Details of Xeon E3-1200 v2 CPUs

In the first half 2012 Intel is going to introduce several new families for server market. On the high end, the next generation of Itanium CPUs with Poulson core should be available in the second quarter. Mid-class 2- and 4-way servers are targeted by Xeon E5-2400, E5-2600 and E5-4600 families, that will be launched in the first and second quarters. In the Q1, the company will introduce Xeon E5-1600 CPUs for single-processor servers and workstations, followed by Xeon E3-1200 v2 family in the Q2. We already published details of E5-1600, E5-2400 and E5-2600 families, while model numbers and detailed specifications of Poulson Itanium and Xeon E5-4600 families are not yet known. We recently learned about model numbers and specifications of upcoming Xeon E3-1200 v2 family.

Xeon E3-1200 v2 family will include 11 microprocessors, which will closely resemble models from existing E3-1200 series. To distinguish second generation Xeons, built on 22nm Ivy Bridge microarchitecture, from current Sandy Bridge products, new E3 chips will have 'v2' suffix added to the processor number. Only one model out of 11, E3-1220L v2, will have two CPU cores with 3 MB L3 cache. Remaining 10 processors will come with 4 cores and 8 MB of level 3 cache.

Xeon E3-1220 v2 is the only dual-core model from the series. This chip is clocked at 2.3 GHz, which can be boosted up to 3.5 GHz. The CPU features Hyper-Threading technology, and fits into 17 Watt thermal envelope.

Entry-level Intel E3-1220 v2 and E3-1225 v2 are quad-core microprocessors with disabled Hyper-Threading technology. The CPUs operate at 3.1 and 3.2 GHz respectively, and can raise frequency by another 400 MHz with the help of Turbo Boost technology. Intel E3-1225 v2 integrates on-chip graphics, and consequentially has higher 77 Watt TDP than E3-1220 v2 69 Watt model.

All other Xeon E3-1200 v2 processors have 4 CPU cores, and they are capable of executing 8 threads simultaneously. Xeon E3-1265L v2 has 45 Watt TDP, and it runs at 2.5 GHz. Standard-power E3-1230 v2, E3-1240 v2/E3-1245 v2, E3-1270 v2/E3-1275 v2 and E3-1280 v2 have 77 Watt or 69 Watt maximum average consumption, depending on whether they integrate HD graphics or not. These chips have clock speeds ranging from 3.3 GHz to 3.6 GHz, and Turbo speeds ranging from 3.7 GHz to 4 GHz. Xeons with E3-12x5 v2 processor numbers incorporate Intel HD graphics, whereas E3-12x0 v2 parts don't have it.

E3-1290 v2 is the fastest chip from the series. Clocked at 3.7 GHz, it may operate as high as 4.1 GHz when Turbo Boost is active. This CPU requires better cooling solution than other Xeon E3s due to higher 87 Watt TDP.

The summary of details on upcoming Xeon E3-1200 v2 CPUs is provided below:

Model	Cores	Threads	Frequency	Turbo Frequency	L3 cache	Graphics	TDP
Xeon E3-1220 v2	4	4	3.1 GHz	3.5 GHz	8 MB	None	69 Watt
Xeon E3-1220L v2	2	4	2.3 GHz	3.5 GHz	3 MB	None	17 Watt
Xeon E3-1225 v2	4	4	3.2 GHz	3.6 GHz	8 MB	+	77 Watt
Xeon E3-1230 v2	4	8	3.3 GHz	3.7 GHz	8 MB	None	69 Watt
Xeon E3-1240 v2	4	8	3.4 GHz	3.8 GHz	8 MB	None	69 Watt
Xeon E3-1245 v2	4	8	3.4 GHz	3.8 GHz	8 MB	+	77 Watt
Xeon E3-1265L v2	4	8	2.5 GHz	3.5 GHz	8 MB	+	45 Watt
Xeon E3-1270 v2	4	8	3.5 GHz	3.9 GHz	8 MB	None	69 Watt
Xeon E3-1275 v2	4	8	3.5 GHz	3.9 GHz	8 MB	+	77 Watt
Xeon E3-1280 v2	4	8	3.6 GHz	4 GHz	8 MB	None	69 Watt
Xeon E3-1290 v2	4	8	3.7 GHz	4.1 GHz	8 MB	None	87 Watt

As already been mentioned, many new Xeons have processor numbers and specifications, that are similar to currently available E3-1200 products. In most cases, Ivy Bridge v2 processors will boast 100 MHz higher clock and Turbo Boost speeds, and lower Thermal Design Power, than Sandy Bridge counterparts with similar processor numbers. To show what kind of improvements you can expect by switching to the next generation of Xeon E3, we compiled the differences between Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge E3-1200 processors in the table below:

E3-1200 model	E3-1200 v2 model	Improvements
E3-1220	E3-1220 v2	+100 MHz TBT / Lower TDP
E3-1220L	E3-1220L v2	+100 MHz base & TBT
E3-1225	E3-1225 v2	+100 MHz base / +200 MHz TBT / Larger L3 / Lower TDP / Better graphics
E3-1230	E3-1230 v2	+100 MHz base & TBT / Lower TDP
E3-1240	E3-1240 v2	+100 MHz base & TBT / Lower TDP
E3-1245	E3-1245 v2	+100 MHz base & TBT / Lower TDP / Better graphics
E3-1260L	E3-1265L v2	+100 MHz base / +200 MHz TBT / On-chip graphics
E3-1270	E3-1270 v2	+100 MHz base & TBT / Lower TDP
E3-1275	E3-1275 v2	+100 MHz base & TBT / Lower TDP / Better graphics
E3-1280	E3-1280 v2	+100 MHz base & TBT / Lower TDP
E3-1290	E3-1290 v2	+100 MHz base & TBT / Lower TDP