Xeon Processors: Supporting Servers And Workstations

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Computers )



The Intel Xeon processor is a special processor designed for servers and workstations. Intel uses the name Xeon to designate the brand of microprocessors installed in multi-processor CPUs. Xeon processors have been around since 1998, with the release of the Pentium II Xeon and subsequently in 1999, when Pentium III Xeon supplanted the earlier version. You will note, though, that from the time of Pentium 4, Intel decided to name its server-class microprocessors simply as Xeon processors.

You will find processors without the Xeon name installed in desktop computer CPUs. The main difference between the desktop versions and Xeon processors is the superior cache capacity of the latter and the ability to work in bigger configurations of multiple processing environments. Thus you have Xeon processors supporting symmetric multiprocessing for up to two CPUs. The more recent versions of Xeon processors support even more.

The chipmaker has introduced its quad-core Intel Xeon processor 5300 series, which it says performs 50 percent better than its previous dual-core Xeon processors. The 5300 series, codenamed Clovertown, builds on its previous 5100 series named Woodcrest, using two Woodcrest dies with a total of 8 megabytes in cache capacity. There are two models you can choose from: one has a 1066 MT/s FSB, while the other model has 1333 MT/s FSB. If you look at the model numbers, you will notice those ending with a 0 and with a 5. The 0 ending refers to the lower model 1066 MT/s FSB while the 5 ending alludes to the higher model.

The company also points out that this new quad-core processor outperforms its leading competitor by 150 percent. This information would be welcome news to loyal followers of Xeon processors, and a wake-up call to Intel rival, AMD Computers, which pioneered the high performing 64-bit extensions used in four-processor x86 servers. Nevertheless, Xeon processors still lead the industry in turnover.


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