data Centre Processor
Intel Launches its Most Secure Data Centre Processor
Second-Generation High-K Metal Gate 32nm
Processors Blend Security, Performance, Energy
Efficiency
NEWS
HIGHLIGHTS
• First 32nm process technology-based
enterprise-class processors integrate robust security
capabilities that enhance data integrity and server virtualisation.
• Delivering
up to 60 percent greater performance than the previous-generation
processor, data centres can replace 15 single-core servers
with one server and achieve a return on their investment in
as little as five months.
• First six-core embedded computing processors drive
unmatched performance for connected
devices.
• Highest-end desktop processor offers
stunning performance for digital content creation, 3-D
rendering, massive multitasking and extreme gaming.
AUCKLAND, 18 March 2010 – Combining unprecedented security, performance and energy efficiency, Intel Corporation this week launched the Intel® Xeon® Processor 5600 series. The new processors deliver two new security features – Intel Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions (Intel AES-NI) and Intel Trusted Execution Technology (Intel TXT) – that enable faster encryption and decryption performance for more secure transactions and virtualised environments, providing data centres with a stronger foundation for cloud security.
These are also the first server and workstation chips based on the groundbreaking new Intel 32nm logic technology, which uses Intel's second-generation high-k metal gate transistors to increase speed and decrease energy consumption. The Intel Xeon Processor 5600 series supports up to six cores per processor and delivers up to 60 percent greater performance than the 45nm Intel Xeon processor 5500 series. In addition, data centres can replace 15 single-core servers with a single new one and achieve a return on their investment in as little as five months.
Data centres will also benefit from the power efficiency of the Intel Xeon processor 5600 series. A two-socket server using the new low-voltage Intel Xeon processor L5640 can deliver the same performance as a server using the previous generation's champion; the Intel Xeon processors X5570 series, but with up to 30 percent lower platform power. For more information, see www.intel.com/performance/server/xeon/summary.htm.
“The
Intel Xeon Processor 5600 series will be the backbone of
mainstream computing environments,” said Kirk Skaugen,
vice president and general manager of the Intel Architecture
Group. “New security capabilities will boost the
confidence of IT managers. Improvements in performance,
server virtualisation and power consumption will foster
productivity and efficiency for a broad range of
applications, ranging from data transactions to workstations
performing medical imaging and digital
prototyping.”
Enhanced
Security
With emerging threats, new architectures and
an ever-changing regulatory environment, security is an
increasing concern for IT managers and often an impediment
to deploying more advanced computing infrastructures. The Intel Xeon processor 5600 series
addresses these issues with features that help ensure
greater data integrity.
The Intel Xeon processor 5600 series includes Intel AES-NI, a new set of instructions first introduced with the new 2010 Intel® Core® processor family. These instructions accelerate AES performance to enable faster data encryption and decryption for a wide range of applications such as database encryption features, full disk encryption and secure internet transactions.
Intel TXT will provide added security that cloud environments have been waiting for by enabling a more secure platform launch environment, along with providing more protection for applications that move between virtualised servers. Hardware-based capabilities integrated into the processor shield against malicious software to allow important applications and data to run more securely in a virtualised environment.
Working together, Intel TXT and Intel AES can ensure that virtualised environments experience better performance and functionality, and are more secure when they are launched, migrated or at rest.
More Performance, Less
Energy
The security of the Intel Xeon processor 5600
series is matched by performance, versatility and energy
efficiency that will help increase the efficiency of data
centre operations. Technologies such as Intel Turbo Boost Technology, Intel Hyper-Threading Technology and
improved Intel Virtualisation Technology (VT)
adjust to the performance requirements of users, enhance
multitasking and increase the reliability and manageability
of consolidated IT environments.
The frequency-optimised quad-core version of the Intel Xeon processor 5600 series peaks at 3.46 GHz with a TDP of 130 watts, while the six-core version reaches 3.33 GHz with a TDP of 130 watts. Advanced six-core versions will top out at 2.93 GHz and TDP of 95 watts and the standard quad-core processor will reach 2.66 GHz at 80 watts. Low voltage versions of the chip will have TDPs as low as 60 watts and 40 watts, and feature six and four cores respectively.
Intel also announced the availability of the Intel Xeon processor L3406 series. Targeted for use in the single processor micro server segment, the Intel Xeon processor L3406 series has a TDP of only 30 watts, making it ideal for high-density form factors and power-sensitive environments.
World Record
Performance
The Intel Xeon processor 5600 series extends
performance gains delivered by the Intel Xeon Processor 5500
with 12 new world records for two-socket servers and
workstations. These processors enable outstanding
energy-efficient performance and establish a new
SPECpower*_ssj2008 record for a single node server and a
multi-node server. Specifically, the IBM* x3650 M3
(single-node server system) delivered 2,927 overall
ssj_ops/watt, up to a 42 percent gain over the
previous-generation Intel Xeon processor 5500 series. IBM
dx360 M3 (multi-node server system) reports a result of
overall 3,038 ssj_ops/watt, up to a 31 percent gain over
previous-generation processors. Fujitsu’s* PRIMERGY* RX300
S6 two socket server with two Intel Xeon processors L5640
series meets the needs of those customers who desire
performance of the Intel Xeon processor X5570 series but
uses up to 30 percent lower platform power.
Fujitsu’s PRIMERGY RX300 S6 system established world record Java* performance (a SPECjbb2005* score of 928,393 bops, up to a 46 percent boost over previous-generation), world record ERP performance (SAP*-SD 2-Tier ERP 6.0 Unicode score of 4,860 benchmark users, up to a 27 percent boost over previous-generation result) and world record web serving performance (SPECweb2005* score of 104,422, up to a 25 percent boost over previous-generation result). Dell’s* PowerEdge* R710 system established a new 2S server platform performance world record for SPECint*_rate_base2006 with a score of 355 and for SPECfp*_rate_base2006 with a score of 248.
Cisco’s* UCS* B250 M2 servers powered with two Intel Xeon processor X5680 series set a world record for virtualisation performance with a VMMark* score of 35.83 at 26 tiles, up to a 42 percent performance gain over previous-generation product. Cisco’s UCS B200 M2 platform delivered a record score on SPEComp* Mbase2001 and Cisco's UCS C250 M2 platform also delivered a world record on SPECjAppServer2004* benchmark.
For detailed performance results and more information about world record claims see www.intel.com/performance/server/xeon/summary.htm
New Embedded Processors
In addition to
enterprise-class processors, Intel launched three unique
processors for the embedded computing segment, including
the first six-core processors, the Intel Xeon E5645 and
L5638, and the quad-core L5618 and E5620 processors. These
processors, featuring 7-year lifecycle support, are built
for thermally constrained and robust communications
environments, and will route applications more quickly and
efficiently between connected devices.
Extreme
32nm
Intel also announced availability of the new Intel® Core™ i7-980X Processor Extreme
Edition, the company's first 32nm, six-core processor
with 12 computing threads for client applications. Offering
stunning performance for digital content creation, 3-D
rendering, multitasking and hardcore gaming, the new Intel
Core i7-980X is drop-in compatible** with most existing
Intel X58 Express chipset-based motherboards. Running at
3.33 GHz, the Intel Core i7-980X is overclocking-enabled***
to provide flexibility to advanced users who want to adjust
their speed settings and has 12MB of Intel Smart Cache –
50 percent more than the current Intel flagship desktop
processor. At the recent Game Developer’s Conference in
San Francisco, highly threaded games and digital content
creation titles were shown, such as Ubisoft* R.U.S.E*,
Sega’s* Napoleon: Total War*, and Cakewalk* Sonar
Producer*.
“Napoleon: Total War is based on our second-generation multi-threaded engine and the latest Intel Core i7-980X processor, allowing us to bring a more realistic user experience by immersing them more deeply in the heat of battle,” said Mike Simpson, creative director, Creative Assembly Software*. “We take advantage of the increased core count on the Intel Core i7-980X by adding greater animation detail to fighting units on both land and sea, allowing the game to have higher visual fidelity.”
Systems
Starting this week and
continuing over the next 45 days, server and workstation systems based on the Intel
Xeon processor 5600 series are expected to be announced by a
wide variety of system manufacturers around the world,
including Cisco*, Dell*, Fujitsu*, HP*, IBM* and Oracle*.
Many software vendors are also supporting Intel Xeon processor 5600-based platforms, including Citrix*, IBM*, Microsoft*, Novell*, Oracle*, Red Hat*, SAP AG* and VMware*. To learn more about how Intel and major software vendors deliver outstanding platforms, please visit www.intel.com/business.
The Intel Xeon processor 5600 series ranges in price from US$387 to US$1,663 in quantities of 1,000. The E5645, L5638 and L5618 embedded processors are priced at US$958, US$958 and US$530, respectively, in quantities of 1,000. The Intel Core i7-980X is priced at US$999 in 1000-unit quantities. To facilitate reseller transition to this new processor series, all currently shipping Intel Server Boards and Systems that support the previous-generation Intel Xeon processor 5500 series also support the Intel Xeon processor 5600 Series.
For more details on the Intel Xeon processor 5600 processor series, visit www.intel.com/xeon.
For more details on world records and other claims, visit www.intel.com/performance/server/xeon/summary.htm
More information on the Intel Core i7-980X is available at www.intel.com/products/processor/corei7ee/index.htm.
About
Intel
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), the world leader in
silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and
initiatives to continually advance how people work and live.
Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.
ENDS