Why trust Greenbot
Intel launched new Xeon 6 processors on Monday, packing more power and slashing prices to fight back against AMD. The 6700P and 6500P chips target data centers, artificial intelligence (AI) systems, and servers where computing demands run highest.
The “P” designates Performance cores. These specialized cores deliver higher clock speeds and better threading capabilities than energy-efficient alternatives.
The announcement comes just five months after Intel’s 6900P launch. Built on Intel 3 process technology, they represent the company’s urgent bid to reclaim market territory lost to competitors.
“They needed something more in the high end to go after workloads increasingly driven by AI capabilities,” said Jack Gold, an analyst at J. Gold Associates. “The P cores do that.”
Source: Phoronix
New chips offer up to 86 cores, significantly more than typical desktop computers that max out around 24 cores. They run between 150 and 350 watts, delivering more computing power for the same energy footprint as older models.
Price points now directly challenge AMD. Previous generations cost approximately the same as an AMD processor plus an Nvidia AI chip combined. Now, prices range from $765 for the entry-level 8-core chip to $19,000 for the top 86-core model.
“Intel has begun to set its prices more sharply to defend market share,” said Alexander Harrowell, analyst at Omdia. He noted AMD recently raised prices while Intel moved in the opposite direction.
Performance improvements target businesses running heavy workloads. The new chips deliver 40% better performance than previous Intel processors and 50% better AI processing than comparable AMD’s 5th-generation EPYC while using one-third fewer cores.
“The Xeon 6 family delivers the industry’s best CPU for AI while simultaneously driving efficiency and bringing down the total cost of ownership,” said Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Intel’s interim co-CEO.
Intel remains the only company offering servers that can use four or eight processors together, an advantage for very large database systems like SAP HANA. The company also introduced specialized chips for telecommunications networks with built-in features for 5G systems.
Claiming widespread adoption, with over 500 designs available or in progress. Intel partners include AT&T, Verizon, Dell, Samsung, Ericsson, HPE, and Lenovo. The chips work with the newest memory technology (DDR5) and offer extensive connectivity through PCIe 5.0 connections.
This processor launch represents Intel’s strongest move yet to recover its position in the server market while pushing forward its strategy for AI and high-performance computing, all at more competitive prices than before.
