Intel Introduces Groundbreaking Clearwater Forest Xeon CPU!

Intel has officially lifted the curtain on its revolutionary Clearwater Forest "E-Core" Xeon CPUs, boasting a staggering 288 cores, designed on the cutting-edge 18A process node.

What Sets Clearwater Forest Apart?

Following the segmentation of the Xeon 6 lineup into P-Core and E-Core variants, Intel presents the Clearwater Forest series — a powerhouse optimized for energy efficiency and capable of tackling demanding scale-out workloads. This powerhouse will soon enter the server arena, delivering a complete upgrade with 12 compute chiplets.

Top Features of the Clearwater Forest Xeon CPUs

During Intel's Hot Chips 2025 presentation, the tech giant showcased several key advancements in Clearwater Forest: - **Next-Gen 18A Process Node**: Enhanced performance and energy savings. - **Advanced E-Core Architecture**: Significant IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) increase fine-tuned for the 18A process. - **Innovative Foveros Direct 3D Construction**: Optimized routing for superior efficiency.

Technical Marvel: The 18A Node Explained

Intel's 18A node utilizes cutting-edge technology that dramatically improves power efficacy and core logic efficiency. Featuring lower gate capacitance, over 90% cell utilization, and reduced RC delays, this technology streamlines performance and reduces losses by 4-5%.

Redefining Core Architecture: Darkmont Design

At the heart of Clearwater Forest is the advanced Darkmont E-Core architecture, revolutionizing the previous Sierra Glen cores. Highlights include: - **Enhanced Front-End**: With a 64kB instruction cache and advanced decoding capabilities, improving instruction bandwidth by 50%. - **Robust Out-of-Order Execution**: Major boost in execution efficiency with increased allocation and retiring widths.

Memory and Cache Enhancements: A Closer Look

Clearwater Forest introduces remarkable upgrades in its memory subsystem: - **L2 Cache Power Boost**: Now 2x faster with up to 400 GB/s bandwidth and colossal 288 MB capacity. - **Improved Load Handling**: The system supports greater throughput with advanced prefetching capabilities.

Mastering Modular Architecture

This next-gen architecture features a generous 4 MB of Unified L2 cache, significantly increasing bandwidth and efficiency. With an impressive 17% increase in IPC based on SpecIntRate'17, the performance metrics speak for themselves.

A 3D Revolution: The Chiplet Configuration

Intel's innovative design comprises 12 CPU chiplets, all strategically aligned within three distinct base tiles, enhanced by a monolithic mesh coherent fabric for optimum power efficiency.

Lightning-Fast Memory and PCIe Support

Expect a memory system supporting up to 3 TB capacities and an eye-popping 1300 GB/s bandwidth in dual-socket servers. This surpasses previous generations, setting a new benchmark for speed and performance.

What’s Next for Intel?

The Clearwater Forest Xeon CPUs are set to storm the market in the coming quarters. Stay tuned for a major launch, as Intel prepares to redefine server performance standards.