Intel's Tulsa Server Processor, and IBM Power 6
The International Solid State Circuits Conference takes places this week, and reveals Intel's plans for a dual-core Xeon server processor due in the "second half of the year".
The upcoming chip is called "Tulsa" and has an emphasis on performance. The dual-core chip is expected to come in at 3.4GHz with a 16MB unified cache. The performance is expected to boosted by up to 10% with this change. Also featured in the chip is Intel's virtualization technology allowing the chip to run multiple operating systems as well as energy conservation technology.
Apple announced at MacWorld San Francisco that they would be transitioning their entire line over to the Intel processor in 2006, suggesting that the Tulsa processor could find its way into future Xserves.
Meanwhile, IBM continues work on their Power6 processor also designed for servers. We had previously been interested in the Power6 as a basis for future PowerPC chips.
The upcoming chip is called "Tulsa" and has an emphasis on performance. The dual-core chip is expected to come in at 3.4GHz with a 16MB unified cache. The performance is expected to boosted by up to 10% with this change. Also featured in the chip is Intel's virtualization technology allowing the chip to run multiple operating systems as well as energy conservation technology.
Apple announced at MacWorld San Francisco that they would be transitioning their entire line over to the Intel processor in 2006, suggesting that the Tulsa processor could find its way into future Xserves.
Meanwhile, IBM continues work on their Power6 processor also designed for servers. We had previously been interested in the Power6 as a basis for future PowerPC chips.
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79 months ago
Tulsa sounds very nice but what does this mean for Xserve? Is Apple going to leave it untouched till late this year? I am still wondering why Apple has not upgraded the Xserve with Dual Core G5. Heat is an issue but two 970MPs at 2Ghz should run at a reasonable temp inside Xserve. Intel really does not have anything fitting that could replace the 970FX or a 970MP at the moment.
79 months ago
16MB cache.
:eek:
One day you'll laugh at the fact that you find this amazing ;)
79 months ago
16MB Cache...Dual Core @ 3.4Ghz.....nah that would be too many barries for Apple to brake :p
Mac Pro and Xserves ;)
Mac Pro and Xserves ;)
79 months ago
Isn't this still based on Netburst? And when are the Conroe-based processors coming?
79 months ago
These Xeon's (Tulsa) are aimed at the high-performance high-power usage
end of the market. At 150W power usage I can't see these in Apple's 1U XServe style enclosures.
I think the XServe will get the Sossaman LV Zeon (Lendenhurst platform).
The "PowerMac G5" replacement might get Depsey and/or Woodcrest (Dual-Code) DP Xeons.
Tulsa will only get into Apple's line-up if they try another "big" server (like the old Apple Network Servers), or at the very least a 3U rack-mounted server. It's extremely unlikely IMHO. I don't see Apple trying to compete with HP and Dell for the 3U-5U server market.
end of the market. At 150W power usage I can't see these in Apple's 1U XServe style enclosures.
I think the XServe will get the Sossaman LV Zeon (Lendenhurst platform).
The "PowerMac G5" replacement might get Depsey and/or Woodcrest (Dual-Code) DP Xeons.
Tulsa will only get into Apple's line-up if they try another "big" server (like the old Apple Network Servers), or at the very least a 3U rack-mounted server. It's extremely unlikely IMHO. I don't see Apple trying to compete with HP and Dell for the 3U-5U server market.
79 months ago
Isn't this still based on Netburst? And when are the Conroe-based processors coming?
Conroe will arrive by third quarter, I think?
IBM processors are now academic, Apple aren't going to use them.
79 months ago
Tulsa won't be used in a Mac.
It's one of the final designs from the Netburst era, it's a slightly more muscley P4. 150W TDP (and Intel's TDP is 75% max TDP, which AMD use, making the 95W AMD figure even better in comparison).
I'm wary of the AMD details in the article as well - AMD's dual core Opterons already have 1MB L2 per core, so why would they move back to 512KB? Maybe AMD are adding a unified L3 cache, or they are going to release a quad-core processor with reduced cache at 90nm for applications where cache isn't so useful (streaming data tasks, etc).
It's one of the final designs from the Netburst era, it's a slightly more muscley P4. 150W TDP (and Intel's TDP is 75% max TDP, which AMD use, making the 95W AMD figure even better in comparison).
I'm wary of the AMD details in the article as well - AMD's dual core Opterons already have 1MB L2 per core, so why would they move back to 512KB? Maybe AMD are adding a unified L3 cache, or they are going to release a quad-core processor with reduced cache at 90nm for applications where cache isn't so useful (streaming data tasks, etc).
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