Intel officially introduced its 6-core processor on Tuesday and both server and game box suppliers are deploying the chip, boasting more speed for gamers and better cost-efficiency for IT departments.
As previously reported, the Core i7- 980X desktop processor, aka the Xeon 5600 for servers, is based on Intel's newest 32-nanometer process technology. Generally, the smaller the manufacturing process, the better the performance. To date, most Intel processors have used "fatter" 45-nanometer technology. More processing cores--six versus the prior generation's four--can also hike performance.
"We've already shipped hundreds of thousands of these (processors). We build up the supply chain (beforehand)," said Boyd Davis, general manager for Server Platforms Group Marketing at Intel. Prices for the 6-core processors range from $999 for the Core i7 980 to $1,663 for the Xeon 5680.
For server customers, the message from Intel is more bang for the buck. "Eighty percent of the (server) installed base is up for a refresh. And the installed base is a lot of old, inefficient, single-core servers," said Davis.
"Take 15 old single-core servers and replace them with a single server based on the Xeon 5600. You get roughly the same performance level and a 95 percent reduction in energy costs. As well as getting a payback in as little as five months," he said.
Intel has also added security. AES-NI, or Advanced Encryption Standard New Instruction, is a technology for improving security by increasing encryption performance. On older chips, encryption processing could bog down a system, AES is more efficient at handling these workloads, according to Davis.
Dell is one of the first major vendors… Read more
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