Knowledge Base

What is Xeon Platinum 8268 and Which Usage Scenarios is it Suitable For?

The Intel Xeon Platinum 8268 is a member of Intel's second-generation Xeon Scalable processor family (Cascade Lake). It is designed for high-performance server and workstation applications. It is often preferred in areas such as data centers, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, high-performance computing (HPC), and virtualization.

Key Features:

• Number of Cores: It is generally a 24-core processor.
• Number of Threads: It has 48 threads. This increases multi-tasking and parallel processing capabilities.
• Base Frequency: It has a base frequency of around 2.9 GHz.
• Turbo Frequency: Single-core turbo frequency can go up to 3.9 GHz.
• Cache: It has 35.75 MB of L3 cache. Large cache improves performance by providing faster access to frequently accessed data.
• TDP (Thermal Design Power): It has a TDP of 205W. High TDP requires a more powerful cooling solution.
• Memory Support: Supports memory speeds up to DDR4-2933 MHz. It usually offers 6-channel memory support, which increases memory bandwidth.
• AVX-512 Support: Supports Advanced Vector Extensions 512 (AVX-512) instruction set. This significantly increases performance in workloads such as scientific computing, financial modeling, and artificial intelligence.
• Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory Support: Supports Intel's persistent memory technology. This helps increase memory capacity and performance in data centers.

Usage Scenarios:

• Data Centers: Ideal for server applications that require high processing power and reliability.
• Cloud Computing: Provides high performance in cloud environments where virtual machines are used intensively.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Provides the processing power required for deep learning, machine learning, and other AI workloads. AVX-512 support improves performance in such applications.
• High-Performance Computing (HPC): A suitable option for scientific simulations, engineering analyzes, and other HPC applications.
• Virtualization: Provides high performance and scalability in environments that require multiple virtual machines to be run simultaneously.
• Database Servers: Provides the processing power required for fast and reliable processing of large databases.

In summary, the Xeon Platinum 8268 is a powerful processor designed for critical workloads that require high performance, reliability, and scalability.

What are the Technical Specifications of the Xeon Platinum 8268?

A more detailed look at the technical specifications of the Xeon Platinum 8268:

• Architecture: Cascade Lake (2nd Generation Xeon Scalable)
• Socket Type: LGA 3647
• Number of Cores: 24
• Number of Threads: 48
• Base Frequency: 2.9 GHz
• Maximum Turbo Frequency: 3.9 GHz
• Cache: 35.75 MB L3 Cache
• Memory Type: DDR4
• Memory Speed: Up to 2933 MHz
• Memory Channels: 6
• Maximum Memory Capacity: 1 TB (RDIMM/LRDIMM) or 2TB (with Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory)
• PCI Express Revision: 3.0
• PCI Express Lane Count: 48
• AVX-512 Support: Yes
• Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory Support: Yes
• TDP: 205W
• Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0: Yes
• Intel Hyper-Threading Technology: Yes
• Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x): Yes
• Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d): Yes
• Intel AES New Instructions (AES-NI): Yes

These features make the Xeon Platinum 8268 suitable for a variety of workloads. In particular, AVX-512 support improves performance in tasks such as complex mathematical calculations and data analysis. Intel Optane DC Persistent Memory support improves the performance of applications working with large data sets by increasing memory capacity.

Sample Code (AVX-512 Usage):

#include <iostream>
#include <immintrin.h>

int main() {
    float a[16] = {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 16.0};
    float b[16] = {1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0};
    float c[16];

    __m512 a_vec = _mm512_loadu_ps(a);
    __m512 b_vec = _mm512_loadu_ps(b);
    __m512 c_vec = _mm512_add_ps(a_vec, b_vec);

    _mm512_storeu_ps(c, c_vec);

    for (int i = 0; i < 16; ++i) {
        std::cout << c[i] << " ";
    }
    std::cout << std::endl;

    return 0;
}

This sample code adds 16 floating-point numbers using the AVX-512 instruction set. AVX-512 can process 512 bits of data with a single instruction, which significantly improves performance.

Who are the Competitors of the Xeon Platinum 8268 and How Does It Perform?

The competitors of the Xeon Platinum 8268 are generally AMD's EPYC series processors. In particular, the AMD EPYC 7002 (Rome) and EPYC 7003 (Milan) series processors offer serious competition to the Xeon Platinum 8268.

Comparison Table:

According to this table, AMD EPYC processors generally have more cores and threads. They also offer larger cache and faster memory support. This increases multitasking and parallel processing capabilities. However, the higher turbo frequency of the Xeon Platinum 8268 may provide an advantage in some single-core workloads.

Performance Evaluation:

• Multi-Core Performance: AMD EPYC processors generally outperform the Xeon Platinum 8268 in multi-core performance due to their higher core count.
• Single-Core Performance: The higher turbo frequency of the Xeon Platinum 8268 may allow it to perform better in some single-core workloads.
• Memory Bandwidth: The faster memory support of AMD EPYC processors provides an advantage in memory-intensive applications.
• Power Efficiency: AMD EPYC processors generally have better power efficiency.

Case Study:

A data center compared the Xeon Platinum 8268 and AMD EPYC 7742 for virtualization workloads. According to the results, the AMD EPYC 7742 was able to run the same number of virtual machines with fewer servers. This translates to lower energy consumption and lower hardware costs.

If you are looking for information about Xeon Gold 6152, you can check out our related review. This review evaluates the performance and features of a different Intel Xeon processor, which can help you compare it with the Xeon Platinum 8268.

What is the Price of the Xeon Platinum 8268 and How is the Price/Performance Ratio Evaluated?

The price of the Xeon Platinum 8268 may vary depending on market conditions, supply status, and the quantity purchased. Generally, since this processor is a high-performance server processor, its price is higher compared to other processors. On average, the price of a Xeon Platinum 8268 processor can range from $4,000 to $6,000 USD.

Price/Performance Ratio Assessment:

When evaluating the price/performance ratio of the Xeon Platinum 8268, it is important to consider the following factors:

• Workload Requirements: Determine how much processing power, memory bandwidth, and other features your workload requires. If your workload requires multi-core performance, processors with more cores, such as AMD EPYC, may offer a better price/performance ratio.
• Energy Consumption: Processors with high TDP consume more energy and require a more powerful cooling solution. This can increase operating costs.
• Hardware Costs: The Xeon Platinum 8268 uses the LGA 3647 socket. Motherboards and other hardware that support this socket can also be costly.
• Software Licensing: Some software is licensed based on the number of cores. Processors with more cores can increase software licensing costs.

Alternatives and Price/Performance Comparison:

If your budget is limited or your workload does not require very high performance, you can consider more affordable Xeon Gold or Xeon Silver series processors. For example, Xeon Silver 4214 can offer reasonable performance at a lower price point. However, the performance of these processors is lower than the Xeon Platinum 8268.

Price/Performance Table (Estimated):

This table can help you compare the prices and price/performance ratios of different processors. However, remember that these ratios may vary depending on your workload and requirements.

What are the Energy Consumption and Cooling Requirements of the Xeon Platinum 8268?

The Xeon Platinum 8268 is a processor with a TDP of 205W. This means high energy consumption and requires a suitable cooling solution. Insufficient cooling can cause the processor to overheat and reduce its performance. It can even lead to damage to the processor in the long run.

Cooling Solutions:

You can use the following cooling solutions for the Xeon Platinum 8268:

• Air Cooling: High-performance air coolers can effectively dissipate the heat generated by the Xeon Platinum 8268. However, the size and weight of air coolers can affect the size of the server case.
• Liquid Cooling: Liquid cooling systems offer better cooling performance and operate more quietly. However, liquid cooling systems are more expensive and more complex to install.
• Data Center Cooling: In data centers, air conditioning systems and other cooling technologies are used to keep the temperature of servers under control.

Energy Consumption Optimization:

You can follow these steps to optimize the energy consumption of the Xeon Platinum 8268:

1. BIOS Settings: In the BIOS, enable settings that limit the processor's power consumption. For example, by adjusting Intel SpeedStep and Intel Turbo Boost technologies, you can dynamically adjust the processor's frequency and voltage.
2. Operating System Settings: In the operating system, enable power saving mode. This mode allows the processor and other hardware to consume less energy when idle.
3. Virtualization: By using virtualization technologies, you can run multiple virtual machines on the same server. This can reduce the number of servers and lower energy consumption.
4. Load Balancing: By using load balancing techniques, you can distribute the workload across multiple servers. This allows each server to operate under less load and consume less energy.

Real-Life Example:

A financial institution optimized the BIOS settings to make its Xeon Platinum 8268 processor-based servers more efficient. As a result, the servers' energy consumption decreased by 15% and cooling costs were reduced.

Which Motherboards are Compatible with Xeon Platinum 8268?

The Xeon Platinum 8268 uses the LGA 3647 socket. Therefore, motherboards compatible with this processor must have the LGA 3647 socket. LGA 3647 socket motherboards are generally designed for server and workstation applications and have high-performance features.

Compatible Motherboard Brands and Models:

Below are some of the motherboard brands and models that are compatible with the Xeon Platinum 8268:

• Supermicro: Supermicro is a brand specializing in server motherboards. Their X11 and X12 series motherboards are compatible with the Xeon Platinum 8268. For example, the Supermicro X11DPG-QT, Supermicro X11DPH-T, and Supermicro X12DPG-QT6 motherboards support this processor.
• ASRock Rack: ASRock Rack is a brand that produces server and workstation motherboards. The EP2C621D12 and EP2C621D12 WS models are compatible with the Xeon Platinum 8268.
• ASUS: ASUS is a brand that produces both consumer and server motherboards. The ROG Dominus Extreme (LGA 3647) motherboard is compatible with the Xeon Platinum 8268.
• Gigabyte: Gigabyte also produces server and workstation motherboards. The MW70-3S0 (Rev. 1.0) motherboard supports the Xeon Platinum 8268.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Motherboard:

It is important to consider the following factors when choosing a motherboard:

• Socket Type: Make sure the motherboard has an LGA 3647 socket.
• Chipset: The motherboard's chipset affects the performance of the processor and other hardware. The Intel C621 chipset is a suitable option for the Xeon Platinum 8268.
• Memory Slots: Make sure the motherboard has enough memory slots. The Xeon Platinum 8268 offers 6-channel memory support. Therefore, it is recommended that the motherboard has at least 6 memory slots.
• PCI Express Slots: Make sure the motherboard has enough PCI Express slots. These slots are used for graphics cards, network cards, and other expansion cards.
• Storage Interfaces: Make sure the motherboard has enough SATA, NVMe, and other storage interfaces.
• Power Supply: Choose a power supply that meets the motherboard's power supply requirements. Since the Xeon Platinum 8268 has a high TDP, a powerful power supply may be needed.

Step-by-Step Motherboard Selection Process:

1. Determine Your Needs: Determine what your workload and requirements are. This will help you understand what features you need in a motherboard.
2. Research Suitable Motherboards: Research motherboards with LGA 3647 socket and Intel C621 chipset.
3. Compare Features: Compare the features of different motherboards and choose the one that best suits your needs.
4. Compare Prices: Compare the prices of motherboards from different vendors and choose the most affordable one.
5. Read Customer Reviews: Read customer reviews about the motherboard you have chosen. This will give you an idea of the motherboard's performance and reliability.