Intel's New Server Processors: Speed, Energy Efficiency & Virtualization

Today Intel introduced a couple of quad-core Xeon processors, X5365 and L5335, with improved virtualization capabilities. The new processors boast unprecedented combinations of performance and energy efficiency.

The X5365 and L5335 are for running server and workstation applications. The former is a 3.0-GHz chip that fits inside a 120-watt envelope. The L5335 has a clock speed of 2.0 GHz within a 50-watt envelope. Each chip has a 1333-MHz front-side bus. The processors are ideal for conducting simultaneous design and analysis transactions, improving rendering performance and managing faster analytics for industries such as financial services.

Both processors include Intel's Virtualization Technology (VT), which enables third-party virtualization software, such as VMware (a spin-off of EMC Corp, which, by the way, is launching its IPO tomorrow in NY Stock Exchange), to offload workload to the system hardware to boost performance. VT offers 64-bit guest operating system support. The processors also include new VT extensions for better interrupt handling in virtualization of 32-bit Microsoft Windows.

For energy efficiency, the chips have Intel's new "energy smart" technology that lower power use while the chip is idle. In quantities of 1,000, the X5365 sells for $1,172 apiece, and the L5335 sells for $380 each. In July, the company slashed prices on its four-way processors to less that what customers had paid for high-end dual-core products. Rival Advanced Micro Devices is scheduled to ship this year its first quad-core server and desktop products, code named Barcelona and Phenom, respectively. Intel has more than 20 four-way chips.

Later this year, Intel plans to ship its first Xeon processor built using a 45-nanometer process technology. Code-named Penryn, the new processor line is expected to eventually cross product lines from desktop to server, workstation and mobile. The line will include dual-core and quad-core chips. The 45-nm process builds a smaller chip with less power leakage than the 65-nm and 90-nm predecessors. The 45-nm process is widely seen as the next great advancement in the semiconductor industry. AMD is not expected to ship its first 45-nm processor until 2009.