Intel debuts low-voltage 45nm Xeon chips

Intel Corp. has introduced two low-voltage 45nm processors for servers and workstations that run at 50W, or just 12.5W per core and frequencies as high as 2.5GHz. The quad-core Intel Xeon processor L5400 Series takes advantage of Intel's 45nm manufacturing capabilities and reinvented transistor formula that combine to boost performance and reduce power consumption in data centers.

Benefiting companies with power-constrained, high-compute density environments, the Quad-Core Intel Xeon L5400 processors are as much as 25 percent faster and have a 50 percent larger cache size than Intel's previous-generation, low-voltage Quad-Core Intel Xeon processors, while at the same time maintaining the low 50W thermal envelope. The quad-core L5420 and L5410 processors run at 2.5GHz and 2.33GHz, respectively, and feature a unique 12Mbytes of on-die cache and dedicated 1,333MHz front side buses (FSB).

"Using Intel's hafnium-infused high-k metal gate transistors has allowed our quad-core 45nm low-voltage server chips to attain new heights in power-efficient performance," said Kirk Skaugen, vice president and general manager of Intel's server platforms group. "These chips deliver the speed needed while using meager amounts of energy."

A number of systems vendors are supporting the L5400 series and L5210, said Intel. Next quarter, the company will also begin shipping a new dual-core low-voltage processor that will boast a 40W rating and clock speed of 3GHz, with a 6Mbyte cache size and a 1,333MHz FSB. Intel is also extending the existing Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 5400 series for embedded market segments by offering the Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor L5410 with support for a 7-year life cycle.

Pricing in 1,000-unit quantities for the L5420 (2.5GHz, 1,333MHz 50W) is at $380 while for L5410 (2.33GHz, 1,333MHz, 50W) is at $320.