2.2GHz-24GT-UPI

The Intel Xeon 12‑Core 2.2 GHz 24 GT/s UPI processor subcategory serves as a versatile and balanced solution within Intel’s Scalable Xeon family. With 12 physical cores and 24 threads via Hyper‑Threading, a 2.2 GHz base clock speed, and a 24 GT/s Ultra Path Interconnect (UPI), this category strikes an ideal balance between compute efficiency, power consumption, and inter-socket performance. It’s optimized for entry-to-mid-level servers and virtualized environments, offering practical performance for a wide range of data center, edge, and enterprise workloads.

Product Overview and Positioning

Xeon 12‑Core 2.2 GHz CPUs are crafted to meet the needs of IT environments that require solid multi-threaded performance while managing cost and energy consumption. They outperform lower-core-tier CPUs in parallel processing without incurring the higher power and cooling demands of high-core-count parts. The inclusion of 24 GT/s UPI facilitates dual- or quad-socket scalability, enabling coherent operation across multiple processors.

Key Technical Specifications

• Cores / Threads: 12 physical cores with 24 logical threads via Hyper‑Threading
• Base Frequency: 2.2 GHz for steady-state enterprise operation
• Max Turbo Boost: ~3.0–3.4 GHz (model-dependent)
• Smart Cache: 18–24 MB shared L3 cache
• UPI Link Speed: 24 GT/s per interconnect lane
• Memory Channels: 6‑channel DDR4/DDR5 ECC, supporting up to 1–2 TB per socket
• PCIe Lanes: Up to 48 lanes (Gen 4 or Gen 5)
• TDP Range: 105 – 125 W, energy-focused bracket

Architectural Design & UPI Fabric Capabilities

Leveraging Intel’s 10 nm “Ice Lake” or Intel 7 “Sapphire Rapids” nodes, these CPUs employ a mesh interconnect to distribute traffic between cores, cache, and memory channels. The 24 GT/s UPI fabric ensures that coherence is maintained with minimal latency in multi-socket systems, offering robust throughput for distributed workloads.

Memory Subsystem Overview

Incorporating six memory channels per socket, these processors can reach aggregated bandwidth up to ~150–180 GB/s. Supported memory types include RDIMM, LRDIMM, and NVDIMM (on select SKUs), delivering reliability and performance for virtualization, analytics, and real-time processing applications.

Reliability Through ECC

• Full ECC support ensures automatic correction of single-bit errors in both memory and on-die caches.
• Memory interleaving enhances access efficiency across channels.

Optimized Performance for Practical Workloads

With 12 cores running at 2.2 GHz, these CPUs excel in general-purpose computing domains, especially where mixed throughput and single-thread responsiveness are needed.

Virtualization and Containerization

These Xeon CPUs can support dozens of VMs or containers in a single socket. Intel RDT enables partitioning of resources, while the UPI ensures effective coordination in scale-out or HA (high-availability) configurations.

SMBs & Cloud Infrastructure

Small-to-medium business environments leveraging private or hybrid cloud infrastructure benefit from balanced core/thread resources without the thermal or cost overhead of high-end Xeons.

Databases and Caching Engines

Applications like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, or Redis gain from 12 cores with fast memory and cache. Low-frequency but consistent workloads see improved query latency and throughput.

Edge Computing and IoT Gateways

Deployed at network edges—retail cluster hubs, factory controls, or telco gateways—these Xeons offer enough compute for inference, telemetry processing, encryption, and containerized services in compact form factors.

Enterprise-Grade Security and RAS Functions

Security and system integrity are foundational aspects of Xeon CPU design. Even at this core tier, robust protection and reliability mechanisms are included.

Security Technologies

• Intel SGX for software-isolated enclave protection
• AES-NI, SHA extensions for encrypted workloads
• Total Memory Encryption (TME) to secure in-use data
• Boot Guard and BIOS Guard for firmware validation

Reliability, Availability & Serviceability (RAS)

• Machine Check Architecture (MCA) for early fault detection
• Intel Run Sure Technology to predict component issues
• Dynamic thermal throttling and per-core voltage regulation

Energy Efficiency, Thermal Management, and TCO

Balancing performance and power, these CPUs target deployed cost efficiencies through manageable TDP and robust thermal behavior.

Thermal Design & Cooling

• 105–125 W TDP makes these CPUs ideal for 1U/2U server setups or liquid-cooled systems in moderate density racks
• ESHRAE-compliant operating conditions supported

Efficiency-Driven Features

• Per-core power gating and DVFS for idle-phase energy savings
• Intel Speed Select Technology enables workload-based performance scaling
• Compliance with ENERGY STAR®, aiding sustainable deployment

Platform Integration & Vendor Ecosystem

These processors integrate easily with mid-range server platforms and industry-standard ecosystems.

Socket and Chipset Support

• Compatible with LGA 4189 or similar sockets
• Whitley-class chipsets (C621A, C741) offer full UPI, PCIe, and memory support
• Quad-socket configurations remain an option with 24 GT/s UPI links

Storage and I/O Options

• Up to 48 lanes of PCIe Gen 4/5 for NVMe, NICs, GPUs
• High-bandwidth networking options: 25/50/100 GbE, InfiniBand
• Suitable for virtualization, network function virtualization (NFV), and AI edge nodes

Real-World Deployment Scenarios

• SMB & Enterprise: File servers, Active Directory, and print services
• Edge & Telco: CDN edge cache nodes, IoT data aggregators
• DevOps & QA: Build servers, CI/CD runners, test clusters
• Hybrid Cloud: Jump hosts, VPN gateways, small-scale PaaS hosts

Comparisons and SKU Choices

When assessing Xeon tiers, the 12-core 2.2 GHz option sits between entry-level 8-core and mid-range 16-core CPUs, offering balanced density and cost-efficiency.

Popular SKUs

• Intel Xeon Silver 4310: 12C/24T, 2.1 GHz base, 150 W TDP
• Intel Xeon Gold 5318Y: 12C/24T, 2.1 GHz, 185 W, featuring RDT
• Intel Xeon Gold 5317: 12C/24T, 2.2 GHz base, 125 W TDP Tariff-optimized

Choosing Based on Requirements

• Budget-focused general compute: Silver 4310 for basic service roles
• Security-aware workloads: Gold 5318Y with RDT and cryptographic support
• Power-limited deployments: Gold 5317 for efficient thermal designs