Intel Sierra Forest & Granite Rapids-D Xeon CPUs To Accelerate 5G Networking & Edge Computing, 2.7x Faster With 288 Cores

At MWC 2024, Intel is providing an update to its networking & edge computing platform which will see the release of Sierra Forest 288 Core CPUs this year and Granite Rapids-D Xeon CPUs for Edge in 2025.

Intel recently revealed that its Sierra Forest CPUs based on the Sierra Glen E-Core architecture (an optimized variant of the Crestmont E-Cores used in Meteor Lake) will feature core counts ranging from 144 to 288. At MWC, Intel is providing another update for Sierra Forest, this time talking about its networking performance compared to previous-generation processor offerings.

According to Intel, Sierra Forest Xeon CPUs with up to 288 cores are coming later this year and will offer a substantial 2.7x performance per rack improvement against the solutions from 2021. This is a chip that's been tuned for 5G core workloads and will drive higher performance for networking & cloud-native applications, a segment that's already been covered by AMD's EPYC Bergamo chip.

Unveiled at Intel Innovation this past fall, the Xeon processor roadmap is expanding to include E-core processors. E-cores will provide network operators with processors optimized for energy and TCO savings. Xeon next-gen processors, code-named Sierra Forest, launching later this year will offer up to 288 cores and help operators recognize a 2.7x performance per rack improvement – an industry leading performance per rack for 5G Core workloads.

The new processors will allow network operators to increase performance per rack, virtual CPUs (vCPUs) and performance per watt without significant changes to application software. Intel is collaborating closely with operators and 5G core software suppliers to deploy the new processors and Infrastructure Power Manager software.

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The second major announcement from Intel is the introduction of the Granite Rapids-D Xeon CPUs which are going to launch in 2025 following the launch of the standard Granite Rapids chips in 2024 and will target the Edge computing segment. Intel says that the chips will offer substantial gen-over-gen, efficiency improvements and optimizations surrounding VRAN Boost. Intel states that they are already sampling the next-gen Xeon-D partners, ensuring that the platform is market-ready by the time of its launch.

Further extending its vRAN leadership, while driving down vRAN costs and power consumption and delivering it at a global scale, Intel announced its future Xeon processor Granite Rapids-D, featuring the latest generation of P-cores. This future processor will deliver significant gains in performance and power efficiency utilizing improved Intel AVX for vRAN and integrated vRAN Boost acceleration alongside other architectural and feature enhancements. Silicon is currently sampling.

Samsung has demonstrated a first-call at their research and development lab in Suwon, South Korea. Ericsson has also demonstrated a first-call validation in the Ericsson-Intel joint lab in Santa Clara, California. These accomplishments underscore the ease of gen-over-gen software portability and ecosystem readiness when the product launches. Intel is also working with Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Lenovo, Mavenir, Red Hat, Wind River and other leading ecosystem partners to ensure market readiness. Granite Rapids-D is planned to launch in 2025, following the launch of Granite Rapids server CPUs in 2024.

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Lastly, Intel has a new solution for Networking & Edge computing known as Infrastructure Power Manager which is based around 5G and allows customers to take advantage of Intel's built-in telemetry to reduce CPU power usage without compromising the performance of the Intel Xeon CPU stack. Both technologies will be available for preview at MWC and we can expect more news from the blue team later this year as we get closer to launch.