Intel's Accidental Tease Unveils Cutting-Edge Xeon Chip: A Glimpse Into the Future

In a twist of fate that had tech enthusiasts buzzing, Intel unintentionally offered a tantalizing sneak peek into its next-generation Xeon chip in a recent promotional video. While the chipmaker hastily removed the revealing footage, we managed to snag a screenshot of this enigmatic processor that's masquerading as a single-die marvel, either Sierra Forest or Granite Rapids.

The story of Sierra Forest and Granite Rapids emerged from the shadows during a sensational presentation at Hot Chips 2023. These processors boast a tile-based layout that hints at the tantalizing prospect of scalability. The next-gen Xeon chips are a marvel, featuring compute chiplets based on Intel's cutting-edge 3-nanometer process node, while their twin I/O companions rely on the slightly older but still impressive 7-nanometer process node. But what truly sets them apart are their architectural nuances. Sierra Forest gets its power from Sierra Glen E-cores, while Granite Rapids taps into the formidable Redwood Cove P-cores, the very same ones set to energize Intel's forthcoming mobile Meteor Lake chips.

Intel's presentation at Hot Chips 2023 raised eyebrows with its revelation of three potential configurations for Sierra Forest and Granite Rapids. The first configuration flaunts three compute chiplets, the second goes leaner with just two, but the third one is where things get fascinating – a single-die masterpiece. Whichever version you choose, rest assured that two I/O chiplets will always be by their side, offering a symphony of power and performance.

What's truly captivating is that the Xeon processor teased in Intel's video bears an uncanny resemblance to the single-die variant showcased at Hot Chips 23. The colossal compute chiplet takes center stage, flanked by the two loyal I/O chiplets. The online community has been buzzing with speculation about the chiplets' dimensions, with user Wild_C estimating the compute chiplet to occupy a whopping 578 square millimeters, while the I/O chiplets measure in at approximately 241 square millimeters – just a shade less than half the size of their computational counterpart. Intel remains tight-lipped about the official die sizes for Sierra Forest and Granite Rapids, so take these estimations with a grain of salt. The mystery only adds to the excitement surrounding these cutting-edge processors