Intel's Yonah to move into servers as "Xeon LV" processor

Seattle (WA) - Intel will use its brand new Yonah processor core not only for single- and dual-core mobile processors but also to increase its role in the blade server market. The server derivate, code-named "Sossaman," will debut this quarter and will receive the name "Xeon Low Voltage," according to a press release issued by server vendor Rackable Systems.

Rackable is the first company that announces the processor with its actual name and an expected availability of server systems during Q1. The system will use a 2 GHz Xeon LV processor that keeps the peak power for a server system within a 115 watt envelope, Rackable said.

According to sources, the 2 GHz version will remain the only Xeon LV with Sossaman core. The chip is designed for a thermal design power of 31 watts and succeeds the current 3 GHz Xeon LV (Irwindale core), which was rated at 55 watts. Sossaman will use the E7520 chipset, which is currently coupled with the firm’s Irwindale, Nocona and Paxville DP cores and can connect to up to 16 GB of DDR-266, DDR333 or DDR2-400 memory.

Towards the end of the first half of this year, Intel plans to introduce a Sossaman LV, processor, which will be launched as "Xeon ULV," sources said. The ULV chip will run at 1.66 GHz and will be designed for a 15 watt power envelope.

Even if Intel internally refers to Sossaman as a processor with "Yonah2" core, which indicates that the processor may extend the feature set of the mobile Yonah version (Core Duo), the chipset support appears to be the main differentiator between the two processors. As Core Duo, Sossaman supports a 667 MHz FSB and comes with 2 MB of L2 cache. According to Rackable, Sossaman will also be limited to 32-bit functionality.

Pricing of the Sossaman server has not been announced.