Launch schedule of Intel Xeon E5 microprocessors

Last week there were plenty of news stories regarding soon to be released AMD server microprocessors, built on "Bulldozer" micro-architecture. As you may know, Intel also planned to introduce new server processors, branded as Xeon E5, in the fourth quarter. In September, during Intel Developer Forum event in San Francisco, new information came to light implying that Xeon E5 launch is postponed until the first quarter 2012. Indeed, according to the latest Intel roadmaps, all Xeon E5 processors are going to be delayed by one quarter.

Two Xeon E5 families, previously scheduled for the 4th quarter 2011, are Xeon E5-1600 and E5-2600 for Romley-WS and Romley-EP platforms. Xeon E5-1600 series for one-way workstations works in socket R (socket 2011) motherboards, and consists of three models, E5-1620, E5-1650 and E5-1660. Xeon E5-2600, also compatible with socket R, is aimed at dual-processor workstations and servers, and contains 17 different dual-, quad-, six- and eight-core models with clock speeds up to 3.3 GHz. Both families will be released in Q1 2012. Despite the delay, there were no changes to E5-1600 and E5-2600 microprocessor line-ups.

Xeon E5-2400 and E5-4600 families were previously scheduled for the first quarter of 2012. Xeon E5-2400 CPUs from Romley-EN platform support single- and dual-processor configurations, and require socket B2 (socket 1356). Xeon E5-4600 CPUs for Romley EP 4S platform can be used in quad-processor servers, and they fit socket 2011. Both families were delayed, and they will be launched in Q2 2012.

In March or April 2012, Intel will introduce Carlow platform with Xeon E3-1200 v2 processors, based on Ivy Bridge micro-architecture. The E3-1200 v2 family will be coupled with C216 (Panther Point) chipset, and will utilize socket 1155. At this time we don't have any information on specific models from this family.