Intel has announced its plans to release a new data center chip in the coming year that promises to handle over twice the amount of computing workload per watt of power used. This move is in line with a broader industry trend aimed at reducing electricity consumption in data centers, which are essential for powering internet services.
Presenting at a semiconductor technology conference held at Stanford University in Silicon Valley, Intel introduced its forthcoming “Sierra Forest” chip, revealing that it is expected to deliver a remarkable 240% improvement in performance per watt compared to the current generation of data center chips. This disclosure marks the first time Intel has shared such performance figures.
The substantial energy consumption of data centers that drive online services and the internet has prompted technology companies to face mounting pressure to curb their energy usage. As a response, chip manufacturers have turned their attention to optimizing computing efficiency per chip.
The pioneering startup Ampere Computing, established by former Intel executives, was the first to introduce a chip designed specifically for efficient cloud computing. Following suit, Intel and its rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) have unveiled similar products, with AMD’s offering hitting the market in June.
In light of its recent competition losses to AMD and Ampere in the data center sector, Intel has reaffirmed its commitment to introduce the “Sierra Forest” chip next year. Interestingly, the company has chosen to categorize its data center chips into two distinct segments for the first time. One is the “Granite Rapids” chip, emphasizing high performance at the cost of greater power consumption, while the other is the more energy-efficient “Sierra Forest” chip.
Ronak Singhal, a senior fellow at Intel, highlighted the significance of the new chip’s benefits for customers. He explained that businesses can consolidate older software onto a smaller number of computers within a data center, thereby optimizing efficiency. Singhal noted, “I may have things that are four or five, six years old. I can get power savings by moving something that’s currently on five, 10 or 15 different servers into a single” new chip. He emphasized that this enhanced density contributes to lowering the overall total cost of ownership for these businesses, as fewer systems are required due to increased efficiency.