Intel Reveals Next-Gen Xeon Processors, Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest, at Hot Chips Conference
Intel has unveiled its next generation of Xeon processors, Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest, at the annual Hot Chips conference. These updates are expected to have a significant impact on Intel’s Xeon Scalable hardware ecosystem, thanks to the introduction of area-efficient E-cores.
Sierra Forest, which is set to be released in the first half of 2024, represents Intel’s first E-core Xeon Scalable chip designed specifically for data center use. Both Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest will share the same platform, including the same socket, memory, and chiplet-based design.
The upcoming Xeon Scalable platform will support up to 12 memory channels, delivering 2.8 times more bandwidth than the current Sapphire Rapids Xeons. This increased bandwidth will greatly enhance data processing capabilities. Additionally, the platform will provide up to 136 lanes of general I/O and will support PCIe 5.0 and CXL 2.0, further enabling seamless connectivity.
Sierra Forest has been designed to support multi-socket connectivity and can scale up to 2 sockets. On the other hand, Granite Rapids has the ability to scale up to 8 sockets, offering greater scalability and flexibility.
Sierra Forest utilizes the Crestmont E-Cores and offers instruction parity with Granite Rapids, except for AVX-512 support. Meanwhile, Granite Rapids boasts the Redwood Cove P-core, which brings improvements in floating-point multiplication latency and branch prediction. This advanced technology will result in enhanced performance and efficiency.
It is worth noting that both processors target different performance needs in the market. While Sierra Forest focuses on lighter CPU cores, Granite Rapids aims to provide robust performance across various applications.
Intel has assured customers that Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest remain on track for their scheduled 2024 launch. This development marks an important inflection point for Intel’s data center offerings, demonstrating their commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology to meet the evolving demands of the industry.
With these new advancements, Intel is cementing its position as a key player in data center hardware, further solidifying its reputation for innovation and performance.
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