Intel’s new family of server processors the Xeon 6900P with models up to 128 coresare poised to compete directly with AMD’s EPYC CPUs in the data center market. The top of the range is the Xeon 6980P with 128 cores, 256 threads, clocked at 2.0 GHz and 504 MB of L3 cache.
This new generation of server CPU marks Intel’s return to the top of performance after years of AMD dominance in this segment. Initial tests carried out by major technology sites show very competitive performance, capable of beating current EPYC processors in many workloads, especially those optimized for Intel’s AMX technology.
Intel returns competitive with AMD at the top of HPC performance
ServeTheHome welcomed Intel’s return to form, stating: “Welcome back Intel!”. The site tested a pre-production model of the 6980Pnoting “stellar” performances that “take the performance crown for now.”
The Next Platform underlined the strategic importance of this launch, which precedes the arrival of AMD’s new Turin processors scheduled for the second half of 2024. According to the site, the new Xeons could help Intel slow its loss of market share in the data center sector.
Phoronix provided insights into Linux benchmarks, highlighting strong performance increases, in particular for the top of the range Xeon 6980P 128 cores. Testing showed that the Granite Rapids series exceeded expectations in various HPC and AI workloads, often beating the best AMD EPYC Genoa and Bergamo models when the software was optimized for Intel’s AMX technology.
Despite praise for the raw performance, i new Xeon 6900P will have a high cost. High manufacturing costs translate into a premium price, making upgrading expensive for data center operators. Although the official price of the top-of-the-line 6980P has not yet been announced, TheNextPlatform estimates that it will be around $24,980.
Tom’s Hardware USA emphasized that “the real story will be told by the independent benchmarks and the cost analysis of different platforms.” The site also highlighted the unknown represented by Arm architecture-based server chips, which are gaining ground in data centers, especially among major cloud providers.
In conclusion, the launch of the new Xeon 6900P marks an important return for Intel in the high-end segment of server processors, bringing the company back into direct competition with AMD after years of disadvantage. It remains to be seen how this renewed technological momentum will translate into customer adoption and market share in the long term.
Source: www.tomshw.it
