Intel’s 56-core Sapphire Rapids processor was spotted

Sapphire Rapids is Intel’s next-generation Xeon Scalable processor, using the Golden Cove architecture, manufactured using the Intel 7 (10nm Enhanced SuperFin) process. The new platform also supports PCIe Gen5, CXL 1.1 (Compute Express Link) and eight-channel DDR5 memory, while continuing Intel’s built-in AI acceleration strategy and supporting Intel Advanced Matrix Extensions (AMX). In addition, Sapphire Rapids will also launch an HBM version equipped with 64GB of HBM2E memory.

It was previously reported that Sandra Rivera, general manager of Intel’s data center and artificial intelligence group, said at the Bank of America Securities Global Technology Conference, that the Sapphire Rapids ramp-up did not go as planned and was later than expected by Intel, with Intel’s partners now needing to build more platforms and spend more time on validation.

In addition, Intel is likely to drop the Core-X series nomenclature entirely, all under the Xeon-enabled models. According to Intel’s roadmap, the new HEDT platform may be launched simultaneously with the platform of the 13th generation Core series processors, that is, Raptor Lake and the supporting 700 series chipset. Intel’s original plan to supply large-scale supplies in the second half of 2022 seems to have been delayed again. The latest news says that it will be delayed until next year, and related HEDT platform products are likely to be affected as well.