Intel’s Core Microarchitecture Redefines Computing

Intel Sets New Records in Performance and Energy Efficiency

SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 23, 2006 – Intel today disclosed record breaking¹ results on 20 key dual-processor (DP) server and workstation benchmarks. The first processor due to launch based on the new Intel® Core™ microarchitecture — the Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 5100 series, previously codenamed “Woodcrest” — delivers up to 125 percent performance² improvement over previous generation dual-core Intel Xeon processors and up to 60 percent performance³ improvement over competing x86-based architectures⁴, whilst also delivering performance per watt leadership.⁵

“The performance and system-level power consumption we’re seeing from our platforms built around the new Core microarchitecture has exceeded even our expectations,” said Kirk Skaugen, vice president and general manager of Intel’s Server Platforms Group. “At the same time, customers demand more than just energy-efficient performance. We’ve developed a superior platform that delivers the latest server technologies including faster and more reliable memory, Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT), Intel® Active Server Manager and Intel® I/O Acceleration Technology. (Intel® I/OAT)”

Fully-buffered dual in-line memory (FB-DIMM) technology allows for better memory capacity, throughput and overall reliability. This is critical for creating balanced platforms using multiple cores and the latest technologies, such as virtualization, to meet the expanding demand for compute headroom.

Shipping in Intel® Xeon® MP processors since last year, Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT) provides silicon-level software support that improves dependability and interoperability and is enabling faster industry innovation. Intel® Active Server Manager integrates hardware, software and firmware to manage today’s complex datacenters and enterprise environments. Intel® I/O Acceleration Technology (Intel® I/OAT) improves application response time, server I/O performance and reliability.

Intel’s new server and workstation platforms, codenamed “Bensley” and “Glidewell” respectively, are architected for today’s dual-core processors. They will also support dual- and quad-core processors built using Intel’s 65-nanometer (nm) and future process technologies.

The first processors for Bensley and Glidewell are in the Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 5000 series, previously codenamed “Dempsey.” Shipping since March at a new low price point, they bring innovation, higher performance and lower power consumption to the value server and workstation segment.

Complementing the 5000 series, Intel will ship the next processor for Bensley and Glidewell in June – the Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor 5100 series. Based on the Intel Core Microarchitecture, the majority of these processors will only consume a maximum of 65 watts.

Using the SPECint™_rate_base2000* benchmark, which measures integer throughput, a Dell PowerEdge 2950* server based on the Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor 5100 series scored 123.0, setting a new world record⁶.

Using the SPECjbb™2005* benchmark, the Fujitsu-Siemens PRIMERGY RX200 S3* server based on the Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 5100 series broke the previous record with a score of 96,404 business operations per second⁷.

An HP Proliant ML 370 G5* server based on the Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor 5100, and using the TPC™-C* benchmark, which measures database performance, smashed another world record by scoring 169,360 tpmC at $2.93/tpmC⁸.

IBM* is also in the record books with the IBM System x3650* server based on the Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor 5100 series, which scored 9,182 in the SPECWeb™2005* benchmark, which measures web server performance⁹.

Other leading benchmarks on Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor 5100 series-based servers include Lotus Domino* (R6iNotes™), Microsoft Exchange Server 2003* (MMB3™), SPECfp™_rate_base2000* and SAP-SD™ 2-Tier*.

These benchmarks, along with additional records set by the Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 5000 and Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor 5100, can be accessed by visiting www.intelstartyourengines.com.

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Disclaimers:

Performance tests and ratings are measured using specific computer systems and/or components and reflect the approximate performance of Intel® products as measured by those tests. Any difference in system hardware or software design or configuration may affect actual performance. Buyers should consult other sources of information to evaluate the performance of systems or components they are considering purchasing. For more information on performance tests and on the performance of Intel products, reference www.intel.com/performance/resources/benchmark_limitations.htm  or call (U.S.) 1-800-628-8686 or 1-916-356-3104.

64-bit Intel® XeonTM processors with Intel® EM64T requires a computer system with a processor, chipset, BIOS, OS, device drivers and applications enabled for Intel EM64T.  Processor will not operate (including 32-bit operation) without an Intel EM64T-enabled BIOS.   Performance will vary depending on your hardware and software configurations.  Intel EM64T-enabled OS, BIOS, device drivers and applications may not be available.  Check with your vendor for more information

¹ Based on x86 based architecture dual processor server systems.

² Performance Claim: Based on SPECjbb2005* published results:

Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 2.80 GHz based platform details: Fujitsu Siemens Computers PRIMERGY RX300 S2 server platform: Two Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processors 2.80 GHz with 2x2MB L2 cache 800 MHz system bus, 4 GB DDR2, Microsoft Windows Server* 2003. Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 1.5.0_06-b05). Referenced as published at 41986 bops and 41986 bops/jvm For more information see www.spec.org/jbb2005/results/res2005q4/jbb2005-20051206-00040.html

Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5160 based platform details: Fujitsu Siemens PRIMERGY RX200 S3 Server platform with two Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5160, 3.00 GHz with 4M L2 Cache, 1333 MHz system bus, 8GB (8x1GB) FB-DIMM memory, Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition. BEA JRockit(R) 5.0 P26.4.0. Result submitted to www.spec.org for review at 96404 bops and 96404 bops/jvm as of May 23, 2006. Claim based on x86 based architecture dual processor server systems and information published on www.spec.org as of May 22, 2006.

³ Performance Claim: Based on SPECint_rate_base2000 published results

Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5160 based platform details: Dell PowerEdge 2950 Server platform with two Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5160, 3.00 GHz with 4M L2 Cache, 1333 MHz system bus, 8GB (8x1GB) FB-DIMM memory, Microsoft Windows Server* 2003. SPEC binaries built with Intel C/C++ Compiler 9.1. Result submitted to www.spec.org for review at 123 as of May 22, 2006.

Dual-Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 285 based platform details: HP Proliant DL145 G2 Server platform with two Dual-Core AMD Opteron™ processor Model 285, 2.60GHz with 1MB L2 Cache, 16GB (8x2GB) PC3200 memory. Microsoft Windows Server 2003 OS, SPEC binaries built with Intel C/C++ Compiler 8.0. Referenced as published at 76.4. For more information see www.spec.org/cpu2000/results/res2006q1/cpu2000-20060306-05697.html. Claim based on x86 based architecture dual processor server systems and information published on www.spec.org as of May 22, 2006.

⁴ Based on best published results. See www.intelstartyourengines.com. Claim based on x86 based architecture dual processor server systems.

⁵ Performance Per Watt: Based on Results published on SPECint_rate_base2000 with Power measurements by Principled Technologies at www.principledtechnologies.com/clients/reports/Intel/WSPECint_rate_0506.pdf as of May 23, 2006

Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5160 based platform details: Intel preproduction Server platform with two Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5160, 3.00 GHz with 4M L2 Cache, dual 1333 MHz system bus, 8GB (8x1GB) 667MHz FB-DIMM memory; Microsoft Windows Server x32 Enterprise Edition. SPEC binaries build with Intel compiler 9.0.

Dual-Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 285 based platform details: Server platform with two Dual-Core AMD Opteron™ processor Model 285, 2.60GHz, 8GB PC3200 memory. Microsoft Windows Server x32 Enterprise Edition. SPEC binaries build with Intel compiler 9.0. Claim based on x86 based architecture dual processor server systems.

⁶ SPECint_rate_base2000 platform details: Dell PowerEdge 2950 Server platform with two Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5160, 3.00 GHz with 4M L2 Cache, 1333 MHz system bus, 8GB (8x1GB) FB-DIMM memory, Microsoft Windows Server* 2003. SPEC binaries built with Intel C/C++ Compiler 9.1. Result submitted to www.spec.org for review at 123 as of May 22, 2006. Claim based on x86 based architecture dual processor server systems and information published on www.spec.org as of May 22, 2006.

⁷ SPECjbb2005 platform details: Fujitsu Siemens PRIMERGY RX200 S3 Server platform with two Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5160, 3.00 GHz with 4M L2 Cache, 1333 MHz system bus, 8GB (8x1GB) FB-DIMM memory, Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition. BEA JRockit(R) 5.0 P26.4.0. Result submitted to www.spec.org for review at 96404 bops and 96404 bops/jvm as of May 23, 2006. Claim based on x86 based architecture dual processor server systems and information published on www.spec.org as of May 22, 2006.

⁸ TPC-C platform details: HP Proliant ML370 G5 Server platform with two Intel® Xeon® processor 5160, 3.00 GHz with 4M L2 Cache, 1333 MHz system bus, 64 GB FBDimm memory, Microsoft Windows Server* 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition, Database Software Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise x64 Edition. Referenced as published at 169,360 tpmC; $2.93/tpmC; Availability Date as listed in the submitted report is Nov 22, 2006. Results at www.tpc.org. Claim based on x86 based architecture dual processor server systems.

⁹ SPECWeb2005 platform details: IBM System x3650 Server platform with two Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5160, 3.00 GHz with 4M L2 Cache, 1333 MHz system bus, 24GB (12x2GB) FB-DIMM memory, 64-bit Red Hat® Enterprise Linux 4 AS Update 3 operating system, 64-bit Accoria Rock Web Server 1.3.3 HTTPS software, and Apache Tomcat 5.5.9. Result submitted to www.spec.org for review at 9182 as of May 22, 2006. Claim based on x86 based architecture dual processor server systems and information published on www.spec.org as of May 22, 2006.