Intel releases its 'most secure' line of server chips

CHIPMAKER Intel has launched what it is calling its most secure data centre processor, which it claims delivers up to 60 per cent greater performance than its previous line of chips.

According to a statement Intel's Xeon Processor 5600 series has two new security features designed to enable faster encryption and decryption performance for more secure transactions and virtualised environments. These are the Intel Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions and Intel Trusted Execution Technology features.

Intel said these are the first server and workstation chips based on its 32nm fab process, which uses its high-k metal gate transistors to increase speed and decrease energy consumption.

The new line of chips supports up to six cores per processor and is said to deliver up to 60 per cent greater performance than the 45nm Intel Xeon processor 5500 series. It means that data centres might need only one server when they used to have 15 systems.

Chipzilla claims that a two socket server using its Xeon processor L5640 can provide the same performance as a comparable server using the previous generation X5570 series, but with up to 30 per cent less power. The company hopes its Xeon Processor 5600 series will become the backbone of mainstream computing. µ