Yesterday Intel revealed details of next-generation server processor, code-named Nehalem-EX, and it’s pretty cool!
As you might have guessed, the Nehalem-EX is based on the Nehalem microarchitecture, which Intel debuted with the Xeon 5500 and Core i7 series of processors. While the Xeon 5500 and Core i7 processors feature 4 cores and 8 threads (thanks to Hyper-Threading), the Nehalem-EX series is kitted out with up to 8 cores and support for up to sixteen threads. To support the cores the Nehalem-EX has 24MB of cache.
- Intel Nehalem Architecture built on Intel’s unique 45nm high-k metal gate technology process
- Up to 8 cores per processor
- Up to 16 threads per processor with Intel Hyper-threading
- Scalability up to eight sockets via Quick Path Interconnects and greater with third-party node controllers
- QuickPath Architecture with four high-bandwidth links
- 24MB of shared cache
- Integrated memory controllers
- Intel Turbo Boost Technology
- Intel scalable memory buffer and scalable memory interconnects
- Up to 9x the memory bandwidth of previous generation
- Support for up to 16 memory slots per processor socket
- Advanced RAS capabilities including MCA Recovery
- 2.3 billion transistors
Nehalem-EX offers up to nine times the memory bandwidth of the Xeon 7400 platform and double the memory capacity thanks to 16 memory slots per processor socket. The Nehalem-EX will also incorporate 4 high-bandwidth QuickPath Interconnect links per CPU allows 8 socket systems capable of processing 128 threads simultaneously (Nehalem-EX supports systems with up to 32-socket).
We can expect to see systems based on these processors to be available later this year. Currently there’s no word on pricing.