Intel makes power play

New chip expected to deliver big improvements

Intel is to push more power efficiency, enhanced systems management and multi-core performance to firms this year.

A new Xeon chip codenamed Woodcrest is expected to deliver three times the performance per watt of previous chips. Due in the second half of 2006, Woodcrest is a dual-core product for two-way servers.

Coming in the first half of this year is Sossaman, a power-optimised server processor based on Intel’s laptop chips. It will ship in 35W and 15W versions.

“For the first time we’re leveraging our mobile expertise and adding server features to Yonah [Core Duo chip], such as error correcting code [ECC],” commented Kirk Skaugen, vice-president of Intel’s digital enterprise group.

Dual-core processors are already having an impact on the server sector. For example, Stratus will today announce new two-way, dual-core Intel-based servers that effectively replace four-way single-core servers.

All the new server chips feature Demand Based Switching (DBS) power management capabilities based on Intel’s SpeedStep laptop technology. Using DBS could save $100,000 (£57,000) per year for a datacentre with 500 servers, according to Intel.

Intel will also add its Active Management Technology (AMT) to Xeon servers this year. AMT is already in Intel desktops and allows systems to be managed even if powered down or unable to boot. In servers it should let IT staff manage every networked system from one console. Tivoli and Altiris support AMT in their management suites.