Intel Announces 'Sierra Forest' Chip to Significantly Boost Power Efficiency

In an exciting development, Intel has revealed its upcoming data center chip, codenamed 'Sierra Forest,' which is set to more than double power efficiency.

Credits: REUTERS

The chip, scheduled for release next year, will be capable of handling over twice the amount of computing work per watt of power used compared to Intel's current generation of data center chips. This announcement is part of a broader industry effort to reduce electricity consumption.

At a semiconductor technology conference held at Stanford University in Silicon Valley, Intel shared that the 'Sierra Forest' chip will deliver a remarkable 240% improvement in performance per watt. This is the first time Intel has disclosed such figures, highlighting the company's commitment to enhancing power efficiency in data centers.

Data centers, which power the internet and online services, consume vast amounts of electricity. As a result, technology companies are under increasing pressure to minimise their energy usage. Chip manufacturers have been focusing on maximising computing capabilities per chip to address this challenge.

Ampere Computing, a startup founded by former Intel executives, was the first to introduce a chip specifically designed for efficient cloud computing workloads. Following suit, Intel and rival company Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) have also announced similar products. AMD's offering has already hit the market in June.

Intel, which has faced market share losses to AMD and Ampere in the data center sector, confirmed that the 'Sierra Forest' chip is on track for its planned release next year. Notably, Intel is dividing its data center chips into two categories for the first time. The 'Granite Rapids' chip will prioritise performance but consume more power, while the 'Sierra Forest' chip will focus on efficiency.

Ronak Singhal, a senior fellow at Intel, explained that customers will be able to consolidate older software onto a smaller number of computers within a data center using the new chip. This consolidation will lead to power savings and a reduction in the total cost of ownership. Singhal emphasised that higher density translates to fewer systems needed.

While Intel's 'Sierra Forest' chip holds great promise for improving power efficiency in data centers, it remains to be seen how it will perform in real-world applications. The company's ongoing competition with AMD and Ampere in the data center market adds further intrigue to the upcoming release.

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• Intel has announced the 'Sierra Forest' chip, set to more than double power efficiency in data centers.

• The chip will handle over twice the computing work per watt compared to Intel's current data center chips.

• The semiconductor industry is focusing on reducing electricity consumption in data centers.

Source: Reuters