Intel 'Emerald Rapids' 5th-Gen Xeon Platinum 8592+ Detailed Review
Intel's fifth-generation Xeon Platinum 8592+ processor, dubbed 'Emerald Rapids', presents a substantial improvement in the company's data center offerings. This new flagship competes head-on with AMD's EPYC Genoa processors, especially in AI workloads, thanks to its enhanced SoC architecture, tripled L3 cache, and faster DDR5-5600 memory.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros:
- Additional Cores: Adds eight more cores to mainstream models.
- Increased Cache: Tripled L3 cache in high-end models.
- AI Workload Efficiency: Notable performance in AI and various threaded workloads.
- Advanced Support: Includes AMX, AVX-512, VNNI, BFloat 16, and CXL Type 3 memory devices.
Cons:
- Core Count: Falls behind AMD's peak of 64 cores for general-purpose processors.
- Limited L3 Cache: Sub-32-core models retain the same L3 cache amount as previous generations.
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Competitive Positioning Against AMD
Intel's Emerald Rapids 5th-Gen Xeon Platinum 8592+ is priced at $11,600, featuring 64 cores and positioning itself against AMD's EPYC Genoa line. While trailing in core count compared to AMD's 96-core EPYC 9654, Emerald Rapids leverages its enhanced features and cache improvements to offer competitive performance, particularly in AI and mixed workload scenarios.
Performance and Architecture Enhancements
Emerald Rapids marks a notable departure from previous generations with significant performance gains:
- Core and Thread Increase: Up to 128 cores and 256 threads per dual-socket server.
- Cache and Memory Upgrades: Tripled L3 cache and DDR5-5600 memory support.
- Efficiency Improvements: 42% gain in AI inference, 21% in general compute, and 36% in performance-per-watt.
- Die Architecture Redesign: Transition from a quad-chiplet to a simpler two-die design, maintaining backward compatibility with the Sapphire Rapids 'Eagle Stream' platform.
Core and Memory Specifications
The new lineup boasts a range of models catering to diverse needs, with core/thread counts, base/boost frequencies, and cache sizes varying across the range. The flagship 8592+ model features a significant cache increase and improved memory speeds, contributing to its enhanced performance.
Competition and Market Position
While AMD's EPYC Genoa currently leads in core density, Intel's Emerald Rapids competes effectively in the mainstream market, focusing on a blend of performance and power efficiency. The inclusion of specialized accelerators also bolsters its position, particularly for AI-centric tasks.
Future Prospects and Emerging Battlefields
With AMD planning to release its Zen 5-powered Turin processors in 2024, and Intel preparing its Granite Rapids processors for the same timeframe, the competition in the data center sector is intensifying. Additionally, Intel's upcoming Sierra Forest lineup with up to 288 cores will respond to AMD's density-optimized Bergamo.
Pricing Strategy and Acceleration Technologies
Intel's diverse product stack, although trimmed down from the previous generation, still offers a wide range of options. The inclusion of built-in accelerators for specific tasks adds another dimension to its offerings, although it complicates direct pricing comparisons with AMD's more straightforward product lineup.
Conclusion: A Strong Contender in the Data Center
Intel's Emerald Rapids Xeon Platinum 8592+ emerges as a formidable option in the data center processor market. Its enhanced core count, larger caches, and improved memory speeds, coupled with strong AI performance and a suite of accelerators, position it as a significant player against AMD's offerings. Despite some limitations in core count and cache for lower-tier models, Emerald Rapids represents a substantial step forward for Intel in maintaining competitiveness in the rapidly evolving data center landscape.
