New Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® 5300 Series Offer Breakthrough Performance Per Watt / Price Per Watt Technology

The week of November 13th 2006, Intel announced the launch of the Xeon processor 5300 series (formerly codenamed Clovertown) - the world's first mainstream quad-core for server.

There is a lot to talk about with these innovative new processors which feature four execution cores and pack more performance per watt than any Intel processor in history, helping companies reduce costs and increase responsiveness. The 5300 is based on Intel® Core™ Microarchitecture using 65nm process technology (in fact a quad-core variant of the "Woodcrest" processor) and helps Intel further extend its price/watt and performance/watt leadership. You can get more done in less space with energy efficient server performance that is stable, reliable and built for current and future demands.

In fact the price of a single quad core is competitive with purchasing two dual-core Xeon processors at same speed allowing many small to medium businesses to move up without breaking their budgets. Based on stable and reliable platform and socket compatible with existing LGA771 boards* makes it an easy choice. It will be perfect for datacenters and medium to enterprise class businesses needing high density computing at an affordable price.

Highlighted features:
Quad Core: First Intel® Architecture Quad Core server processor enabling greater compute density and performance per watt (up to 1.5x faster than dual-core Xeon)
8 Cores Per System: Best for multi-threaded applications and databases (also up to 4.5x more performance versus single core Xeon)
Available in two power envelopes: Performance and Mainstream power
2x4M L2 cache: 8M total cache / Up to 1333 FSB: Fast front side bus
More Power Per Watt: 50% more performance in same power envelope, requires less power and cooling, great for datacenters
Same thermal solution choices as 5100/5000 series: Each speed available in Active/1U passive combination solution or 2U passive heatsink solution
Intel® Virtualization Technology: Allows for more robust virtualization environments, consolidation of servers
Intel® 64 Architecture (formerly Intel® EM64T): Enhances next generation IA-32 platforms with 64-bit addressability and related instructions, allowing flexibility for 64-bit and 32-bit applications and operating systems
Execute Disable Bit (XD Bit): Provides an additional layer of virus product when paired with Microsoft SP2 for 32 Bit and a BIOS update
Platform Compatibility: Drop in compatible with platforms based on the new Intel 5000X, 5000P, and 5000V chipsets* (hardware revision dependent - see notes below)
More Info: 5300 Product brief http://download.intel.com/products/processor/xeon/dc53kprodbrief.pdf
5300 Processor Models
ASI SKU Model Socket FSB Speed Cache Thermal Solution TDP
54586 E5310 LGA 771 1066MHz 1.6G 8M (2x4M) Active or 1U Passive Heatsink 80W
54587 E5310 LGA 771 1066MHz 1.6G 8M (2x4M) 2U Passive Heatsink 80W
54583 E5320 LGA 771 1066MHz 1.86G 8M (2x4M) Active or 1U Passive Heatsink 80W
54585 E5320 LGA 771 1066MHz 1.86G 8M (2x4M) 2U Passive Heatsink 80W
54581 E5335 LGA 771 1333MHz 2 G 8M (2x4M) Active or 1U Passive Heatsink 80W
54582 E5335 LGA 771 1333MHz 2 G 8M (2x4M) 2U Passive Heatsink 80W
54581 E5345 LGA 771 1333MHz 2.33G 8M (2x4M) Active or 1U Passive Heatsink 80W
54582 E5345 LGA 771 1333MHz 2.33G 8M (2x4M) 2U Passive Heatsink 80W
54579 X5355 LGA 771 1333MHz 2.66G 8M (2x4M) Active or 1U Passive Heatsink 120W
54580 X5355 LGA 771 1333MHz 2.66G 8M (2x4M) 2U Passive Heatsink 120W
60682 L5320 LGA 771 1066MHz 1.86GHz 8M (2x4M) Active or 1U Passive Heatsink 50W
60683 L5320 LGA 771 1066MHz 1.86GHz 8M (2x4M) 2U Passive Heatsink 50W
60686 L5310 LGA 771 1066MHz 1.6Ghz 8M (2x4M) TRAY (NO HEATSINK) 50W
Performance
The new Intel Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processors have been setting world records with their amazing performance. The Xeon 5300 can offer up to 50% better performance in the same power envelope compared to a Xeon 5100, and 150% better when compared to dual core AMD Opteron Model 2000 (source - Intel). See also - http://www.intel.com/performance/server/xeon/intthru.htm

Intel Platform Compatibility
* Product Change Notification for Clovertown Support

While the Xeon 5300 processors use the same socket and chipsets as the existing dual-core Xeon 5000/5100 processors there was a necessity for some hardware changes on the motherboards/platform side which will be called "G1 Stepping". All Quad core supported products are backwards compatible with the older processors (5000/5100).

5300 Series Requires:

Other Server Platforms for Xeon 5300
SuperMicro Press Release = http://www.supermicro.com/products/nfo/multi-core.cfm

SuperMicro list ASI SKU = Supermicro Quad Core Xeon Systems

ASUSTek = See this link to ASUS Server board with Quad Core Xeon Support

Tyan Quad Core Press Release = http://www.tyan.com/html/pr06_clovertown.html

See www.asiserver.com for more information