Chicago (IL) – Intel said that it has begun shipping halogen-free versions of its Xeon server and workstation processors with Harpertown core. Additionally, the company increased the clock speeds of its quad-core flagship chip to 3.4 GHz and the dual-core version to 3.5 GHz – the highest clock-speed for any Core architecture CPU.

Intel has taken another step in giving its server processors a green touch by eliminating halogen from some of these chips. The 45 nm Xeon 5200 (dual-core) and 5400 (quad-core) series are the first Xeon processors to be halogen-free, the company announced today.

There are also three new 5400 and one new 5200 CPU. The performance lead is now represented by the new X5492, a 3.4 GHz processor with support for FSB1600 and a not-so-environmentally-friendly 150 watts and a hefty tray price of $1493.

The 3.33 GHz X5470 is slightly cheaper at $1386 and is rated at “only” 120 watts. But if speed isn’t the only priority and low power-consumption is even more important, Intel also offers a new 2.66 GHz low-power L5430 quad-core CPU, which does not consume more than 50 watt, according to the company. The L5430 sells for a tray price of $562.   

At least those who have followed Intel’s Core architecture since its release in Q3 2006, may find the news about a new dual-core Xeon processor more interesting. While the quad-core has reached 3.4 GHz, the new (FSB1333) X5270 is the first Core CPU to hit 3.5 GHz – and we don’t expect possibly remaining Core processors to be released with significantly higher clock speeds than that. Even more impressive, Intel contains these 3.5 GHz in an 80 watt thermal design power (TDP) rating.

Some readers may remember the Bunsen-burner 65 nm Presler dual-core processors (released in late 2005 as Pentium D 900-series and based on the firm's Netburst architecture) that was rated at 130 watts at 3.4 GHz. The progress in power-efficiency is impressive, but Intel isn’t shy charging for this achievement either: The X5270 sells for a tray price of $1172.  

Intel currently sells one more CPU with a clock speed of 3.5 GHz – the 65 nm Xeon MP7150N. However, this CPU is based on the Tulsa core, which dates back to Intel’s Netburst architecture. So it should not be too surprising that this processor is rated at a TDP of 150 watts.

Trays

Sep 08, 2008 07:34     

Who buys processors OEM trays with poor warranty and no fan? Don't most people buy them retail? [Yes. But we need to mention tray price you provide any indication of the price. OEM prices are usually not available for processors. -wolfgang]
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Wow

Sep 08, 2008 22:02     

2.66Ghz Quad-core Xeons at 50W is pretty awesome. That type of efficiency shows that quad-core laptop parts can't be far off, eh?
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TDPs

Sep 09, 2008 03:25     

Anyway Intel are highly conservative on their TDPs (look at the QX9650 for example).. However the slight TDP increase mostly attributed to the FSB1600, somehow the FSB part does consume and generate more at such operating frequencies (like the QX9770). OFFTOPIC.. at 2.6GHz only Phenoms are literally 140W space heaters. Just imagine how much a 3.5GHz Phenom will generate... which makes even the dreaded old ("bunsen-burner") Netburst Pentium D look better!

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