Intel Introduces Xeon Cascade Lake Server Processor With 56 Cores

Intel introduces the second generation of its Xeon Scalable processors for servers. The Cascade Lake-Xeons have more cores and higher clock speeds than the previous generation. The top model is the Xeon Platinum 9282 with 56 cores.

The Xeon Platinum 9200 series includes the new top model in Intel’s line of server processors. To get to 56 cores, Intel glues two Cascade Lake-dies together, each with 28 cores. At the end of last year, Intel already announced new Cascade Lake processors, but then the manufacturer spoke of a maximum of 48 cores. Now the final specifications are known.

Intel gives the new server processors twelve memory channels with support for DDR4-2933 memory and each CPU has 40 PCI-e 3.0 lanes. Optane support is missing from the Platinum 9200 series. According to AnandTech, this is because the processors are intended for situations where not memory, but CPU power is the limiting factor. Intel does not sell the processors separately and does not disclose prices. The CPUs are delivered as BGA packages to manufacturers who build complete servers around them.

In addition to the new Xeon Platinum 9200 processors, Intel is also introducing a new Platinum 8200 series. The processors in this series have a maximum of 28 cores and use the regular lga3647 socket. There are also new Gold 6200, Gold 5200, Silver 4200 and Bronze 3200 series. With the exception of the Silver and Bronze series, all new server processors will have support for Optane memory.

Furthermore, Cascade Lake CPUs generally have more cores and higher clock speeds than the same processors of the previous generation. Last year, Intel already disclosed the hardware changes that have been made to protect against the Specter and Meltdown vulnerabilities.

There will be special versions with support for large amounts of RAM. Models with an L after the name, which stands for Large Memory Support, support up to 4.5TB. M versions, support up to 2TB and the regular variants can handle up to 1.5TB of ram.

Intel releases several modified versions, including N models that are optimized for network virtualization and T variants that have longevity. There will also be S versions with optimizations for search functionality. Intel doesn’t make F variants anymore. With the previous generation of Cascade Lake processors, these were versions with Intel’s Omni-Path.

Like their Skylake predecessors, Intel’s new Cascade Lake server processors are made on a 14nm process. They will face competition later this year from AMD’s second-generation Epyc processors, which use 7nm chiplets and will be available in 64-core versions.