Intel Xeon processors, the lineup of the spring-summer 2017 / Blog of the company Intel / Geektimes

The segment of server processors, unlike mobile or consumer, is conservative and predictable. It is unlikely that anyone is upset, because for professionals reliability, compatibility and productivity are important, and not effective functionality. Nevertheless, the movement is undoubtedly there. Therefore, with some periodicity (less often than we would like, but still) on the Intel blog we publish reviews of the current situation with Xeon processors – such an instantaneous cross-section of the entire line as a whole. Well, to make this review right now we were prompted by two interesting news.

A small preface for those who are interested in the topic, but have not previously followed the development of the Intel Xeon line. Xeon (correctly read “zion”) – server processors using Intel Core technologies and the following strategies for updating the Core (the one that used to be “tick-on” and now “tick-to-talk”), though with some delay . That is, first appear Intel Core i3 / i7 Kaby Lake, and after a while – Intel Xeon E3 / E7 Kaby Lake. The more complex the processors, the greater the difference in generations. Let’s say Intel Xeon E3v6 (Kaby Lake) appeared 8 months after Intel Core i3 v7 (Kaby Lake) – right now, and this is the first news. But Intel Xeon E5v6 still does not exist in nature and it will not appear soon, because the current current generation is the fourth one, which Broadwell. Do not get confused in the rooms? The generations of Core and Xeon differ by one, since the first Zion was made on the Sandy Bridge cores, that is, the second generation Core.

Let’s turn to the comparative consideration of the arithmetic of the Intel Xeon processor family

Intel Xeon E3

Intel Xeon E3 – processors for single-socket entry-level servers, the performance of which, however, is sufficient for solving a wide variety of tasks. As already mentioned, in March of this year Intel introduced a new, sixth generation Xeon E3v6. This does not mean, however, that now only those are available for the order. The inertia of the server market is great if the platform of previous generations is more suitable for your task / budget, you can easily buy both v5 and v4.

Typical configuration of Intel Xeon E5 v6

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Xeon E3v6 – the third stage in the cycle of modernization of Intel processors, the optimization stage. This means that functionally and in hardware it hardly differs from its predecessor; There are some “file extensions” to fully utilize the available resource. Let’s see what has changed in the course of the current iteration of the cycle that took 2 years in total.

As you can see, dynamics can hardly be called stunning, but there is movement, and it goes in the direction that consumers expect – say, in many cases, the speed of data exchange with memory is critical. On the other hand, E3v5 and v6 are very similar and, other things being equal, are practically interchangeable. Which to choose is up to you.

Intel Xeon E5

The table of positioning of the Intel E5 v4 line

The Xeon E5 ruler is the most Large in the server segment and most beloved by vendors, as it provides the widest possible range of performance characteristics. Processors E5 can be installed in 1, 2 and 4-socket systems, in the current line of their 38 pieces, not counting previous generations. There is where to turn around. Let’s look at the range of characteristics and prices for the lineup

As already mentioned, Xeon E5 lags behind E3 for two generations – now we are dealing with v4. Therefore, the most recent functional gadgets we will not find here. However, they do not need all and not always. But from the variety of just eyes scatter. E5 closely presses E3 from above and E7 from below. A multiprocessor system is a good option for “power” or for hard-to-forecast workload.

Intel Xeon E7

Xeon E7 – heavy artillery of Intel. A processor for those who need performance at any cost, including in the literal sense. Here’s the second news for you. In February, Intel released the most powerful and most expensive Xeon in history – under the index 8894. Here are its characteristics in comparison with “just a powerful E7.”

The HP DL580 Gen9 server based on Intel Xeon E7 v4

Who are the 192 most powerful E7 cores in one server? Definitely, and such problems exist. On the Internet, most of all, they were delighted that the price for the processor is almost exactly equal to its number. Both of these are not small.

Conclusion

There are no official official forecasts for the planned changes in the Intel Xeon line, however, based on the logic of its development, the informed reader can assume that the next update will concern the E5 models – the fifth generation will be launched. It is not excluded also the output of some additional models in existing lines.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you once again of the existence of a giant storehouse of knowledge of all hardware products released by Intel since the beginning of the 2000th Automated Relational Knowledge Base (ARK). Unfortunately, the convenience of using this pits has somewhat spoiled the latest innovations, but there is still no more informed source about Intel’s hardware in general and about processors in particular. The Knowledge Base is also available as an Android application.