Intel puffs up Xeon line

INTEL HAS revamped its Xeon 5400 line with three quad-core chips and a dual-core model, each designed for use in high-end workstations, blade servers and conventional servers.

All of the chips will be drop-in compatible with Intel's current dual-processor platform, the company said.

The processors are built on a 45nm process, using hafnium gate transistors and a halogen-free design.

The outfit claims the chips are among the most energy efficient on the market. The most efficient of the quad-core chips runs at 50 Watts and the higher-frequency dual-core model consumes 80 Watts.

Intel server platforms group vice president and general manager Kirk Skaugen reckons, "Customers using these new Xeon processors will not only benefit from greater performance and energy efficiency within existing platforms, but will be the very first to use Intel's halogen-free technology."

All three of the quad-core models are currently shipping, while the dual-core chip is expect to ship later this year.

Intel is trumpeting the green-ness of its chips. Cobblers! What was it doing using halogens in the first place? And what is the size of its carbon footprint? And what's it doing about it, eh? Bah! µ