A new Xeon in the Intel server stable

By Alun Williams

Posted on 14 Jul 2003 at 12:50

Intel has announced a new top-of-the-range Xeon processor for 32-bit server systems.

Previously, a 3.06GHz model had 512KB of L3 cache. Now a similar speed is available with double the amount of cache, 1MB, with a 533MHz front side bus. It gives a performance improvement of 15 per cent Intel claims.

The new processor will cost $690, and in its wake the other Xeons have had their price cut. The 3.06GHz (512Kb of cache) will cost $455 (a 35 per cent cut from its previous $690), and the 3GHz, 2.8GHz (533MHz FSB) and 2.8GHz (400MHz FSB) have also been cut by more than thirty per cent. They are now priced at $433, $316 and $294, respectively.

To complete the changes, the 2.66GHz version costs $256 and the 2.60GHz $234. The 2.4GHz versions remain unchanged, with all pricing based on orders of 1,000 units.

At the end of last month Intel released new multi processor Xeons alongside the next-generation 64-bit Itanium processor - Intel unveils the Itanium 2 and new Xeon MP processors.

The Xeon MP, previously codenamed Gallatin, now runs at speeds of up to 2.8GHz with up to 2MB of integrated level three (L3) cache although the system bus for the 32-bit processor remains at 400MHz.