Revision as of 12:00, 16 April 2025

Xeon
Past and current logos
Developer	Intel
Manufacturer	Intel
Type	Microprocessors
Introduction	June 29, 1998 (announced) 1998 (launch)
Production	1998
ISA	x86-64
µarch	P6, NetBurst, Core, Penryn, Nehalem, Westmere, Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, Haswell, Broadwell, Skylake
Word size	32 bit 4 octets 8 nibbles , 64 bit 8 octets 16 nibbles
Process	350 nm 0.35 μm 3.5e-4 mm , 250 nm 0.25 μm 2.5e-4 mm , 180 nm 0.18 μm 1.8e-4 mm , 65 nm 0.065 μm 6.5e-5 mm , 45 nm 0.045 μm 4.5e-5 mm , 32 nm 0.032 μm 3.2e-5 mm , 22 nm 0.022 μm 2.2e-5 mm , 14 nm 0.014 μm 1.4e-5 mm
Technology	CMOS
Clock	400 MHz-4000 MHz
Succession
←
Pentium Pro

Xeon (pronounced "Zee-On") is an extended family of high-performance x86 microprocessors developed by Intel for server environments and non-consumer workstations. Over the years Xeon has grown to focus on high-bandwidth, large-memory, and highly concurrent workloads. Xeon processors typically incorporate a large number of cores, large cache, and support for large amount of memory. Xeon offers models for both uniprocessor or multiprocessors.

Families

Xeon Processors

Xeon Timeline

Xeon Processors Family

Overview

Some shortcomings that make Xeon processors unsuitable for most consumer-grade desktop PCs include lower clock rates at the same price point (since servers run more tasks in parallel than desktops, core counts are more important than clock rates), and, usually, the lack of an integrated GPU. Processor models prior to Sapphire Rapids-WS lack support for overclocking (with the exception of Xeon W-3175X (Skylake-X)).

Despite such disadvantages, Xeon processors have always had popularity among some desktop users (video editors and other power users), mainly due to higher core count potential, and higher performance to price ratio vs. Core i7 in terms of total computing power of all cores. Since most Intel Xeon CPUs lack an integrated GPU, systems built with those processors require a discrete graphics card or a separate GPU if computer monitor output is desired.

Intel Xeon is a distinct product line from the similarly named Intel Xeon Phi. The first-generation Xeon Phi is a completely different type of device more comparable to a graphics card; it is designed for a PCI Express slot and is meant to be used as a multi-core coprocessor, like the Nvidia Tesla. In the second generation, Xeon Phi evolved into a main processor more similar to the Xeon. It conforms to the same socket as a Xeon processor and is x86-compatible; however, as compared to Xeon, the design point of the Xeon Phi emphasizes more cores with higher memory bandwidth.

See also

• Opteron
• EPYC