PK8072006022800 Intel Xeon 6960P 72 Cores 2.70GHz 144 Threads CPU

Highlights of Intel Xeon PK8072006022800 2.70GHz Processor

The Intel Xeon 6960P is a high-performance data center CPU designed for demanding enterprise workloads, AI processing, and large-scale virtualization. Built on the powerful Intel Xeon 6 Granite Rapids architecture, this processor delivers exceptional multi-core efficiency, massive cache, and next-generation connectivity.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Intel
• Part Number: PK8072006022800
• Product Type: Server Processor
• Sub Type: 72 Cores 2.70GHz 144 Threads

Technical Specifications

• Total Cores: 72 Cores
• Total Threads: 144 Threads
• Base Clock Speed: 2.70 GHz
• Maximum Turbo Frequency: Up to 3.90 GHz

Cache & Throughput

• Total Cache: 432MB
• UPI Speed: 24 GT/s with 6 UPI Links
• Thermal Design Power: 500W

Memory & Platform Capabilities

Advanced Memory Support

• Supported Memory Types: DDR5-6400 / MRDIMM-8800
• Maximum Memory Capacity: Up to 3TB
• Maximum Memory Speed: 8800 MHz
• Memory Channels: 12 Channels

PCI Express & Expansion

• PCIe Version: PCIe 5.0
• Total PCIe Lanes: 96 Lanes

Socket & System Integration

• Processor Socket: FC-LGA7529
• Designed for next-generation enterprise server platforms
• Optimized for scalable, multi-socket deployments

Enterprise-Class Technologies

Performance & Acceleration Features

• Intel Speed Select Technology (SST) – Performance Profile
• Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
• Intel Hyper-Threading Technology (HTT)
• Intel Deep Learning Boost (DL Boost)

Security, Virtualization & Storage

• Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x, VT-d, EPT)
• Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT)
• Intel Virtual RAID on CPU (VROC)
• Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT)

Overview of Intel Xeon PK8072006022800 6960P 72 Cores CPU

The Intel Xeon PK8072006022800 6960P 72 Cores 2.70GHz 144 Threads 500W Cache 432MB Processor belongs to the extreme high-performance enterprise processor category designed for the most demanding compute-intensive workloads. This category represents the pinnacle of Intel Xeon scalability, focusing on massive parallel processing, enormous cache capacity, and sustained throughput for advanced data center, scientific, and industrial computing environments. Processors in this category are engineered for organizations that operate at the limits of computational scale, where performance density, workload consolidation, and deterministic execution are mission-critical requirements.

Market Positioning Within the Xeon Scalable Ecosystem

This processor category occupies the uppermost tier of the Intel Xeon Scalable ecosystem. It is designed for enterprises, research institutions, cloud service providers, and government organizations that require maximum computational density per socket. The focus is on reducing node count while increasing per-node performance, thereby optimizing data center footprint, licensing costs, and interconnect complexity. The Xeon 6960P category enables consolidation of workloads that would otherwise require multiple lower-end servers, making it a strategic component in modern high-performance computing and cloud-native architectures.

Designed for Specialized Compute Nodes

Systems built around this category are typically custom-engineered compute nodes featuring advanced cooling solutions, high-capacity power delivery, and optimized airflow. These platforms are purpose-built to sustain continuous operation under extreme computational loads.

72-Core Architecture and Massive Parallel Processing

The defining characteristic of the Intel Xeon 6960P category is its 72-core architecture. This extraordinary core count enables unprecedented levels of parallelism within a single processor socket. Each core is designed to execute independent instruction streams, allowing the processor to handle thousands of concurrent tasks with high efficiency. Such a core configuration is ideal for workloads that can be decomposed into parallel tasks, including scientific simulations, large-scale data analytics, rendering, computational fluid dynamics, and machine learning workloads.

144 Hardware Threads for Extreme Concurrency

With support for 144 threads through simultaneous multithreading, the Xeon 6960P category maximizes utilization of available execution resources. This high thread count allows operating systems and applications to schedule a vast number of concurrent processes without excessive context switching. Thread-level parallelism is particularly beneficial in environments running containerized applications, microservices architectures, and large virtual machine pools.

Core-to-Core Communication

In processors with very high core counts, efficient inter-core communication is essential. The Xeon 6960P category incorporates advanced interconnect technologies that minimize latency between cores and ensure coherent cache behavior across the entire processor.

2.70GHz Base Frequency and Sustained Performance Profile

The Intel Xeon 6960P operates at a base frequency of 2.70GHz, a carefully selected balance point that enables sustained performance across all 72 cores. Rather than focusing on extreme single-core clock speeds, this category prioritizes consistent throughput under full load, which is essential for parallel workloads. This frequency profile ensures predictable performance behavior, allowing system architects to design applications and infrastructure around known performance characteristics.

Frequency Stability Under Continuous Load

Unlike processors optimized for burst performance, the Xeon 6960P category is engineered to maintain stable operating frequencies across prolonged high-load scenarios. This is critical for workloads such as simulations and analytics jobs that may run for hours or days. Stable frequency behavior simplifies performance tuning and capacity planning in enterprise environments.

Performance Consistency Across All Cores

The processor architecture ensures uniform performance across all cores, avoiding performance cliffs that can occur when only a subset of cores operates at higher frequencies. This uniformity is vital for evenly distributed parallel workloads.

432MB Cache Architecture and Data Locality

The Intel Xeon 6960P category features an exceptionally large 432MB cache, one of the defining attributes of this processor class. This massive cache capacity significantly reduces the need for frequent main memory access, improving performance for data-intensive workloads. Large cache resources enhance data locality, allowing frequently accessed datasets and instructions to remain close to the execution units. This reduces latency and improves overall throughput, especially in workloads with complex memory access patterns.

Benefits of Massive Cache

In high-performance computing applications, memory access latency often becomes a limiting factor. The extensive cache available in the Xeon 6960P category mitigates this bottleneck by keeping working datasets on-chip. This advantage is particularly important for numerical simulations, graph analytics, and AI workloads that repeatedly access large data structures.

Cache Coherency at Scale

Maintaining cache coherency across 72 cores requires sophisticated mechanisms. The Xeon 6960P category incorporates advanced coherency protocols that ensure data consistency without introducing excessive overhead.

500W Power Envelope and Advanced Thermal Engineering

The Intel Xeon 6960P operates within a 500W power envelope, reflecting its extreme performance capabilities. This category is designed for platforms that can deliver substantial power and advanced cooling to sustain continuous high-load operation. Rather than targeting energy efficiency for general-purpose use, this category prioritizes absolute performance density and workload consolidation.

Infrastructure Requirements for High-Power Processors

Systems deploying this processor category require robust power delivery subsystems, high-efficiency voltage regulation, and advanced cooling solutions such as liquid cooling or high-capacity air cooling. These infrastructure investments enable the processor to operate reliably under full utilization without thermal throttling.

Thermal Stability in Dense Compute Environments

Thermal stability is critical in dense compute clusters. The Xeon 6960P category is validated for operation in environments where multiple high-power nodes are deployed in close proximity, ensuring predictable behavior under sustained thermal load.

Enterprise and Hyperscale Workload Alignment

The Xeon 6960P category is optimized for workloads that scale horizontally and vertically. These include hyperscale cloud computing, large-scale virtualization, distributed databases, and analytics platforms that process petabyte-scale datasets. Its massive core count and cache capacity enable efficient handling of thousands of concurrent users or processes.

Container Density

High-core-count processors enable extremely high virtualization density. The Xeon 6960P category allows hosting of large numbers of virtual machines or containers on a single node, reducing infrastructure sprawl. This consolidation reduces licensing costs, management overhead, and inter-node communication latency.

Cloud-Native Architectures

Modern cloud-native applications are designed to scale across many threads and cores. The Xeon 6960P category provides the underlying compute foundation required to support these architectures efficiently.

Scalability in Multi-Socket and Clustered Systems

Processors in this category are designed to operate in advanced multi-socket systems and clustered configurations. High-speed interconnects enable efficient communication between sockets and nodes, supporting scale-up and scale-out architectures. This scalability is essential for supercomputing and enterprise analytics platforms.

Memory Scaling

Non-uniform memory access architectures are common in systems using processors of this class. The Xeon 6960P category supports optimized NUMA behavior, allowing software to efficiently allocate and access memory resources.

Foundation for Supercomputing Clusters

The processor category is well suited for deployment in supercomputing clusters, where thousands of cores work in concert to solve complex problems. Its architecture supports high-throughput inter-node communication and efficient workload distribution.

Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability Focus

Enterprise-grade reliability is a core attribute of the Xeon 6960P category. These processors are designed for continuous operation in mission-critical environments where downtime is unacceptable. Advanced error detection, robust validation, and conservative operating margins contribute to long-term stability.

Designed for Continuous 24/7 Operation

The processor category is validated for continuous operation under maximum load, making it suitable for environments where workloads cannot be paused or deferred.

Enterprise-Class Validation and Testing

Processors in this category undergo extensive validation, including stress testing under extreme thermal and power conditions. This ensures consistent behavior throughout their operational lifespan.

Intel Xeon Platform Ecosystem

The Xeon 6960P category benefits from Intel’s extensive enterprise ecosystem, including validated platforms, firmware support, and optimized software stacks. This ecosystem ensures compatibility with major operating systems, hypervisors, and enterprise applications. Long-term availability and platform stability are critical for organizations deploying large-scale infrastructure.

Software and Compiler

Intel provides optimized libraries, compilers, and performance tools designed to extract maximum performance from high-core-count Xeon processors. This support enhances application efficiency and simplifies performance tuning.

Strategic Foundation for Extreme Compute Growth

The Intel Xeon PK8072006022800 6960P processor category represents a strategic foundation for organizations pursuing extreme compute scalability. Its combination of 72 cores, 144 threads, massive cache, and sustained high-performance operation makes it a cornerstone for the most demanding computational workloads in modern enterprise and research environments.