Securing the market
Chip giant Intel has launched its latest generation of Xeon server processors, the first to be made using the 32nm manufacturing process. Intel claims the Xeon 5600 series offers up to 60 percent higher performance than the 5500 previous generation.
Also new are a couple of security features: Intel Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions (Intel AES-NI), and Intel Trusted Execution Technology (Intel TXT). Intel AES-NI allows faster and more secure encryption and decryption, while Intel TXT provides hardware-based protection from software-based attacks, by creating an environment where applications can run within their own space, protected from all other software on the system.
As with the Xeon 5500 launch, Intel is also emphasising the ROI argument. "New security capabilities will boost the confidence of IT managers," said Kirk Skaugen, VP and GM of the Intel Architecture Group. "Improvements in performance, server virtualization and power consumption will foster productivity and efficiency for a broad range of applications ranging from data transactions to workstations performing medical imaging and digital prototyping."
Intel has also launched some processors specifically aimed at the embedded space today, including its first six-core efforts in this category - the E5645 and L5638. Lastly Intel has officially launched the Core i7 980X Extreme Edition, which you can read the HEXUS review of here.
