2nd Generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors Power a Data-driven Future
Intel unveils advanced technologies to drive data-centric transformation
It's a data-centric world, propelled by new technologies for artificial intelligence and deep learning, cloud, networks, 5G and edge computing. For companies that can leverage that data, the opportunities to innovate workloads, services and scale are massive.
The challenge lies in deploying the right computing technologies to acquire, organize, analyze and deliver actionable insights in real time. The future belongs to those with a data-centric infrastructure that can move data faster, store more and process everything.
A new CPU solution with significant performance gains addresses this need, and Intel just introduced its 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors. Purpose-built as a catalyst for data-centric transformation, this next-generation processors' advanced compute core delivers pervasive performance to propel rapid, actionable insights and improved machine learning.
The advanced capabilities of 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors are designed for the most demanding high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence, deep learning and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) workloads. Owing to its close, longtime Intel relationship, WWT was among the first to receive an advance release of the product. Consequently, WWT has been hands-on with the new technology for months, testing systems and working with customers to gain valuable insights into the most promising deployment strategies.
Performance gains designed for tomorrow's extreme workloads
A key new feature of the 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors is Intel® Deep Learning Boost, providing significantly improved AI inference performance for deep learning workloads. Another new feature, Intel® Speed Select Technology (Intel® SST), enables the processor to run at three operating points simultaneously for configurable performance.
Among the wealth of major improvements and enhancements for agile service delivery, the latest 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors also include:
- Up to 2X more compute density
- DDR4 memory speed up to 2,933 MHz
- Up to 4.4 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
In addition, compared to the previous generation of Intel Xeon Scalable processors, 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors offer enhanced workload optimized performance with higher CPU frequency as well as improved Turbo profiles.
Providing precious data the protection it deserves
To promote business resilience, 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors are architected to deliver advanced security, with built-in, silicon-enabled technologies that help protect potential attack surfaces. They offer new layers of hardware-enhanced protection like Intel® Security Essentials and Intel® Threat Detection Technology, helping protect and control access to sensitive data more effectively, as well as providing additional side channel protections.
These features enable greater workload integrity, helping to thwart malicious exploits without significant performance overhead. They apply per-core improvements in encryption efficiency for trusted service delivery of data at rest, in use and in flight. And, the new processors also support dynamic crypto and compression processing with full Intel® Key Protection Technology via integrated Intel® QuickAssist Technology.
Pairing next-gen scalability with a new class of memory
Also released on April 2 is a fresh approach to the traditional memory and storage hierarchy: Intel® Optane™ DC persistent memory which is supported on 2nd Generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable Platinum and Gold SKUs. Intel Optane DC persistent memory provides more than 24 TB in 8 sockets with DRAM for enhanced memory support, as well as 2X system memory capacity. Its persistent, large-capacity memory tier enables businesses to extract more value from larger datasets. Unprecedented VM/container density delivers services at scale with compelling TCO by supporting more customers and services at the same cost.
Delivered with the 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, Intel Optane DC persistent memory technology will transform critical data workloads – from cloud and databases, to in-memory analytics and content delivery networks – and enable a vast application developer ecosystem to drive innovation on this powerful platform.
In fact, to help customers derive maximum value from pairing 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors and Intel Optane DC persistent memory, WWT and Intel are collaborating to deliver industry-leading Intel Select Solutions. These solutions are customer oriented and designed to accelerate deployment of workload-optimized data center infrastructures, verified for optimal performance on Intel architecture to provide faster time to value. WWT plans to offer the Intel® Select Solution for Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) and the Intel® Select Solution for VMware vSAN in Q2 2019.
WWT offers a preview of next-gen data-centric performance
WWT invites you to visit our Advanced Technology Center (ATC) and see for yourself the resources available for advancing these technologies and overcoming security challenges. For example, a side-by-side comparison of 1st and 2nd Generation Intel Scalable processor capabilities demonstrates a seamless performance foundation for the data-centric era. WWT can demonstrate how high-performance workload testing and validation ensures its solutions can handle the most demanding tasks to drive digital transformation,scaling performance pervasively by connecting data centers, networks and the intelligent edge.
We'll also show how the industry's top security concerns are being addressed in the ATC's dedicated Meltdown and Spectre remediation lab.
There's much more to share in the coming months as we take a deeper dive into the synergy of combining 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors and Intel Optane DC persistent memory. It's all about enabling our customers to make informed choices as we move into the new data-centric era.
Learn more about Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors from WWT experts. Schedule a Data-centric Workload Modernization Briefing to explore innovative data-intensive workload technologies, products and solutions.