Intel Carlow Workstation Platform and Xeon E3-1200 v2

In Q2 2012, Intel will be introducing the Carlow workstation platform, with the C210 (Panther Point) series chipset and the E3-1200 v2 processors. E3-1200 v2 processors will have an Ivy Bridge core, and all the benefits of that platform, including improved integrated graphics and lower power usage. Carlow will be the first workstation platform to be released using the features of Intel's much anticipated Ivy Bridge processor core.

Xeon E3-1200 v2 processors will use the LGA-1155 socket H2, and will be backward compatible with Cougar Point (the C200 series chipset). TDP will range from 95W for the high-end offerings, down to approximately 20W for the low power offerings. There will be 20 PCI-Express 2.0 lanes, and Turbo Boost 2.0. The integrated memory controller will support up to 4 dual-channel DDR3 modules with speeds up to 1600 MHz directly supported. Additionally, there will be improved integrated graphics, with DX11 support, and the AVX instructions have been enhanced.

Details of specific offerings in the range are not yet known, but we can expect models to be available with similar specs to E3-1200 chips but with a higher turbo boost speed and power saving benefits.