Intel has launched its new third-generation Xeon Scalable Processor with built-in AI. Intel SGX for built-in security, Intel Crypto Acceleration, and Intel DL Boost for AI acceleration are the latest and improved platform capabilities. The processor has been designed for the cloud, AI, 5G, edge computing, cloud processing, etc.
Navin Shenoy, Executive VP & GM, Data Platforms Group, Intel, said, “Our 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable platform is the most flexible and performant in our history, designed to handle the diversity of workloads from the cloud to the network to the edge. Intel is uniquely positioned with the architecture, design and manufacturing to deliver the breadth of intelligent silicon and solutions our customers demand.”
What’s New?
The new 3rd Gen Intel Xeon processors, which use Intel’s 10 nanometer (nm) chip fab process technology, offer up to 40 cores per processor and up to 2.65 times better overall output. The platform supports up to 6 terabytes (TB) of system memory per socket, up to 8 channels of DDR4-3200 memory per socket, plus up to 64 lanes of PCIe Gen4 per socket compared to 48 lanes of PCIe in the previous generation.
The launch marks Intel’s critical shift towards the large-scale data-centre chip design. In line with the company’s latest IDM 2.0 (integrated design manufacturing) plan announced earlier, the processors will be produced at Intel’s own internal 10nm manufacturing node.
The 3rd Gen Xeon Processor provides customers with gain in AI, machine learning, cryptography, and data protection. The processor is further optimised with the latest hardware and software that deliver 74% faster AI performance than its predecessor. Furthermore, it provides up to 1.5 times higher efficiency across a spectrum of 20 popular AI workloads versus AMD EPYC 7763, and up to 1.3 times versus Nvidia A100 GPU.
In addition to that, Intel SGX can protect sensitive code and data within the system. It is available on 2-socket Xeon Scalable processors with enclaves capable of isolating and processing up to 1 TB of code, and data to meet the needs of mainstream workloads. The latest Xeon processors resolve today’s most pressing data security issues by combining new features such as Intel Total Memory Encryption and Intel Platform Firmware Durability.
The processor is further equipped with the Crypto Acceleration technique; Intel has boosted the performance of the most commonly used transport layer security (TLS) ciphers. Two algorithms are used in TLS bulk data transfers: encryption and authentication, and many improvements were implemented to the instruction set architecture (ISA) to boost cryptographic performance.
Intel’s “N-SKUs” are optimised for various workloads and performance levels and are configured to accommodate a variety of network environments. Over the previous generation, the new processors provide 62 percent more performance on widely deployed networks and 5G workloads.
With OneAPI toolkit, provided by Intel, software developers can optimise their applications for the 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable platform by using oneAPI open, cross-architecture programming.
Wrapping Up
Intel’s latest launch holds a lot of potential in terms of providing a secure platform for the data centres, high-performance computing, cloud deployment, etc. It can deliver the required efficiency, flexibility, security, and operational controls for robust AI, complex image or video analytics, and unified workloads at the edge.
