Intel is set to deliver a line of chips which are
designed to address a growing concern of cooling and power
requirements within data centres.
This week the chipmaker is scheduled to ship a low powered
processor designed for server blades, storage devices and
telecommunications equipment.
'Dempsey' is scheduled to ship by the end of the month and is
the first processor for a new Xeon–based platform, codenamed
Bensley.
The company said processors in the Bensley family will offer
power consumption below 100 watts.
In the third quarter of 2006, Intel will update the Bensley
platform with the Woodcrest processor, which the company said would
reduce power consumption by a further 35%.
The strategy is based on Intel Core micro architecture, a new
chip design and fabrication process which will be used in the
company’s line of multi–core server, desktop and mobile processors
for computers later this year.
The company said this technology will deliver both
higher–performing, and more energy–efficient processors to reduce
electricity and associated costs, as well as enhanced security,
virtualisation and manageability.
Justin Rattner, Intel chief technology officer, said, “Later
this year [Core] will fuel new dual–core processors and quad–core
processors in 2007 that we expect to deliver industry-leading
performance and capabilities per watt. People will see systems that
can be faster, smaller and quieter, with longer battery life and
lower electric bills.”
Gartner analyst Ian Brown said, “Intel has been at a
disadvantage in terms of energy efficiency compared to AMD, as its
chipsets are generally more complex and run hotter.”
He said the Core micro architecture will offer users
substantially cooler, more energy efficient chips compared to
Intel’s current processor family.