Intel debuts Broadwell EP server chips that make the cloud faster

Intel is introducing its new generation of Xeon E5-2600 v4 chips for enterprise cloud hardware today. And it’s going to make the cloud faster.

Code-named Broadwell-EP, the new chips were introduced by Diane Bryant, senior vice president of the data center group at Intel, during an event in San Francisco today. They’re the latest chips that will keep data centers humming without melting down. It’s all in the name of giving businesses more flexibility and choice when it comes to deploying versions of cloud computing.

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The new server chips were introduced along with a bunch of announcements for enterprise cloud customers. The event is aimed at helping customers deploy private and hybrid cloud infrastructure based on Intel servers. The new chips range in performance from 2 gigahertz to 5 gigahertz, and they consume anywhere from 85 watts to 165 watts.

Intel also announced collaborations with leading cloud software and solution providers. The company is unveiling new technologies, investments, and partnerships at the event. It also has a new set of solid state drives. Intel says the foundation is software-defined infrastructure, sitting atop its server processors.

“Enterprises want to benefit from the efficiency and agility of cloud architecture and on their own terms — using the public cloud offerings, deploying their own private cloud, or both,” said Bryant, in a statement. “The result is pent-up demand for software-defined infrastructure. Intel is investing to mature SDI solutions and provide a faster path for businesses of all sizes to reap the benefits of the cloud.”

The new server chips are built on a 14-nanometer manufacturing process. It has 20 percent more cores than the prior generation, supports faster memory, and includes other integrated technologies for better results. Among the new partners are CoreOS, Mirantis,and VMware.

Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) and Intel announced the world’s largest cloud application testing cluster for applications “born in the cloud.” The cluster will include more than 1,000 Intel Xeon processor-based server nodes that are designed to provide developers with the opportunity to test applications at larger scales and to deliver the efficiency and portability of cloud-native applications to businesses.