Intel Ships New Processors for Embedded, Communications and Storage Markets Based on New Transistors, Manufacturing

These new processors, coupled with the new power-optimized Intel® 5100 Memory Controller Hub (MCH) chipset, comprise the first 45nm CPU platforms for thermally constrained bladed applications. When using the Intel 5000P chipset, the 45nm processors are ideal for full-performance and memory-intensive applications such as storage, routers, security and medical solutions, as well as communications applications such as IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS).

The processors take advantage of Intel's Hafnium-based, high-k metal gate transistor formula, which reduces power consumption, increases switching speed and significantly increases transistor density over the company's previous 65nm manufacturing technology. These 45nm CPU-based platforms, based on the Intel® 5100 MCH chipset, are ideal for 200 watt maximum power envelope specifications such as AdvancedTCA* and also for NEBS Level-3 requirements.

"We're acutely aware of the performance demands and power consumption concerns of our customers and reached a remarkable 67 percent more compute performance-per-watt when we validated the Intel 5100 MCH chipset-based 45nm quad-core platform¹," said Doug Davis, vice president and general manager of Intel's Embedded and Communications Group. "In addition, the 45nm quad-core processors also allow for a 22 percent performance gain over previous-generation platforms within the same thermal profile², making it an excellent choice for compute-intensive applications such as IMS and platforms for storage, routers and security."

"Ericsson will introduce its quad-core Intel Xeon Processor-based IMS/Core network nodes and application servers to allow operators and service providers to host more subscribers in a smaller footprint, thus lowering total cost of ownership and environmental impact," said Magnus Furustam, vice president and head of Ericsson's product area Core and IMS. "The processing headroom will also enable the next generation of innovative IMS services. To accelerate this innovation, Ericsson and Intel are promoting the benefits of IMS to the communications developer community globally."

Intel is offering extended lifecycle support for 7 years for the Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor 5200 series (E5240, E5220, L5238) and the Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 5400 series (E5440 and L5408). This represents an expansion from previous minimum support of 5 years.

The new Intel® Carrier Grade Server TIGH2U building block offers increased choice for customers that require power efficiency and improved compute performance for high-end communication applications. Intel also announced enhancements for the Intel® Carrier Grade Server TIGW1U, Intel® IP Network Server NSW1U and Intel® IP Network Server NSC2U. These reliable communication rack-mount servers now support the Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 5400 Series and are ideal for telco and network applications in harsh environments with NEBS Level-3 requirements that demand high performance, energy efficiency and high I/O throughput.

Pricing and Availability
The 45nm processors with extended lifecycle support are available today, and prices range from $321 to $690. The dual-core Intel Xeon processor L5238 at 35 watts will be available in April. The Intel 5100 MCH chipset is available today, starting at $76.

Download a brief video including commentary from Ericsson's Magnus Furustam discussing Intel's 45nm products. (WMV 4MB)

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¹ Performance comparison of 2x Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor L5318 on an Intel 5000P Chipset-based platform versus 2x Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor L5408 on an Intel 5100 Chipset-based platform using the same workloads. Actual performance may vary. Source: SPECint_rate_base2006* (score) benchmarks are Intel internal measured results as of January 2008.

• Benchmark Description for SPECcpu*2006 suite (SPECint*_rate_base2006): SPEC CPU2006 is the industry adopted, CPU-intensive benchmark which stresses the system processor(s), memory subsystem, and compiler. Derived from 29 real user applications, CPU2006 provides a comparison across the widest practical range of hardware reporting a geometric mean ratio score on a baseline compiled binary.

For more information on performance tests and on the performance of Intel products, visit www.intel.com/performance/resources/benchmark_limitations.htm.

² Benchmarking results collected by Intel Corporation, August 2007 and October 2007 based on the following platform configurations:

• Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processor E5345, 2.33 GHz, 8 MB L2 cache, 1333 MHz FSB, Intel® 5000P Chipset 8x1G-Dual-Rank-FBD-DDR2-667
• Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processor E5440, 2.83 GHz, 12 MB L2 cache, 1333 MHz FSB, Intel® 5000P Chipset 8x1G-Dual-Rank-FBD-DDR2-667

For more information on performance tests and on the performance of Intel products, visit www.intel.com/performance/resources/benchmark_limitations.htm.