Intel recently shared its plans for the next two years for the Xeon processor family. The new Xeon CPU roadmap was shown during the Data Center and AI Investor Webinar, giving us a first look at four upcoming architectures planned for release through 2025: Emerald Rapids, Sierra Forest, Granite Rapids and Clearwater Forest.
The first to arrive will be Emerald Rapids, Intel's next P-Core server processor. As the 5th generation of the Xeon Scalable family, its engineering samples have already been sent to customers, with a launch expected in Q4 2023. High-volume validation is continuing, and Sandra Rivera, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Data Center and AI group, said recently that the quality of the fab's transistors is quite good.
In Q1 2024, Intel plans to launch Sierra Forest, its first E-Core server CPU. Sierra Forest will have 144 cores per socket and will be the first architecture built on the Intel 3 process. Sierra Forest was powered on earlier this quarter, and the first samples have reached customers.
Granite Rapids will follow close behind Sierra Forest in 2024, and it will use P-Cores only. Although there is no exact launch date, a few details have come out. The new chips will share a platform with the Sierra Forest CPUs, which shortens development and design time. Granite Rapids is hitting all of its key milestones, with real silicon already delivered to several Intel partners.
In addition, Spelman said Intel is "building the fastest memory interface in the world for Granite Rapids." The new memory is a new type of DIMM called Multiplexer Combined Rank (MCR). Intel says these modules can reach speeds of 8.800MHz, significantly faster than today's high-end DDR5 memory modules.
Finally, Intel also revealed Clearwater Forest. Like Sierra Forest, these CPUs will pack only E-Cores, built on Intel 18A, the process Intel expects to use to regain leadership in process and packaging. The first chips based on this architecture will arrive in 2025.
Source: KitGuru!
