Haswell-EP | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 01 Oct 2015 02:02:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Haswell-EP | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Boxx unveils tiny mini-ITX workstation with 18-core Intel Xeon https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/boxx-technologies-unveils-tiny-mini-itx-workstation-with-18-core-intel-xeon/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/boxx-technologies-unveils-tiny-mini-itx-workstation-with-18-core-intel-xeon/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2015 22:03:20 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=270135 Boxx Technologies, a well-known maker of workstations from the U.S., has introduced its new Apexx 1 mini-ITX workstation that can integrate an Intel Xeon microprocessor with up to 18 cores or a factory-overclocked Intel Core i7 chip with up to eight cores. The system comes with a specially-designed cooling solution and can offer unbeatable performance …

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Boxx Technologies, a well-known maker of workstations from the U.S., has introduced its new Apexx 1 mini-ITX workstation that can integrate an Intel Xeon microprocessor with up to 18 cores or a factory-overclocked Intel Core i7 chip with up to eight cores. The system comes with a specially-designed cooling solution and can offer unbeatable performance for professionals, who need a lot of general-purpose horsepower. Still, the Apexx 1 has a number of compromises.

The Boxx Apexx 1 is based on the Asrock X99E-ITX/ac motherboard, which is equipped with a modified LGA2011-3 socket with additional pins (also known as the O.C. socket) that is designed to provide enhanced overclocking potential and which supports Intel’s latest Core i7 high-end desktop chips with up to eight cores as well as Intel Xeon E5 v3 central processing units with up to 18 cores and up to 45MB of cache. The Core i7-5960X “extreme” processor can be factory-overclocked by Boxx to 4.0GHz.

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The Apexx 1 system can be equipped with up to 64GB of ECC memory, one high-end solid-state drive in M.2 form-factor (with PCIe 3.0 x4 interface), two 2.5” HDDs or SSDs. Due to size constraints, the system is only compatible with small form-factor professional graphics cards from AMD and Nvidia. The fastest adapter that Boxx offers is Nvidia’s Quadro K1200 with 4GB of memory. All Apexx 1 configurations include USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and Wi-Fi 802.11ac wireless connectivity.

boxx_apexx_1

The Asrock X99E-ITX/ac mainboard only supports two DDR4 memory modules and thus cannot take advantage of quad-channel memory controllers of advanced CPUs. As a result, performance of multi-core microprocessors in applications that require memory bandwidth may be limited. Moreover, the workstation requires a special Boxx server-grade liquid-cooling system in order to cool-down chips with thermal design pwoer of 145W or higher, which may be rather noisy. Since at present the Asrock X99E-ITX/ac is the only mini-ITX platform for LGA2011-3 processors, the limitations is not something that can be avoided.

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Boxx claims that the Apexx 1 was designed for such applications as Autodesk 3ds Max, Autocad, Maya, Revit, Cinema4D, SolidWorks, Catia and others.

The unique Boxx Apexx 1 workstations start at $5180 when equipped with an eight-core chip, Nvidia Quadro K1200, and so on. Top-of-the-range configuration with 18-core Intel Xeon E5-2699 v3 with 45MB cache, 64GB of DDR4 memory, 512GB M.2 SSD, two 1.2TB Serial ATA-6Gb/s SSDs and so on will cost around $15600.

boxx_apexx_2

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The Boxx Apexx 1 is the most powerful mini-ITX workstation ever. However, how balanced it is? If one needs a system for rendering, then it makes sense to install 18-core CPUs and sacrifice GPU performance. However, those, who need small form-factor, great graphics performance and decent CPU for rendering, should consider Apple Mac Pro, which packs two AMD FirePro graphics processors as well as Intel Xeon microprocessors with up to 12 cores.

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Corsair’s 128GB DDR4 quad-channel kits for desktops start at $1755 https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/corsairs-128gb-ddr4-quad-channel-kits-for-high-end-desktops-start-at-1755/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/corsairs-128gb-ddr4-quad-channel-kits-for-high-end-desktops-start-at-1755/#respond Fri, 15 May 2015 01:43:14 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=249525 Corsair Memory on Thursday introduced three new 128GB quad-channel DDR4 memory kits aimed at ultra-high-performance desktops and workstations. The new memory solutions offer server-class capacities with rather high clock-rates, but their prices are beyond the reach of 99 per cent of PC enthusiasts. Corsair offers three 128GB quad-channel kits: two Dominator Platinum capable of operating …

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Corsair Memory on Thursday introduced three new 128GB quad-channel DDR4 memory kits aimed at ultra-high-performance desktops and workstations. The new memory solutions offer server-class capacities with rather high clock-rates, but their prices are beyond the reach of 99 per cent of PC enthusiasts.

Corsair offers three 128GB quad-channel kits: two Dominator Platinum capable of operating at 2400MHz with CL14 16-16-31 timings as well as at 2666MHz with CL15 17-17-35 latency settings, and Vengeance LPX rated to run at 2400MHz with CL16 16-16-31. All modules require 1.2V voltages and come with XMP 2.0 serial presence detect profiles that automatically set up maximum clock-speeds on compatible platforms.

corsair_vengeance_lpx_128GB_ddr4_dimm

The Dominator Platinum modules utilize custom printed circuit boards and sport sophisticated DHX heat-spreaders with user-swappable colored “light pipes” for customizable LED lighting. The Vengeance LPX modules feature eight-layer PCBs and standard aluminium heatspreaders.

DOM_DDR4_06

The 128GB quad-channel memory kits consist of eight 16GB modules based on Samsung’s 16Gb DDR4 DRAM devices. The modules are compatible with the Intel X99 platform and Core i7 “Haswell-E” or Xeon E5 v3 “Haswell-EP” processors.

Corsair officially positions its 128GB DDR4 memory kits for workstations used by content creators, who need “unprecedented amount of high-speed DDR4 SDRAM for memory-hungry applications.”

VENG_LPX_BLK_06

Corsair Dominator Platinum and Vengeance LPX DDR4 memory kits are available from Corsair.com and Corsair's distributors and resellers. All Corsair memory is backed with a limited lifetime warranty. The price of the Dominator Platinum 128GB DDR4-2666 is $2119, the Dominator Platinum 128GB DDR4-2400 is priced at $1754.99, whereas the Vengeance LPX 128GB DDR4-2400 costs $1979.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: A number of leading makers of enthusiast-class memory modules recently introduced their 128GB DDR4 quad-channel kits designed for high-end desktops. Looks like they expect that such memory module sets will actually be popular…

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Intel: First full-custom Xeon CPUs are due next year https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-first-full-custom-xeon-cpus-are-due-next-year/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-first-full-custom-xeon-cpus-are-due-next-year/#respond Fri, 06 Feb 2015 12:27:12 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=234454 The needs of modern cloud datacenters require developers of microprocessors to implement certain custom functionality into their products. As reported, Intel Corp. has incorporated multiple special-purpose technologies into its latest Xeon platform and offers optimized versions of CPUs to select customers. However, the company still does not offer chips that are designed for particular clients …

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The needs of modern cloud datacenters require developers of microprocessors to implement certain custom functionality into their products. As reported, Intel Corp. has incorporated multiple special-purpose technologies into its latest Xeon platform and offers optimized versions of CPUs to select customers. However, the company still does not offer chips that are designed for particular clients from the ground up. This is something Intel will do next year.

“We are well into the semi-custom product, we will be into the custom product space over the next year or so,” said Stacy Smith, chief financial officer of Intel, in an interview with Barron’s.

intel_xeon_e7_v2

Intel has a special roadmap for its custom products. Intel can customize its server platforms or processors themselves to support custom controllers, FPGAs or even memory solutions. Intel can also optimize performance and power consumption of chips for certain workloads and deployments. At present Intel has 35 custom Xeon processors that belong to the Grantley platform. Intel can also include intellectual property of its customers into its standard microprocessors. For example, four of such features are already present in the latest-generation Xeon “Haswell-EP” central processing units and two more features are in development for upcoming chips.

Intel understands that the only trump the competing architectures or designers of server processors will have against it when they manage to hit performance targets of modern datacentres will be customization and ability to maximally tailor their offerings for particular clients. Intel knows that its indisputable trump is high-performance x86 architecture; therefore, it needs to ensure that software is tailored for its instruction set, not for ARM or Power. Thus, Intel wants to take the potential advantage of customization away from its hypothetic rivals by working very closely with large customers like Amazon Web Services, Google, Facebook or Microsoft. As a result, they will keep using Intel’s x86 processors and will not deploy chips powered by competing architectures.

“We are building in the capabilities to start to do custom products of the big players, which they love, and which lets us partner more deeply to help them solve the problems that they need to solve over the next couple of years,” said Mr. Smith.

intel_xeon_standard_to_custom

At present Intel is working with ten customers on full custom central processing units, which will be developed from scratch keeping in mind particular requirements. Such CPUs are going to contain IP from clients, custom I/O configuration and special configuration of execution engines.

“With the cloud guys, work directly with the big cloud players, such that we can take some of their secret sauce that they want, and integrate it into the hardware level,” explained the CFO of Intel. “Anything that you can move from software to hardware, you can improve the performance and decrease the cost, sometimes by an order of magnitude. So you can make a huge improvement in cost and performance.”

It will be very interesting to see how Intel adjusts its research and development process in order to maintain costs and product cycles while offering highly-custom processors for its server clients.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The ironic thing that Intel faces today is that the very reason why it became the dominant player on the server market (and why it could actually become a big player on the server market!) was the offering of industry-standard products with industry-standard infrastructure. Intel-based servers are still easy to build, easy to maintain and easy to fix. A major reason why Intel success’s formula no longer works at huge cloud datacentres is that nowadays the cost of power required to run a datacentre by far exceeds any additional expenses caused by custom hardware.

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G.Skill introduces 3.40GHz DDR4 memory modules https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/g-skill-introduces-3-40ghz-ddr4-memory-modules/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/g-skill-introduces-3-40ghz-ddr4-memory-modules/#respond Sat, 17 Jan 2015 23:59:35 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=231147 G.Skill, a leading maker of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) modules for enthusiasts, has unveiled its first 3.40GHz DDR4 memory chips. While the company is not the first to announce 3.40GHz DDR4 solutions, it will be the first to actually ship appropriate DDR4 memory modules in volume. G.Skill’s Ripjaws 4 new DDR4 memory modules are …

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G.Skill, a leading maker of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) modules for enthusiasts, has unveiled its first 3.40GHz DDR4 memory chips. While the company is not the first to announce 3.40GHz DDR4 solutions, it will be the first to actually ship appropriate DDR4 memory modules in volume.

G.Skill’s Ripjaws 4 new DDR4 memory modules are rated to run at 3400MHz with CL16 16-16-36 latency settings and 1.35V voltage. The memory sticks will be available in quad-channel 16GB (4GB*4) memory kits for Intel Core i7 “Haswell-E” high-end desktop platforms (HEDT). The new high-performance memory kits come with awesome Turbulence III memory fans.

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Separately, G.Skill introduced a DDR4 3200MHz memory kit with CL15 timings, which should become popular among those, who believe that latency settings play a good role in memory sub-system's performance nowadays.

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According to G.Skill, the new Ripjaws 4 DDR4 3400MHz 16GB (4GBx4) memory kit is made from hand-picked DRAM devices during  a “highly-selective binning process.” The modules have been tested for compatibility on the Asus Rampage V Extreme and Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion motherboards, the manufacturer said.

G.Skill did not reveal the price of the new modules and memory kits, but given their exclusive specifications, do not expect them to be affordable.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While premium modules that can operate at 3.40GHz will certainly attract attention of enthusiasts of extreme performance, the vast majority of end-users will hardly even notice the announcement of G.Skill. Still, a several quarters from now, when Intel Corp. introduces its unlocked Skylake-K processors for “mainstream” overclockers, 3400MHz DDR4 memory modules will certainly get rather popular.

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Micron: DDR4 will remain more expensive than DDR3 this year https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/micron-ddr4-will-remain-more-expensive-than-ddr3-in-the-coming-quarters/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/micron-ddr4-will-remain-more-expensive-than-ddr3-in-the-coming-quarters/#respond Tue, 13 Jan 2015 02:46:31 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=230184 Later this year Intel Corp. plans to introduce its new code-named “Skylake” microprocessors that will target mass market segments and will support DDR4 memory. As a result, the latter will gain market share. Nonetheless, DDR4 will remain more expensive than DDR3 in the coming quarters, according to Micron Technology. At present DDR4 memory is utilized …

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Later this year Intel Corp. plans to introduce its new code-named “Skylake” microprocessors that will target mass market segments and will support DDR4 memory. As a result, the latter will gain market share. Nonetheless, DDR4 will remain more expensive than DDR3 in the coming quarters, according to Micron Technology.

At present DDR4 memory is utilized by servers powered by the latest Intel Xeon “Haswell-EP” microprocessors as well as high-end desktop PCs featuring Intel Core i7-5800/5900-series “Haswell-E” central processing units. While shipments of Xeon chips are on the rise, the overall share of DDR4 on the market remains low. The situation will change when Intel rolls-out its new “Skylake” chips that will support both DDR3 and DDR4 types of memory.

“DDR4 ASPs remain at a significant premium to DDR3 given the enhanced performance,” said Mark Adams, the president of Micron, during a conference call with investors and financial analysts. “As the market for DDR4 begins to take shape over the next 12 months and beyond the rate of growth should positively impact our average ASP.”

kingmax_ddr4_dram_memory_modules

Unfortunately, Micron has made no predictions regarding adoption of DDR4 by the market; it is unknown how many desktop and laptop PCs will use the new type of memory.

Thanks to increasing sales of servers based on the latest Intel Xeon chips, shipments of DDR4 by Micron in the Q4 2014 increased four times quarter-over-quarter.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While it is clear that DDR4 will continue to be more expensive than DDR3, what remains to be seen is the significance of the price premium. If the new memory costs around 10 per cent more than DDR3, this will hardly slowdown its adoption by the market, but if the price difference is 25 per cent and higher, this will clearly lower popularity of DDR4 rather significantly.

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Intel: Half of Xeon chips for cloud datacenters will be custom in 2015 https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-half-of-xeon-processors-for-cloud-datacenters-will-be-custom-in-2015/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-half-of-xeon-processors-for-cloud-datacenters-will-be-custom-in-2015/#respond Tue, 23 Dec 2014 12:45:09 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=227910 It is a well-known fact that owners of large datacenters, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Corp. and other, have very diverse requirements for servers and microprocessors inside their servers. In the recent years both Intel Corp. and AMD offered custom central processing units to large clients in order to meet their requirements. Moreover, next …

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It is a well-known fact that owners of large datacenters, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Corp. and other, have very diverse requirements for servers and microprocessors inside their servers. In the recent years both Intel Corp. and AMD offered custom central processing units to large clients in order to meet their requirements. Moreover, next year over half of chips Intel sells to big cloud service providers will be custom.

“We have never said no to a custom solution,” said Diane Bryant, the head of Intel’s data center business, reports NYTimes. “We get orders from the tens of thousands to the hundreds of thousands of special chips.”

intel_xeon_e7_v2

Companies like Amazon, Google and Facebook need processors with reduced power consumption and sometimes special input/output capabilities to run hyper-scale datacenters efficiently. To provide competent solutions to such clients, Intel can customize its server platforms or processors themselves to support custom controllers, FPGAs or even memory solutions. At present Intel has 35 custom Xeon processors that belong to the Grantley platform. Such central processing units offer certain performance enhancements to match specific workloads.

“Companies like AWS are running a million servers, so floor space, power, cooling, people – you want to optimize everything,” said Ms. Bryant. “The name of the game is customization.”

However, such level of customization is only the beginning.

intel_xeon_standard_to_custom

Eventually Intel plans to include intellectual property of its customers into its standard microprocessors. For example, four of such features are already present in the latest-generation Xeon “Haswell-EP” processors and two more features are in development for upcoming chips.

The world’s largest chipmaker is also working on fully custom microprocessors that are designed and customized for particular clients. Such chips in many ways resemble AMD’s semi-custom microprocessors that contain IP from clients, custom I/O configuration and are specially configured for particular workloads. According to Intel, it has more than ten customers who would like to have fully custom CPUs that feature high-performance or low-power x86 cores.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While we have no idea how custom Intel’s “full custom CPUs” are because in the majority of cases they have to fit into industry-standard sockets and support industry-standard memory (Micron’s hybrid memory cube is also a type of industry-standard memory, though). Nonetheless, if such chips incorporate a substantial amount of third-party IP and have special capabilities, they definitely fit into semi-custom category. As a result, it is evident that AMD’s semi-custom business approach perfectly works at Intel as well.

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Samsung begins to produce 8Gb DDR4 memory, 32GB DDR4 modules https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/samsung-begins-to-produce-8gb-ddr4-memory-32gb-ddr4-modules/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/samsung-begins-to-produce-8gb-ddr4-memory-32gb-ddr4-modules/#respond Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:02:36 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=217642 Samsung Electronics has begun to produce 8Gb DDR4 memory chips. The new memory devices will power 32GB DDR4 modules and open the doors to 128GB DDR4 memory modules for high-end enterprise-class servers. The 8Gb DDR4 ICs are produced using 20nm fabrication process. Samsung’s 8Gb DDR4 memory chip can operate at up to 2400MHz effective clock-rate …

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Samsung Electronics has begun to produce 8Gb DDR4 memory chips. The new memory devices will power 32GB DDR4 modules and open the doors to 128GB DDR4 memory modules for high-end enterprise-class servers. The 8Gb DDR4 ICs are produced using 20nm fabrication process.

Samsung’s 8Gb DDR4 memory chip can operate at up to 2400MHz effective clock-rate with 1.2V voltage, thus providing unprecedented performance at the lowest possible voltage today. The new 8Gb DDR4 memory IC complements Samsung’s 4Gb DDR4 memory devices that have been in mass production for some time now.

Based on the new 8Gb DDR4 chip, Samsung began producing the 32GB registered dual in-line memory module (RDIMM) earlier this month. The module operates at 2400MHz, a 29 per cent improvement over premium server-class DDR3 modules that operate at 1866MHz.

samsung_ddr4_32gb

The new 8Gb memory devices will allow production of server modules with a maximum capacity of 128GB by applying 3D through silicon via (TSV) technology, which will enable a new class of high-end servers with unprecedented amount of memory.

“Our new 20nm 8Gb DDR4 DRAM more than meets the high performance, high density and energy efficiency needs that are driving the proliferation of next-generation enterprise servers,” said Jeeho Baek, vice president of memory marketing at Samsung Electronics. “By expanding the production of our 20nm DRAM line-ups, we will provide premium, high-density DRAM products, while handling increasing demand from customers in the global premium enterprise market.”

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Samsung is the first DRAM maker to start producing high-density DDR4 memory chips using leading-edge 20nm process technology. It is unclear when its rivals be able to offer similar memory chips.

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Intel: We have roughly 35 custom Xeon models in the lineup https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-we-have-roughly-35-custom-xeon-models-in-the-lineup/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-we-have-roughly-35-custom-xeon-models-in-the-lineup/#respond Wed, 15 Oct 2014 19:26:45 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=216736 Intel Corp. is gradually increasing the number of custom microprocessors designed for specific customers in its lineup. The move helps the company to maintain its market share and address clients that have special requirements and which otherwise would have chosen proprietary solutions from other companies. “The data center team is customizing our Xeon products for …

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Intel Corp. is gradually increasing the number of custom microprocessors designed for specific customers in its lineup. The move helps the company to maintain its market share and address clients that have special requirements and which otherwise would have chosen proprietary solutions from other companies.

“The data center team is customizing our Xeon products for specific customers and workloads,” said said Brian Krzanich, chief executive officer of Intel, during the company’s quarterly conference call with investors and financial analysts. “Custom SKUs now number roughly 35 and over the last year volume from custom SKUs has grown at three times the rate of our off-the-shelf product.

Intel sells its custom Xeon microprocessors with special capabilities to companies like Amazon, Google and Facebook, which have unusual requirements in many cases. To run hyper-scale datacenters efficiently such companies need processors with reduced power consumption and sometimes special input/output capabilities. At present the aforementioned companies design and build their own servers. Some analysts believe that eventually they could also create their own server-class system-on-chips based on ARM architecture.

intel_xeon_e7_v2

Earlier this year Intel said that it could develop custom Xeon chips with third-party intellectual property. For example, Intel could install FPGA [field-programmable gate array] chips into Xeon packages to provide certain functionality. Unfortunately, it is unclear how many of such models the chip giant has designed so far.

Advanced Micro Devices, Intel’s arch-rival on the market of central processing units, also designs semi-custom chips for various consumer electronics and other types of devices. So far the company has not announced semi-custom Opteron products, but it is known that it does certain levels of customization for select customers.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: 35 custom models is a very respectable number, which demonstrates that custom processors are getting increasingly popular among customers of Intel.

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Kingmax reveals 3.20GHz DDR4 modules, projects rapid adoption in 2015 https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/kingmax-reveals-3-20ghz-ddr4-modules-projects-rapid-ddr4-adoption-in-2015/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/kingmax-reveals-3-20ghz-ddr4-modules-projects-rapid-ddr4-adoption-in-2015/#respond Thu, 02 Oct 2014 22:18:11 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=214916 Kingmax, a well-known supplier of premium memory modules, on Thursday introduced its first DDR4 memory solutions with up to 3.20GHz effective clock-rate and also said that the adoption of DDR4 will rise in 2015. The family of Kingmax's DDR4 memory modules includes (or will eventually include) 288-pin DDR4 unbuffered DIMMs, registered DIMMs, ECC unbuffered DIMMs, …

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Kingmax, a well-known supplier of premium memory modules, on Thursday introduced its first DDR4 memory solutions with up to 3.20GHz effective clock-rate and also said that the adoption of DDR4 will rise in 2015.

The family of Kingmax's DDR4 memory modules includes (or will eventually include) 288-pin DDR4 unbuffered DIMMs, registered DIMMs, ECC unbuffered DIMMs, VLP registered DIMMs as well as 260-pin DDR4 unbuffered SO-DIMMs. The lineup of Kingmax’s DDR4 memory modules include 4GB, 8GB and even 16GB versions. The DDR4 memory solutions from Kingmax are rated to work at 1866MHz, 2133MHz, 2400MHz as well as 3200MHz.

kingmax_ddr4_dram_memory_modules_specs

At present DDR4 memory modules are used only by systems running Core i7-5800/5900-series “Haswell-E” high-end desktop microprocessors as well as Intel Xeon E5 v3 “Haswell-EP” server processors. Neither of the chips are expected to have truly high market share given their price, positioning and some other factors. Nonetheless, Kingmax expects the popularity of DDR4 to increase “spectacularly” in 2015.

“With the launch of Intel's Haswell-E processor platform, which supports DDR4, it is believed that computer products with DDR4 will gradually appear in the market, triggering a rapid increase in a spectacular rise in usage of DDR4 in 2015,” a statement by Kingmax published by TechPowerUp reads.

kingmax_ddr4_dram_memory_modules

In order to make DDR4 popular, Intel needs to release mainstream central processing units that support it. The first mainstream product line to support DDR4 will be the code-named Skylake processors for desktops and notebooks due in 2015. Officially, Intel claims that the Skylake products are only due in late 2015, which means that the amount of DDR4-supporting CPUs will be pretty low in 2015. However, there are unofficial reports claiming that the Skylake chips will arrive already in mid-2015. If the unofficial claims are accurate, then Kingmax has reasons to believe that adoption of the DDR4 technology will get significant next year. Unfortunately, it is expected that at least some Intel 100-series (Skylake-based) platforms will support DDR3 memory as well, which lowers chances of DDR4.

Intel did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: If Kingmax is right and the Skylake-based platforms will be adopted widely in 2015 (in order to make this happen, Intel will need to launch them at Computex in mid-2015), it means that the Broadwell processors will live a very short life.

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Intel unveils new-generation Xeon E5 v3 chips with up to 18 cores https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-unveils-new-generation-xeon-e5-v3-processors-with-up-to-18-cores/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-unveils-new-generation-xeon-e5-v3-processors-with-up-to-18-cores/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2014 17:22:39 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=210935 Intel Corp. on Monday rolled-out its new Xeon E5 2600/1600 v3 server processors based on the code-named “Haswell” micro-architecture. The latest server central processing units feature up to 18 cores per chip and quad-channel DDR4 memory controllers, whereas the new C612 platform code-named “Grantley” features a number of innovations that will be available on the market of …

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Intel Corp. on Monday rolled-out its new Xeon E5 2600/1600 v3 server processors based on the code-named “Haswell” micro-architecture. The latest server central processing units feature up to 18 cores per chip and quad-channel DDR4 memory controllers, whereas the new C612 platform code-named “Grantley” features a number of innovations that will be available on the market of 2-way servers for the first time.

Intel’s new server platform is not only powered by all-new processors that deliver up to three times higher performance than predecessors (in select cases), but a number of extended ingredients designed to improve security (with the help of QuickAssist server adapter, which provides hardware-based crypto acceleration and compression), speed up network speeds ( thanks to Intel Ethernet XL710 40GbE adapter with network virtualization), reduce power consumption while boosting performance (thanks to DDR4 memory and Intel P3700-series solid-state drives) and improve other server metrics, such as resilience and optimized total cost of ownership. The new processors and platforms will be used in servers, workstations, storage and networking infrastructure to power a broad set of workloads such as data analytics, high-performance computing, telecommunications and cloud-based services, as well as back-end processing for the Internet of Things.

intel_xeon_e5_v3_haswell_overview

“The digital services economy imposes new requirements on the data center, requirements for automated, dynamic and scalable service delivery,” said Diane Bryant, senior vice president and general manager of the Data Center Group at Intel. “Our new Intel processors deliver unmatched performance, energy efficiency and security, as well as provide visibility into the hardware resources required to enable software defined infrastructure. By enabling the re-architecture of the data center, Intel is helping companies fully exploit the benefits of cloud-based services.”

intel_xeon_e5_v3_haswell_overview_1

Intel’s new Xeon E5 2600/1600 v3 processors feature 4-18 cores (with or without the Hyper-Threading technology), up to 45MB of L3 cache and 55W – 160W thermal design power. The new chips feature Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (Intel AVX2) extensions that double the width of vector integer instructions to 256 bits per clock cycle for integer sensitive workloads and delivers up to 1.9 times higher performance gains. The new chips also feature Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions (Intel AES-NI) technology that accelerates data encryption and decryption by up to times without sacrificing application response times.

The Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 v3 product family will be offered with 26 different parts that range in price from $213 to $2702 in quantities of 1000. Intel Xeon processor E5-1600 v3 workstations will be offered with six different parts in prices ranging from $295 to $1723.

Intel’s partners are ready to start shipments of 65 servers based on the new Xeon E5 v3 processors, in the coming months over 77 new systems will become available. In general, there are 250 machines powered by the latest Xeon E5 v3 chips in development.

intel_xeon_e5_v3_haswell_specs

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KitGuru Says: The new Xeon processors bring more innovations than a lot of previous-generation server chips combined. Intel did not only increase core count, but also added new instructions as well as platform-related innovations. As a result, it is not surprising that so many partners of the company develop so many server designs based on the new chips. 

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Samsung begins to produce 64GB DDR4 modules based on TSV chips https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/samsung-begins-to-produce-64gb-ddr4-memory-modules-based-on-tsv-chips/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/anton-shilov/samsung-begins-to-produce-64gb-ddr4-memory-modules-based-on-tsv-chips/#respond Wed, 27 Aug 2014 22:42:23 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=209202 Samsung Electronics on Tuesday said that has started to produce 64GB DDR4 memory modules that are powered by DDR4 memory chips that feature three dimensional (3D) “through silicon via” (TSV) package technology. The DRAM [dynamic random access memory] modules are designed for enterprise servers. Samsung’s 64GB registered dual inline memory modules (RDIMMs) feature 36 DDR4 …

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Samsung Electronics on Tuesday said that has started to produce 64GB DDR4 memory modules that are powered by DDR4 memory chips that feature three dimensional (3D) “through silicon via” (TSV) package technology. The DRAM [dynamic random access memory] modules are designed for enterprise servers.

Samsung’s 64GB registered dual inline memory modules (RDIMMs) feature 36 DDR4 memory chips, each of which consists of four 4Gb DDR4 DRAM devices made using 20nm-class process technology. The DDR4 dies are pierced to contain hundreds of holes and then are vertically connected through electrodes that are passed through the holes. Samsung’s 64GB memory modules operate at 2133MHz.

samsung_64gb_tsv_ddr4_dram_module_scheme

Samsung claims that the new 64GB TSV DDR4 modules perform twice as fast as a 64GB module that uses wire bonding packaging, while consuming about 50 per cent the power.

Since DDR4 memory controllers support limited amount of RDIMMs per channel, memory makers need to create high-density memory modules in order to enable servers with extreme amounts of memory. In order to quickly grow densities of memory chips and modules, makers of DRAM chips will have to use the TSV technology going forward. In the future, Samsung believes that it will be able to stack more than four DDR4 dies using its 3D TSV technology, to create even higher density DRAM chips and modules.

“Samsung is reinforcing its competitive edge in the DRAM market with its new state-of-the-art solution using its 3D TSV technology, while driving growth in the global DRAM market,” said Jeeho Baek, vice president, memory marketing, Samsung Electronics. “By introducing highly energy-efficient DDR4 modules assembled with 3D TSV, we’re taking a big step ahead of the mainstream DDR4 market, which should dramatically expand with the expected introduction of next-generation CPUs in the second half of this year.”

samsung_64gb_tsv_ddr4_dram_module

The new 64GB DDR4 memory chips from Samsung will be available inside servers based on the new-generation Intel Xeon E5 “Haswell-EP” processors that support DDR4 memory in the coming months.

Earlier this year SK Hynix demonstrated a 128GB DDR4 memory module based on 4-layer 8Gb DRAMs connected using TSV. Such modules are expected to emerge in 2015.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Looks like with DDR4 and TSV technology the 64GB memory modules will become reality for mainstream servers. The question is how much will it cost and will the TSV technology in its current form be viable for the consumer market?

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Intel could add customer-specific instructions to its Xeon chips https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-could-add-customer-specific-instructions-to-its-xeon-microprocessors/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-could-add-customer-specific-instructions-to-its-xeon-microprocessors/#respond Fri, 20 Jun 2014 22:58:30 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=199403 For several years now Intel Corp. has configured some of its Xeon processors in accordance with demands of its large customers, such as Amazon or Facebook. Earlier this year Intel agreed to install FPGAs [field programmable gate arrays] into the package of its Xeon central processing units in order to provide tailored functionality required by …

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For several years now Intel Corp. has configured some of its Xeon processors in accordance with demands of its large customers, such as Amazon or Facebook. Earlier this year Intel agreed to install FPGAs [field programmable gate arrays] into the package of its Xeon central processing units in order to provide tailored functionality required by the Internet giants. But Intel claims that it will not stop here. In the future it could inject the demanded functionality directly into its chips.

Large Internet companies nowadays build specially designed datacentres, which run custom servers, custom cooling systems and custom software. Their next step in customization is going to be fully-custom chips. Both Intel and AMD have offered specially configured versions of their Xeon and Opteron processors to companies like Amazon, Ebay, Google or Facebook. Some believe that eventually those companies will simply design their own system-on-chips based on the ARM or Power processing technologies, but at present they just use off-the-shelf components with certain levels of customization.

Intel clearly does not want to lose large customers, which is why recently it started to work with its clients to create multi-chip-modules (MCMs) with the Xeon processors and FPGAs. Such MCMs can potentially provide two benefits: the Internet giants will be able to get tailor-made functionality not available in silicon at present, the companies may re-program FPGAs to support various algorithms. Since the FPGAs are integrated into the chip package, they can take advantage of low latency and to access the Xeon's on-chip cache as well as its main memory.

“For the right application, we believe FPGAs can provide an order-of-magnitude improvement in performance over standard Xeon chips alone,” said Diane Bryant, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's data centre division, reports Computerworld.

intel_xeon_e5_2600_v2_chip

Moreover, if algorithms implemented using FPGAs actually deliver tangible benefits, then Intel will “burn the instructions onto the Xeon itself and manufacture the part without the FPGA”, according to Ms. Bryant. Essentially, Intel has agreed to add IP [intellectual property] from various third-parties into its chips, which will bring the computing hardware a step closer to the unique software used by companies like Google or Facebook.

“This is a great way for the silicon to keep up with the pace of software innovation,” said Ms. Bryant.

Intel intends to initiate manufacturing of the Xeon-FPGA MCMs soon, the vice president said. The new chips will be socket-compatible with the standard Xeons, meaning customers can use them in standard servers.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Integration of third-party IP into Xeon processors is probably among the best weapons that Intel has to offer against ARM and its partners when it comes to SoCs for servers. Apart from relatively low power consumption, two main advantages that the ARM-based server chips have to offer are high level of integration as well as readiness to throw-in customer-specific IP. With its custom Xeon processors, Intel effectively takes one of ARM's advantages away.

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