Kissinger introduces Intel's next-generation multicore server-specific architecture

Intel recently spoke about its upcoming next generation of microprocessors and technologies. The Intel 45 nanometer high-K metal gate process technology is driving the industry's market segments to the Multi-Core processor era. Patte Kissing, senior vice president of Intel Corporation and general manager of Digital Enterprise Division, today introduced its future products and technologies in four, six, eight, and more computing cores.





Kissinger talked about the details of the Dunnington (MP) server with the Intel six Core processor (R) and the new Itanium® processor (R-code "Tukwila"). Kissinger also explores the current hot topics of enterprise IT applications, such as virtualization and the new Specpower benchmark test. The benchmark is dedicated to evaluating the performance of the server's energy consumption, while the top 20 servers in the evaluation are Intel-based architectures. He also describes a range of technical features of Intel's next-generation processor family Nehalem and future multicore product Larrabee.





Dunnington: Six-core Xeon MP processor for multiple-channel systems





Intel's existing Xeon 7300 series server platform (development code "Caneland") is primarily for multiple-path (MP) server virtualization applications. The platform is built from the All-new quad-core Intel Xeon 7300 series processor and the Intel 7300 chipset.

The Dunnington platform, which will be launched in the second half of 2008, is fully compatible with the Caneland platform slots. Dunnington is the first IA architecture based six core processor, based on 45 nm high-K process technology, and has a large shared cache. In addition, the processor supports Flexmigration technology that allows a single compatible virtual pool to be in the 65 nm and 45 nm high-K Intel Core microarchitecture server as well as real-time migration of virtual machines (VMS) between servers based on different generations of 45 nm processors. This will not only provide investment protection for customers, but also support users to choose the most suitable server platform flexibly, optimize performance, cost, power and reliability.

Tukwila: Intel Next Generation quad-core itanium® processor

Tukwila is Intel's next-generation quad-core itanium® processor with a total cache size of 30MB, a quickpath high speed interconnect, dual integrated memory controller, and mainframe-level RAS features. It is the world's first microprocessor with 2 billion transistors, and we expect its performance to be more than twice times that of existing Itanium processors.

Nehalem: Intel's new dynamic extensible processor microarchitecture

Nehalem can significantly enhance Intel's current industry-leading microprocessor performance and energy performance. With future releases, the Nehalem architecture will be applied to processors that include dual-core, quad-core, six-core, and eight cores, and can achieve 4 to 16 threading capabilities with the help of "concurrent multithreading" (simultaneous multi-threading) technology.

Nehalem will provide up to four times times the memory bandwidth of the Intel Xeon processor based on the best current performance. With up to 8MB of three cache, 731 million transistors, QuickPath high speed interconnect (up to 25.6 GB seconds), integrated memory controller, and optional integrated graphics, the Nehalem architecture will eventually be applied to all processors from laptops to high-performance servers.

The architecture also supports ddr3-800, 1066 and 1333 memory, SSE4.2 instruction set, KB instruction cache, KB data cache, per-kernel 256 K Two-level low latency data and instruction cache, and a new two-level TLB (translation lookaside BUFFER) structure and many other characteristics. These technical improvements can significantly improve the performance and flexibility of the various processors based on the Nehalem architecture.

In addition, Kissinger discusses a new Tylersburg platform that can be configured to support the operation of a single high-end desktop (Hedt) and dual (HPC and dual-path server) system.

Visual computing: Graphic redefinition

Visual computing is rewriting the visual experience of computer users and immersive high-definition experiences. Next-generation technologies will provide a natural, realistic gaming experience, graphic effects, and high-definition video and audio, which puts higher demands on the performance and architecture of the computer. For example, the overall lighting techniques such as ray tracing can be used to provide accurate shading and lighting effects, thus giving the computer a higher performance requirement than a traditional video card.

The application of behavioral fidelity (such as the real-life action in the game or the physical manifestation of human action in medical imaging) also drives the need for more general computing.

In the end, people will enjoy a completely different interaction experience. For example, a new game controller that understands human action will make the user the protagonist of a favorite game, and in the Medical imaging field, the patient's sensors will transmit information in real time to help physicians perform interactive computing-assisted medical operations. To provide visual computing, we need a sophisticated platform that includes multi-core CPUs, chipsets and graphics cards, and software and related developer tools. To this end, Intel continues to increase its investment in the development of related technologies, products and platforms and to speed up the development process to meet the need for visual computing to move forward.