Yesterday, Intel introduced its latest Xeon data center processors, known as Emerald Rapids. These processors include the new Xeon Platinum 8592+ flagship SKU, which features 64 cores and 128 threads. Intel promises improved performance and reduced power consumption with this new silicon. The tech benchmarking website Phoronix has confirmed Intel's claims through testing. The new 8592+ processors showed significant performance gains compared to previous Intel models and older generations commonly found in data centers. Upgrading to the 8592+ increased single-socket server performance by an average of 23.5% compared to the previous generation Sapphire Rapid, Xeon Platinum 8490H configurations. Dual-socket configurations saw a 17% performance boost.
However, Intel is not the only player in the data center market. AMD offers a 64-core competitor to the Xeon Platinum 8592+, called AMD EPYC 9554. The Emerald Rapids chip is approximately 2.3% faster than its AMD counterpart. However, AMD's lineup extends beyond 64 cores. AMD's Genoa and Genoa-X processors, featuring 3D V-cache, can reach up to 96 cores, while Bergamo processors can go up to 128 cores. In terms of power consumption, the Xeon Platinum 8592+ consumes around 289 Watts on average, compared to the Xeon Platinum 8490H's average of 306 Watts. At peak performance, the Xeon Platinum 8592+ CPU reaches 434 Watts, while the Xeon Platinum 8490H reaches 469 Watts. These numbers align with Intel's claims of improved efficiency. However, when compared to AMD's 64-core EPYC 9554, the average power consumption is 227 Watts, with a recorded peak of 369 Watts.
