Santa Clara, California-based Intel, the world's leading vendor of computer processors, is reportedly planning to launch a new two-core processor, designed for server systems and based on the “Clarksdale” core. According to available details, the new CPU will be rated at a mere 30W, as it's aimed to power a new segment of computer systems, namely that of “microservers,” which the company initially talked about at its developer forum, held last month.

 

Said 30W processor was trumpeted by the chip maker at IDF 2009, held between September 22 and September 24 at the Moscone Center West, in San Francisco, it will take advantage of Intel's Nehalem microarchitecture and will be featured with a core speed of 2.26Ghz. With those specifications, Chipzilla aims to use the chip in a new range of low-power microservers, which could be a choice for customers looking for a low-cost solution that offers a good performance ratio in certain applications.

 

“We're looking to define a new form factor that allows companies to come up with a uni-processor [machine] that's reasonably capable...and cost-effective and easy to deploy,” Jason Waxman, Intel's high-density computing boss said in a recent news-article on The Register.

 

Intel's reference system design includes a hardback-sized PCB, packed with 1.86GHz, quad-core “Lynnfield” processor, rated at 45W and coupled with four memory DIMMs. While this system uses a chip that is already available on the market, the company aims to provide its customers with a choice for a processor that will deliver a total idle power of 25W, and max out at 75W when performance is increased.

 

Intel claims that, for some customers, this type of solution is a bit more convenient and secure, as it replaces the need for virtualization and provides root-access privileges only to the consumer.