Sierra Forest

Intel microprocessor, scheduled to be released in 2024

Intel

Fabrication process

Intel 3

Codename(s)

Platform(s)

Server

BrandingBrand name(s)XeonGenerationXeon 6Socket(s)

LGA 4710
LGA 7529

Instructions & ArchitectureInstructions setx86Instructionsx86-64Extensions

MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4, SSE4.1, SSE4.2
AVX, AVX2, FMA3, AVX-VNNI, AVX-IFMA, TSX
VT-x, VT-d

E-core architectureCrestmont
CoresPeak core clockUp to 3.2 GHzE-core L1 cache96 KB (per core):

64 KB instructions
32 KB data

E-core L2 cache4 MB (per cluster)E-core L3 cache3 MB (per cluster)
Memory SupportTypeDDR5Memory channels8 channelsMaximum capacityUp to 1 TB
I/OPCIe supportPCIe 5.0PCIe lanes88 PCIe 5.0 lanes -->CXL supportCXL 2.0DMI versionDMI 4.0
HistoryVariantGranite Rapids (P-core)SuccessorClearwater Forest

Sierra Forest is the codename for 6th generation Xeon Scalable server processors designed by Intel, launched in June 2024. It is the first generation of Xeon processors to exclusively feature density-optimized E-cores. Sierra Forest processors are targeted towards cloud server customers with up to 288 Crestmont E-cores.

Background

On February 17, 2022, Intel announced that upcoming Xeon generations would be split into two tracks for those with P-cores exclusively and E-cores exclusively.^[1] These two tracks are intended to serve different market segments with P-core Xeon processors targeting high performance computing while E-core Xeon processors target cloud customers who prioritize greater core density, energy efficiency and performance in heavily multi-threaded workloads over strong single-threaded usage.^[2]

On March 29, 2023, Intel announced that Sierra Forest processors had powered on and displayed a processor running 144 E-cores, and announced a release timeline for H1 2024.^[3] On September 19, 2023, Intel announced at their Innovation event that a 288-core variant of Sierra Forest would be coming.^[4]

Branding

During Intel's Vision event in April 2024, new branding for Xeon processors was unveiled.^[5] The Xeon Scalable branding that was introduced in 2017 would be retired in favor of a simplified "Xeon 6" brand for 6th generation Xeon processors.^[6] This change brings greater emphasis on processor generation numbers.^[7] The badge for the Xeon brand was changed to be more visually in line with the badge design used for Intel's Core Ultra processors since 2023.

Intel Xeon branding

Xeon Scalable (2020-2023)

Xeon 6 (2024)

Architecture

Sierra Forest will use only E-cores to achieve higher core counts in order to compete with AMD's Epyc server processors codenamed Bergamo which features up to 128 smaller Zen 4c cores.^[8] AMD's Zen 4c cores feature simultaneous multithreading (SMT) while the Crestmont E-cores featured in Sierra Forest processors can only support one thread for each core. The purpose of the Sierra Forest architecture design is to achieve ultra-high core counts for greater compute density that would benefit cloud and HPC server applications.^[9] Cloud service providers may not be as interested in HPC accelerators and instead prioritize greater ECU/vCPU integer and floating-point performance.^[10] Don Soltis is the principal engineer and chief architect for Xeon E-Core.^[11]

Products

Sierra Forest-SP

Sierra Forest-SP (Scalable Performance) uses the Beechnut City platform with the smaller LGA 4710 socket, targeted towards mainstream server. Sierra Forest-SP features up to 144 E-cores and 8-channel DDR5 memory support. TDPs up to 350W are supported on Beechnut City platform.

SKU	Cores (threads)	Tiles	Core config^[a]	Clock rate (GHz)		Cache			Socket	Socket Count	PCIe lanes	Memory support	TDP	Release date	Price (USD)^[b]
SKU	Cores (threads)	Tiles	Core config^[a]	Base	Turbo	L1	L2	L3	Socket	Socket Count	PCIe lanes	Memory support	TDP	Release date	Price (USD)^[b]
6710E	64 (64)	1 × Compute 2 × I/O	1 × 64	2.4	3.2	6 MB	64 MB	96 MB	LGA 4710	2S	88 PCIe 5.0	DDR5-5600 eight-channel	205 W	Jun 4, 2024	$4,121
6731E	96 (96)		1 × 96	2.2	3.1	9 MB	96 MB			1S		DDR5-5600 eight-channel	250 W		$4,121
6740E	96 (96)		1 × 96	2.4	3.2	9 MB	96 MB			2S		DDR5-6400 eight-channel	250 W		$5,265
6746E	112 (112)		1 × 112	2.0	2.7	10.5 MB	112 MB					DDR5-5600 eight-channel	250 W		$5,929
6756E	128 (128)		1 × 128	1.8	2.6	12 MB	128 MB					DDR5-6400 eight-channel	225 W		$8,428
6766E	144 (144)		1 × 144	1.9	2.7	13.5 MB	144 MB	108 MB					250 W		$10,257
6780E	144 (144)		1 × 144	2.2	3.0	13.5 MB	144 MB	108 MB					330 W		$11,350

^ Number of compute tiles × cores per compute tile
^ Price is Recommended Customer Price (RCP) at launch. RCP is the trade price that processors are sold by Intel to retailers and OEMs. Actual MSRP for consumers is higher.

Sierra Forest-AP

Sierra Forest-AP uses the Avenue City platform with the larger LGA 7529 socket for higher core count SKUs up to 288. It supports a higher number PCIe lanes and 12-channel DDR5 memory.

References

^ "Intel Reveals Bold Multiyear Xeon Roadmap to Accelerate Data Center Leadership and Growth". Intel Newsroom (Press release). San Francisco, CA. February 17, 2022.
^ Cutress, Ian (February 17, 2022). "Intel Discloses Multi-Generation Xeon Scalable Roadmap: New E-Core Only Xeons in 2024". AnandTech.
^ Kennedy, Patrick (March 29, 2023). "Intel DCAI 2023 Update New Technology and Updated Xeon Roadmap". ServeTheHome. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
^ Kennedy, Patrick (September 19, 2023). "Intel Announces 288 E-Core Sierra Forest Variant at Innovation 2023". ServeTheHome. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
^ Alcorn, Paul (April 9, 2024). "Intel unveils new Xeon 6 branding for Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest processors — efficiency core models launch this quarter; performance-core models come soon after". Tom's Hardware.
^ Chiapetta, Marco (April 9, 2024). "Intel Unveils Powerful, Efficient Gaudi 3 AI Accelerator And New Xeon 6 Processors At Vision 2024". Forbes.
^ Bonshor, Gavin (April 9, 2024). "Intel Unveils New Branding For 6th Generation Xeon Processors: Intel Xeon 6". AnandTech.
^ Larabel, Michael (October 14, 2022). "Intel Sends Out Meteor Lake & Sierra Forest Patches For The GCC Compiler". Phoronix. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
^ Mujtaba, Hassan (January 21, 2023). "Intel Xeon CPU Rumors: Sierra Forest In 2024 Aiming For 334+ Cores, Granite Rapids-SP Up To 132, Granite Rapids-WS Up To 86 Cores". Wccftech. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
^ Kennedy, Patrick (February 17, 2022). "Intel Sierra Forest the E-Core Xeon Intel Needs". ServeTheHome. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
^ "Tackling Throughput Computing with Sierra Forest". Intel Corporation.

Intel processors

Lists

Processors
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Microarchitectures
Chipsets

Microarchitectures

IA-32 (32-bit x86)	P5 P6 P6 variant (Pentium M) P6 variant (Enhanced Pentium M) NetBurst
x86-64 (64-bit)	Core Penryn Nehalem Westmere Sandy Bridge Ivy Bridge Haswell Broadwell Skylake Cannon Lake Sunny Cove Cypress Cove Willow Cove Golden Cove
x86 ULV	Bonnell Saltwell Silvermont Goldmont Goldmont Plus Tremont Gracemont

Current products

x86-64 (64-bit)	Atom Celeron Pentium Core 10th gen 11th gen 12th gen 13th gen 14th gen Xeon

Discontinued

BCD oriented (4-bit)	4004 (1971) 4040 (1974)
pre-x86 (8-bit)	8008 (1972) 8080 (1974) 8085 (1977)
Early x86 (16-bit)	8086 (1978) 8088 (1979) 80186 (1982) 80188 (1982) 80286 (1982)
x87 (external FPUs)	8/16-bit databus 8087 (1980) 16-bit databus 80C187 80287 80387SX 32-bit databus 80387DX 80487
IA-32 (32-bit x86)	i386 SX 376 EX i486 SX DX2 DX4 SL RapidCAD OverDrive A100/A110 Atom CE SoC Celeron (1998) M D (2004) Pentium Original i586 OverDrive Pro II III 4 M Dual-Core Core Xeon P6-based NetBurst-based Core-based Quark Tolapai
x86-64 (64-bit)	Atom SoC CE Celeron D Dual-Core Pentium 4 D Extreme Edition Dual-Core Core 2 1st gen 2nd gen 3rd gen 4th gen 5th gen 6th gen 7th gen 8th gen 9th gen 10th gen 11th gen M Xeon Nehalem-based Sandy Bridge-based Ivy Bridge-based Haswell-based Broadwell-based Skylake-based
Other	CISC iAPX 432 EPIC Itanium RISC i860 i960 StrongARM XScale

Intel CPU core roadmaps from P6 to Lunar Lake

Microarch.	Step	Feature size	Microarch.	Step
Atom (ULV)		Feature size	Pentium/Core
		600 nm	P6	Pentium Pro (133 MHz)
		500 nm		Pentium Pro (150 MHz)
		350 nm		Pentium Pro (166–200 MHz)
		350 nm		Klamath
		250 nm		Deschutes
		250 nm		Katmai	NetBurst
		180 nm		Coppermine	Willamette
		130 nm		Tualatin	Northwood
		130 nm	Pentium M	Banias	Northwood		NetBurst(HT)		NetBurst(×2)
		90 nm		Dothan	Prescott	⇨	Prescott‑2M	⇨	Smithfield
		90 nm		Dothan	~~Tejas~~	→	⇩	→	~~Cedarmill (Tejas)~~
		65 nm		Yonah	~~Nehalem (NetBurst)~~		Cedar Mill	⇨	Presler
		65 nm	Core	Merom	4 cores on mainstream desktop, DDR3 introduced
Bonnell	Bonnell	45 nm	Core	Penryn
	Bonnell	45 nm	Nehalem	Nehalem	HT reintroduced, integrated MC, PCH L3-cache introduced, 256KB L2-cache/core
	Saltwell	32 nm	Nehalem	Westmere	Introduced GPU on same package and AES-NI
	Saltwell	32 nm	Sandy Bridge	Sandy Bridge	On-die ring bus, no more non-UEFI motherboards
Silvermont	Silvermont	22 nm	Sandy Bridge	Ivy Bridge
	Silvermont	22 nm	Haswell	Haswell	Fully integrated voltage regulator
	Airmont	14 nm	Haswell	Broadwell
	Airmont		Skylake	Skylake	DDR4 introduced on mainstream desktop
Goldmont	Goldmont			Kaby Lake
				Coffee Lake	6 cores on mainstream desktop
				Amber Lake	Mobile-only
Goldmont Plus	Goldmont Plus			Whiskey Lake	Mobile-only
				Coffee Lake Refresh	8 cores on mainstream desktop
				Comet Lake	10 cores on mainstream desktop
			Sunny Cove	Cypress Cove (Rocket Lake)	Backported Sunny Cove microarchitecture for 14nm
Tremont	Tremont	"10 nm" (~7 nm)	Skylake	Palm Cove (Cannon Lake)	Mobile-only
			Sunny Cove	Sunny Cove (Ice Lake)	512 KB L2-cache/core
			Sunny Cove	Willow Cove (Tiger Lake)	X^e graphics engine
Gracemont	Gracemont	7 nm	Golden Cove	Golden Cove (Alder Lake)	Hybrid, DDR5, PCIe 5.0
Gracemont	Gracemont	7 nm	Golden Cove	Raptor Cove (Raptor Lake)
Crestmont	Crestmont	4 nm	Redwood Cove	Meteor Lake	Mobile-only NPU, chiplet architecture
Skymont	Skymont	3 nm	Lion Cove	Lunar Lake	Low power mobile only (9-30W)
Skymont	Skymont	2 nm	Lion Cove	Arrow Lake
Darkmont	Darkmont	2 nm	Cougar Cove	Panther Lake