Intel Xeon Scalable Debuts: Dual Xeon Platinum 8176 With 112 Threads Tested

Intel has a wide array of Xeon Scalable processors on the way, with various core counts, cache configurations, clocks, and TDPs. Though all of the parts feature the same core processor technology (Skylake-SP), different physical dies are used to produce the line-up featured here, depending on the core count...


The Intel Xeon Scalable product family features core counts ranging from 4 to 28, which target vastly different market segments. All of the chips are produced using Intel’s 14nm process node, but frequencies and cache configurations vary greatly. Workstation processors and lower-core count server chips top out in the 3.2GHz – 3.6GHz range, while the higher-core count products typically fall in the 2GHz – 2.7GHz range. TDPs range all the way from 70W on up to 205W depending on the application as well. As you’d probably expect, pricing will vary significantly too, though actual prices weren’t disclosed.

The SKUs are segmented into four main categories – High Performance, Balanced Efficiency, Extended Life, and those with integrated Omni-Path Fabric, though it’s only the Balanced segment that features Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze SKUs. Save for the specialized extended life SKUs, all of the others carry only Platinum or Gold designations.


Ultimately, the new Intel Xeon Scalable Processors offer additional and more advanced processor cores than the previous generation, with better overall performance and additional features. The Xeon Scalable series also introduces new security, virtualization, and storage-related features, additional memory bandwidth, support for AVX-512, and enhanced hardware controlled power management, among a host of other architectural improvements.

Intel’s Xeon products have dominated in the mission-critical server and professional workstation markets for years. Although it faces new-found competition from AMD in the segment, Intel’s incumbency, coupled with the strong performance and efficiency of the new Xeon Scalable series should help Intel maintain a dominant position in the market.