Product Brief

The Intel® Xeon® 6 Processor Family

Addressing the needs of today’s data centers

Data center infrastructure is one of the most important investments an
organization makes. IT leaders need to implement resources that foster business
growth while balancing security, energy efficiency, manageability, and other
factors affecting total cost of ownership (TCO).
Perhaps most importantly, IT leaders must be cognizant of market factors driving
rapidly evolving data center demands. For example, the AI market size and
opportunity are expected to grow by 4x in the next five years, fueled by changes
like workload automation and generative AI.1 A growing cohort of enterprise
The Intel Xeon 6 processor applications is adding inferencing code, which requires processing large vectors
family introduces a robust of data with data-parallel computing requirements that favor performance per
computing platform that core. In that same time frame, the cloud microservices market is expected to
excels at both performance grow by 5x, fueled by the redesign of monolithic applications with cloud-native
and efficiency, crucial for principles. 2 These workloads are task-parallel. Thus, they benefit more from
meeting the evolving efficient, scalar processing than from added complex compute capabilities.
demands of modern data
centers. From powering
compute-intensive AI to Faster business results across the spectrum of workloads
enabling scalable
cloud-native microservices, With more cores, flexible microarchitecture, additional memory bandwidth, and
the processor family provides exceptional input/output (I/O), the Intel Xeon 6 processor family delivers new
versatility for diverse degrees of performance and efficiency across a range of workloads. New
operational requirements. features and built-in accelerators give an additional boost to targeted workloads
for even greater performance and efficiency.

Intel® Xeon® 6 processor compared to 5th Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable processor

General compute Artificial intelligence HPC Microservices Analytics Media

Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to

2x 2x 2.3x 1.5x 1.6x 1.4x

higher performance higher GenAI higher HPC better performance/watt better performance/watt higher AVC
for integer and performance with performance based on for server-side for MySQL OLTP7 performance, with
floating point throughput3 BF16 data types4 the industry-standard Java throughput6 up to 1.5x better
HPCG benchmark5 performance/watt8

P-core E-core
Product Brief | The Intel® Xeon® 6 Processor Family

Intel® Xeon® 6 processor compared to 2nd Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable processor

General compute HPC Microservices Analytics Media Networking

Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to

6.4x 6.1x 3.1x 3.7x 4.2x 4.2x

higher floating point higher HPC better performance higher performance higher AVC higher 5G UPF
and up to 5.9x higher performance based on for server-side and 2.8x better performance with performance with
integer throughput3 the industry-standard Java throughput6 performance/watt for up to 1.5x better up to 2.7x better
HPCG benchmark5 MySQL OLTP9 performance/watt10 performance/watt11

P-core E-core

Exemplary user experience

Intel Xeon 6 processors provide the high level of quality and reliability that customers appreciate from Intel® products.
Maintaining continuous operation and minimizing the time needed to service a system are fundamental to managing a
data center’s service-level agreements (SLAs) and overall TCO. Intel reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS)
features encompass a suite of capabilities that help increase system uptime, reduce unplanned downtime, and maintain
data integrity.
Security is important to user experience and customer satisfaction. IT teams must protect against a growing number of
security threats and remain compliant with privacy regulations, whether on-premises or in the cloud. To protect data in
use, Intel Xeon processors allow you to pick the confidential computing technologies that best meet your business and
regulatory requirements. Intel® Trust Domain Extensions (Intel® TDX) offers isolation and confidentiality at the virtual
machine (VM) level, while Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX) provides application-level isolation.

Performance and efficiency without compromise

The Intel Xeon 6 processor family introduces an innovative modular x86 architecture that allows data center architects to
configure and deploy infrastructures that are purpose-built for your unique needs and workloads across private, public,
and hybrid clouds. As shown in Table 1, Intel Xeon 6 processors are available in four different series, offering tiered
capabilities from entry-level to demanding workloads through options for an increased number of cores, larger cache,
faster and higher-capacity memory, and improved I/O over previous generations.
For the ultimate versatility, Intel Xeon 6 processors allow for the choice of two different CPU microarchitectures:
Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores). Both core types use a compatible x86 instruction set
architecture (ISA) and a common hardware platform, including CPU socket type. Furthermore, Intel has teamed with
industry partners to help ensure seamless use of both core types with common operating systems, compilers, libraries,
and frameworks. With this shared software stack and a global ecosystem of hardware and software vendors, solutions
can be matched to every business need.

Table 1. The Intel Xeon 6 processor family encompasses four series of processors

Series Designed for

Intel Xeon 6900-series processors Maximum performance ideal for the most demanding cloud, AI, and HPC environments

Intel Xeon 6700-series processors Enhanced performance ideal for a wide array of data center and telco environments

Intel Xeon 6500-series processors Essential performance ideal for mainstream server and edge environments

Intel Xeon 6300-series processors Entry-level performance ideal for small/medium business environments

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Product Brief | The Intel® Xeon® 6 Processor Family

Intel Xeon 6 processors with Performance-cores (P-cores)

P-cores are optimized for high performance per core and excel at the widest range of workloads, including better
AI performance than any other general-purpose CPU. In comparison to 5th Gen Intel Xeon processors, which are
the CPUs commonly referenced for newer compute-intensive solutions, Intel Xeon 6 processors with P-cores can
provide up to 2x better performance.12

• Enable AI everywhere with AI acceleration in every core. Intel® Advanced Matrix Extensions (Intel® AMX)
speeds up inferencing for int8 and BF16 and offers new support for FP16-trained models with up to 2,048
floating point operations per second (FLOPS) for int8 and 1,024 FLOPS for BF16/FP16.

• Improve memory throughput with the fastest DDR5 memory available, Multiplexer Combined Ranks (MCR)
DIMMs. These can deliver more than 37 percent greater memory bandwidth than RDIMMs,13 with an expected
data transfer rate of up to 8,800 megatransfers per second (MT/s).

• Take advantage of up to 128 cores per socket with L3 cache as large as 480 MB and with exceptionally low
latency at large L3 access sizes.

Intel Xeon 6 processors with Efficient-cores (E-cores)

E-cores are optimized for high core density and exceptional performance per watt, delivering distinct advantages
for cloud-scale workloads that demand high task-parallel throughput. In comparison to 2nd Gen Intel Xeon
Scalable processors, which are within systems making up the majority of today’s data center footprint and are
excellent candidates for performance per watt upgrades, Intel Xeon 6 processors with E-cores can deliver more
than 2.7x better results.11 This efficient performance is also ideal where power, space, and cooling are limited.
Intel Xeon 6 processors with E-cores can:

• Replace 4.3 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor–based servers with a single server at similar performance.14

• Consolidate three racks of 2nd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor–based systems into a single rack.11

• Accommodate AI inferencing and vector-oriented operations with Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2
(Intel® AVX2) and new enhancements such as Vector Neural Network Instructions (VNNI) and fast-convert
for BF16 and FP16.

• Offer up to 288 cores per socket, with as much as 216 MB L3 cache, and with exceptionally low latency at large
L3 access sizes.

The efficiency of Intel Xeon 6 processors with P-cores and E-cores is highlighted by their ability to provide scalable
performance per watt as server utilization increases, delivering nearly linear power-performance consumption across the
load line. For performance-demanding workloads, this means power is efficiently utilized at high loads to finish jobs faster.
For a scalable implementation, common to cloud or shared computing environments, this level of efficiency means that
servers are only consuming the power they need when under load, reducing costs when instances are not fully utilized.

The sustainability of these processors is further enhanced through system-wide power management and telemetry
capabilities. These capabilities allow for increased performance per watt on a per-application basis to help with lowering
overall energy consumption.

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Product Brief | The Intel® Xeon® 6 Processor Family

Versatility and complementary advantages of Intel Xeon 6 processors

At the extreme ends of the workload spectrum, P-cores offer the best solution for compute-intensive, vector-based
workloads such as AI. E-cores are best for task-parallel, scalar-based workloads such as microservices. Between these
extremes, the two microarchitectures combine to allow for highly versatile and complementary solutions. For example,
systems with Intel Xeon 6 processors with E-cores can be used to conserve power so that it is available for AI and scientific
workloads running on nodes with Intel Xeon 6 processors with P-cores. Data centers designed with a mix of Intel Xeon 6
processors with P-cores and Intel Xeon 6 processors with E-cores can take advantage of their platform commonality to
transition workloads from one core type to the other depending on performance and power needs. The wide mix of options
makes it easy for the data center to scale as the business grows.

As another example of the complementary nature of Intel Xeon 6 processors, a data center can easily mix servers with
Intel Xeon 6 processors with P-cores and Intel Xeon 6 processors with E-cores to support business needs that require
databases of different structures. Relational databases, which are characterized by complex data relationships, complex
queries, joins, and aggregations, can benefit from the parallel data processing capabilities of Intel Xeon 6 processors with
P-cores. Non-relational databases with numerous small, independent requests for data retrieval, such as key-value stores,
can benefit from the task-parallel design of Intel Xeon 6 processors with E-cores.

Highlight technologies
The innovative P-core and E-core microarchitectures of the Intel Xeon 6 processor family deliver the following advanced
features and benefits:

• Up to 288 cores in a single socket for Intel Xeon 6 • Up to 64 lanes of Compute Express Link (CXL) 2.0 with
processors with E-cores—or up to 128 cores in a single data transfer rates up to 32 GT/s per lane, supporting
socket for Intel Xeon 6 processors with P-cores— CXL capabilities including memory expansion and
enabling ultra-high-density compute performance sharing, including Type 3 devices.
and scalability.
• Flat Memory Mode helps expand system memory and
• Intel AMX provides up to 16x more multiply accumulate improve TCO when using lower-cost memory, such as
(MAC) operations than Intel AVX-512 for BF16 and DDR4 with CXL 2.0.
FP16-based models to enhance AI performance
• Intel® QuickAssist Technology (Intel® QAT) allows
(P-core-only feature).
offload of bulk cryptography and compression to
• Intel AVX-512 encompasses unique instructions and accelerate networking and storage.
two 512-bit fused-multiply add (FMA) units per core,
• Intel® Data Streaming Accelerator (Intel® DSA) 2.0
boosting the speed of vector mathematics common to
enables offload of data movement and transform
AI, HPC, and database workloads (P-core-only feature).
operations such as move, fill, compare, cyclic
• Intel AVX2 with VNNI instructions and fast up/ redundancy checking (CRC), data integrity field (DIF),
down convert for BF16 and FP16 enables better AI delta, and flush.
compatibility for Intel Xeon 6 processors with E-cores.
• Intel® In-Memory Analytics Accelerator (Intel® IAA) allows
• MCR DIMMs are capable of providing more than 37 offload of memory compression and decompression,
percent additional memory bandwidth compared scan and filter functions, and CRC.
to standard DDR5 DIMMs, supporting bandwidth-
• Intel® Dynamic Load Balancer (Intel® DLB) enables the
constrained use cases found in AI and HPC
dynamic distribution of network packet processing and
(P-core-only feature).13
offload of reordering operations.
• Up to 12 memory channels, further supporting higher
• Intel TDX upgrades with AES-256 and 2,048
memory bandwidth.
encryption keys enhance confidential computing for
• Intel® Ultra Path Interconnect (Intel® UPI) 2.0 provides protection of sensitive business data.
up to 24 gigatransfers per second (GT/s) of inter-
• The Intel® On Demand service lets your hardware
socket bandwidth—a 20 percent increase over the prior
provider enable select CPU-based features and
generation.
capabilities. It is offered either as a one-time license-
• Up to 188 lanes of PCIe Gen 5 for two-socket servers based feature activation or in a metering-based
with options of up to 136 lanes for one-socket server consumption model.
designs to allow for significant I/O add-in components
To learn more about Intel Xeon 6 processors, including the
including accelerators, network adapters, storage
listed features above, visit intel.com/xeon.
controllers, and storage.
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Product Brief | The Intel® Xeon® 6 Processor Family

Overview of the Intel Xeon 6 processor family

Intel Xeon 6900-series processors are delivered in a new class of Intel server platform design, offering customers
maximum performance, the highest memory bandwidth, and maximum throughput ideal for cloud, HPC, and AI
environments. These processors feature higher core counts, more memory channels, and I/O lanes with thermal design
points that are higher than the other series.
Intel Xeon 6700-series and Intel Xeon 6500-series processors are delivered in an updated server platform design featuring
high performance with cost and power-efficient solutions ideal for the widest array of data center environments. These
processors come in one-socket to eight-socket options with enhanced I/O and memory within established data center
power and cooling footprints.

Intel® Xeon® 6 CPUs Intel® Xeon® 6 CPUs

Intel® Xeon® 6 processors with P-cores with E-cores

Maximum performance • Up to 128 cores • Up to 288 cores

(256 threads) per CPU (288 threads) per CPU
Introducing a new class of Intel • Up to 500 W per CPU • Up to 500 W per CPU
server platform design, ideal for • One- or two-socket servers • One- or two-socket servers
Intel Xeon cloud computing, AI, HPC, • 12 channel memory • 12 channel memory
6900-series software-as-a-service (SaaS), • Up to 6,400 MT/s DDR5 • Up to 6,400 MT/s DDR5
processors and infrastructure-as-a-service • 8,800 MT/s MCR DIMMs • Up to 96 PCIe 5.0 lanes
(IaaS) workloads. • Up to 96 PCIe 5.0 lanes • Six Intel UPI 2.0 links
• Six Intel UPI 2.0 links

Coming soon Coming soon

Enhanced performance • Up to 86 cores • Up to 144 cores

(172 threads) per CPU (144 threads) per CPU
A significant upgrade to • Up to 350 W per CPU • Up to 330 W per CPU
established Intel server platform • One-, two-, four-, or • One- or two-socket server
designs. Mainstream servers eight-socket servers • Eight channel memory
Intel Xeon from edge to cloud for • Eight channel memory • 6,400 MT/s DDR5
6500-series/ enterprise IT, digital service • 6,400 MT/s DDR5 • Up to 88 PCIe 5.0 lanes
6700-series providers, and telco. Ideal for • 8,000 MT/s MCR DIMMs • Four Intel UPI 2.0 link
processors AI, HPC, Networking and Media, • Up to 88 PCIe 5.0 lanes
Data Services, Infrastructure with up to 136 lanes for
and Storage, Web, Applications, 1S designs
and Microservices. • Four Intel UPI 2.0 links

Coming soon Now available

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Product Brief | The Intel® Xeon® 6 Processor Family

1
Fortune Business Insights. “Artificial Intelligence Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis ….” April 2024.
fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/artificial-intelligence-market-100114.
2
Fortune Business Insights. “Cloud Microservices Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis ….” April 2024. fortunebusinessinsights.com/cloud-microservices-market-107793.
3
See [9G10] at intel.com/processorclaims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
4
See [9A10] at intel.com/processorclaims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
5
See [9H10] at intel.com/processorclaims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
6
See [7W4] at intel.com/processorclaims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
7
See [7D2] at intel.com/processorclaims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
8
See [7W2] at intel.com/processorclaims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
9
See [7D1] at intel.com/processorclaims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
10
See [7W1] at intel.com/processorclaims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
11
See [7N1] at intel.com/processorclaims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.
12
Better performance versus 5th Gen Intel Xeon processors based on Intel architectural projections as of August 2023.
13
In comparison to DDR5 6,400 RDIMM.
14
Based on MySQL OLTP and server-side Java throughput with SLA. See intel.com/processorclaims: Intel® Xeon® 6. Results may vary.

Performance varies by use, configuration and other factors. Learn more at www.Intel.com/PerformanceIndex.

Performance results are based on testing as of dates shown in configurations and may not reflect all publicly available updates. See configuration disclosure for additional details.

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Your costs and results may vary.

Intel technologies may require enabled hardware, software or service activation.

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