Sierra Forest is the codename for sixth generation Xeon Scalable server processors designed by Intel, launched in June 2024. It is the first generation of Xeon processors to exclusively feature density-optimized E-cores. Sierra Forest processors are targeted towards cloud server customers with up to 288 Crestmont E-cores.
| Launched | June 4, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Intel |
| Manufactured by | |
| Fabrication process | |
| Codename(s) |
|
| Platform(s) |
|
Branding | |
| Brand name(s) | Xeon |
| Generation | Xeon 6 |
| Socket(s) | |
Instructions & Architecture | |
| Instructions set | x86 |
| Instructions | x86-64 |
| Extensions | |
| E-core architecture | Crestmont |
Cores | |
| Peak core clock | Up to 3.2 GHz |
| E-core L1 cache | 96 KB (per core):
|
| E-core L2 cache | 4 MB (per cluster) |
| E-core L3 cache | 3 MB (per cluster) |
Memory Support | |
| Type | DDR5 |
| Memory channels | 8 channels / 12 channels with Sierra Forest-AP[1] |
| Maximum capacity | Up to 1 TB |
I/O | |
| PCIe support | PCIe 5.0 |
| PCIe lanes | 88 PCIe 5.0 lanes |
| CXL support | CXL 2.0 |
| DMI version | DMI 4.0 |
History | |
| Variant | Granite Rapids (P-core) |
| Successor | Clearwater Forest |
Background
editOn February 17, 2022, Intel announced that upcoming Xeon generations would be split into two tracks for those with P-cores exclusively and E-cores exclusively.[2] These two tracks are intended to serve different market segments with P-core Xeon processors targeting high-performance computing while E-core Xeon processors target cloud customers who prioritize greater core density, energy efficiency and performance in heavily multi-threaded workloads over strong single-threaded usage.[3]
On March 29, 2023, Intel announced that Sierra Forest processors had powered on and displayed a processor running 144 E-cores, and announced a release timeline for H1 2024.[4] On September 19, 2023, Intel announced at their Innovation event that a 288-core variant of Sierra Forest would be coming.[5]
On June 3, 2024, Intel released the Sierra Forest-SP line of SKUs, also known as the Xeon 6700E series. This product line included seven SKUs at launch, all using the LGA 4710 socket. The low-end SKU has 64 cores, and the high-end SKU has 144 cores.[6]
Branding
editDuring Intel's Vision event in April 2024, new branding for Xeon processors was unveiled.[7] The Xeon Scalable branding that was introduced in 2017 would be retired in favor of a simplified "Xeon 6" brand for sixth generation Xeon processors.[8] This change brings greater emphasis on processor generation numbers.[9] The badge for the Xeon brand was changed to be more visually in line with the badge design used for Intel's Core Ultra processors since 2023.
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Architecture
editSierra Forest will use only E-cores to achieve higher core counts in order to compete with AMD's Epyc server processors codenamed Bergamo which features up to 128 smaller Zen 4c cores.[10] AMD's Zen 4c cores feature simultaneous multithreading (SMT) while the Crestmont E-cores featured in Sierra Forest processors can only support one thread for each core. The purpose of the Sierra Forest architecture design is to achieve ultra-high core counts for greater compute density that would benefit cloud and HPC server applications.[11] Cloud service providers may not be as interested in HPC accelerators and instead prioritize greater ECU/vCPU integer and floating-point performance.[12] Don Soltis is the principal engineer and chief architect for Xeon E-Core.[13]
Products
editSierra Forest-SP
editSierra Forest-SP (Scalable Performance) uses the Beechnut City platform with the smaller LGA 4710 socket, targeted towards mainstream server. Sierra Forest-SP features up to 144 E-cores and eight-channel DDR5 memory support. TDPs up to 350W are supported on Beechnut City platform.
| SKU | Cores (threads) |
Tiles | Core config[a] |
Clock rate (GHz) | Cache | Socket | Socket Count |
PCIe lanes |
Memory support |
TDP | Release date | Price (USD)[b] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | Turbo | L1 | L2 | L3 | |||||||||||
| 6710E | 64 (64) | 1 × Compute 2 × I/O |
1 × 64 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 6 MB | 64 MB | 96 MB | LGA 4710 | 2S | 88 PCIe 5.0 |
DDR5-5600 eight-channel |
205 W | Jun 4, 2024 | $4,121 |
| 6731E | 96 (96) | 1 × 96 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 9 MB | 96 MB | 1S | 250 W | $4,121 | ||||||
| 6740E | 2.4 | 3.2 | 9 MB | 96 MB | 2S | DDR5-6400 eight-channel |
250 W | $5,265 | |||||||
| 6746E | 112 (112) | 1 × 112 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 10.5 MB | 112 MB | DDR5-5600 eight-channel |
250 W | $5,929 | ||||||
| 6756E | 128 (128) | 1 × 128 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 12 MB | 128 MB | DDR5-6400 eight-channel |
225 W | $8,428 | ||||||
| 6766E | 144 (144) | 1 × 144 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 13.5 MB | 144 MB | 108 MB | 250 W | $10,257 | ||||||
| 6780E | 1 × 144 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 330 W | $11,350 | ||||||||||
Sierra Forest-AP
editSierra Forest-AP uses the Avenue City platform with the larger LGA 7529 socket for higher core count SKUs up to 288. It supports a higher number PCIe lanes and 12-channel DDR5 memory.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Kennedy, Patrick (June 4, 2024). "Intel Xeon 6 6700E Sierra Forest Shatters Xeon Expectations". ServeTheHome. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Intel Reveals Bold Multiyear Xeon Roadmap to Accelerate Data Center Leadership and Growth". Intel Newsroom (Press release). San Francisco, CA. February 17, 2022.
- ^ Cutress, Ian (February 17, 2022). "Intel Discloses Multi-Generation Xeon Scalable Roadmap: New E-Core Only Xeons in 2024". AnandTech.
- ^ Kennedy, Patrick (March 29, 2023). "Intel DCAI 2023 Update New Technology and Updated Xeon Roadmap". ServeTheHome. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ Kennedy, Patrick (September 19, 2023). "Intel Announces 288 E-Core Sierra Forest Variant at Innovation 2023". ServeTheHome. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ Paul Alcorn (June 4, 2024). "Intel Launches 144-core 'Sierra Forrest' Xeon 6 CPUs, Granite Rapids Follows in Q3". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Alcorn, Paul (April 9, 2024). "Intel unveils new Xeon 6 branding for Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest processors — efficiency core models launch this quarter; performance-core models come soon after". Tom's Hardware.
- ^ Chiapetta, Marco (April 9, 2024). "Intel Unveils Powerful, Efficient Gaudi 3 AI Accelerator And New Xeon 6 Processors At Vision 2024". Forbes.
- ^ Bonshor, Gavin (April 9, 2024). "Intel Unveils New Branding For 6th Generation Xeon Processors: Intel Xeon 6". AnandTech.
- ^ Larabel, Michael (October 14, 2022). "Intel Sends Out Meteor Lake & Sierra Forest Patches For The GCC Compiler". Phoronix. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ Mujtaba, Hassan (January 21, 2023). "Intel Xeon CPU Rumors: Sierra Forest In 2024 Aiming For 334+ Cores, Granite Rapids-SP Up To 132, Granite Rapids-WS Up To 86 Cores". Wccftech. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ Kennedy, Patrick (February 17, 2022). "Intel Sierra Forest the E-Core Xeon Intel Needs". ServeTheHome. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Tackling Throughput Computing with Sierra Forest". Intel Corporation.
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