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Intel® Xeon® Processor E7 Family
Performance Brief: Model Number Characteristics and Impact to Performance
Intel® Xeon® Processor E7 Family
Performance and Model Numbers
Intel® Xeon® Processor E7-8800/4800/2800 Product Families Characteristics and Impact to Performance
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Just like many automobile manufacturers and other companies that have multiple
product lines within their product family, server processors have model numbers
to help distinguish the differences in features and delineate value. As your
business grows, so does demand for your products and / or services with
additional customers, users, and transactions that strain your current IT
infrastructure and back-end databases. The Intel® Xeon® brand helps customers
This paper focuses specifically on the Intel Xeon processor E7 family which is designed to be expandable and
scalable for larger deployments of business- or mission-critical workloads such as on-line transaction
processing, physical-to-virtual machine consolidation projects, business intelligence, customer relationship
management (CRM), and enterprise resource planning (ERP) / line-of-business applications that generate
revenue. The model numbers (see Figure 1) help differentiate the capabilities of the processors and in the
case of the Intel Xeon processor E7 product family, the wayness or maximum number of processors (CPUs or
sockets) in a node can be two, four, or eight (contrasted to the Intel Xeon processor E3 or E5 families, which
support only one or two/four processors, respectively). Performance may scale as the number of processors
installed (wayness) in a server is increased (up to 94% efficiency as published in this paper); but in a two-way
server, regardless of the actual processor wayness capability, the throughput application performance would
be expected to be the same.
MODEL NUMBERS AND
SCALABILITY
For the Intel Xeon processor E7 family,
processor models (also called SKUs) are
available in three wayness
configurations – two, four, or eight
socket native support (no third party
node controller required to connect the
Figure 1 - 2012 Processor Numbering Example
sockets together). Within a given Intel Xeon processor E7-xxxx SKU, the difference in wayness is irrelevant if
populated in only a two-socket node and corresponding performance differences are negligible. For example,
the top-bin Intel Xeon processor E7-8870/E7-4870/E7-2870 all have the same socket type (8) and the same
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number of users (typically matches the number of logical threads seen by the Operating System, OS)
simultaneously running a problem on a given server. The performance scaling is calculated by dividing the
resulting score from the maximum number of processors populated in one server by the score of the server with
n-way processors populated in another server configuration. So from 2- to 4- to 8-socket-based servers, the
perfect scaling would be four times, meaning that the number of users supported (or problems solved) in the 8-
socket server is four times more than what a 2-socket server could support. The efficiency is measured by how
close a scale-up server performs comparatively to that perfect scaling, which in this case is quite reasonable at up
2-socket 4-socket 8-socket
Servers Servers Servers
The Intel Xeon processor E7-8870 can be populated in a 2-, 4-, or 8-socket server configuration. This is due to the
Intel® QuickPath Interconnect (Intel® QPI) that allows the processors to share resources by allowing all of the
components to access other components through the mainboard network. Similar to the Intel Xeon processor E7-
8870, the E7-4870 model supports 2- or 4-socket server configurations; but on the Intel Xeon processor E7-2870,
only 2-sockets can be populated in a server node (though multiple nodes can be joined together to form a larger
There are no characteristics in each of the three processors noted above that differ, other than the wayness
capability. All three processors operate in the same number of available cores per socket, core frequency, Intel®
QPI speed, and cache structure (see Figure 2 above). Therefore, in a 2-socket server configuration, the
performance delta between the three will only be typical run-to-run variation due to a number of factors including
manufacturing variances that may affect the length of time the processors run above their marked frequency
using Intel® TurboBoost Technology. SPEC* allows for up to 1.75% variation. This hypothesis was confirmed
through testing using Intel internal labs and as seen in Figure 5 below as there is less than 0.5% difference in
performance between the three processors when in the same two-socket server configuration (see Table 1 below
for complete list of equivalent processor SKUs).
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Table 1 - Intel Xeon processor E7 family model numbers and wayness supported
Wayness
2-Sockets Native
Intel® Xeon® Processor E7-8800/4800/2800 Product Family Equivalent Performance
E7-2870 / E7-4870 E7-2860 / E7-4860 E7-2850 / E7-4850 E7-2830 / E7-4830
/ E7-8870
E7-4870 / E7-8870 E7-4860 / E7-8860 E7-4850 / E7-8850 E7-4830 / E7-8830
E7-8870 E7-8860 E7-8850 E7-8830
/ E7-8860
/ E7-8850
/ E7-8830
4-Sockets Native
8-Sockets Native
CONCLUSION
Servers are very complex machines, especially in the “big iron” class where multi-processor configurations are the
norm. The Intel Xeon processor E7 family is designed to support a multitude of shipping configurations and the
model numbering schema is attempting to clarify the wayness and feature choices that customers have. In the
current generation Intel Xeon
processor E7 family scalable
platform situation, the
performance throughput
increases at up to 94%
efficiency from 2- to 8-
sockets. However, in a two-
552
553
555
socket server configuration,
there is no appreciable
difference in performance
regardless of the processor
SKU chosen – Intel Xeon
processors E7-
8870/4870/2870 and others
equivalent.
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NOTES / SOURCES
1. See http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/processor-numbers.html for more information on the Intel
Xeon processor numbering.
families-specification-update.pdf for more information on Intel Xeon processor E7 family identification information.
3. Additional Configurations via OEM-specific scaling technologies (up to 256-sockets)
4. Comparison based on best published Intel Xeon processor E7 results in a 2-, 4-, and 8-socket configuration using the
SPECint*_rate_base2006 integer throughput benchmark that is often used as a proxy for general server application
performance.
a. 8-socket server: Hewlett-Packard ProLiant* DL980 G7 scoring 2070 baseline.
b. 4-socket server: Cisco UCS* C460 M2 scoring 1100 baseline.
c. 2-socket server: IBM System x* 3690 X5 scoring 550 baseline.
5. Comparison based on Intel internal testing on Intel Xeon processor E7 family using SPECint*_rate_base2006
benchmark baseline scores. System Configuration: Intel® C606 Chipset based reference platform
(see http://www.qsscit.com/en/01_product/02_detail.php?mid=27&sid=125&id=126&qs=50 for details) supporting
two each Intel Xeon processors E7-8870, E7-4870, and E7-2870 populated in sockets 0 and 1 with 128 GB memory
(32x 4 GB DR DDR3-1066 RDIMMs), Red Hat* Enterprise LINUX 6.2, Intel Compiler XE2012 (12.1) compiled binaries.
Source: Intel internal TR#1326 October 2012. See Appendix for details.
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APPENDIX
Intel® Xeon® Processor E7-2870
Base Base Base Peak
Copies Run Time Rate
------
Peak
Peak
Benchmarks
--------------
400.perlbench
400.perlbench
400.perlbench
401.bzip2
401.bzip2
401.bzip2
403.gcc
403.gcc
403.gcc
429.mcf
429.mcf
429.mcf
445.gobmk
445.gobmk
445.gobmk
456.hmmer
456.hmmer
456.hmmer
458.sjeng
Copies Run Time Rate
--------- ---------
--------- --------- ------
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
923
926
921
1236
1235
1233
750
755
747
471
472
470
883
883
882
553
552
559
1065
1064
1063
247
248
247
1314
1368
1368
799
799
799
877
878
876
478
477
478
423 *
422 S
424 S
312 S
313 *
313 S
429 *
426 S
431 S
775 *
774 S
776 S
475 *
475 S
476 S
675 *
677 S
667 S
454 S
455 *
455 S
3360 S
3340 S
3350 *
674 S
647 S
647 *
313 S
313 *
313 S
320 *
320 S
320 S
577 S
579 S
578 *
458.sjeng
458.sjeng
462.libquantum
462.libquantum
462.libquantum
464.h264ref
464.h264ref
464.h264ref
471.omnetpp
471.omnetpp
471.omnetpp
473.astar
473.astar
473.astar
483.xalancbmk
483.xalancbmk
483.xalancbmk
===================
400.perlbench
401.bzip2
======= ====== ============================================
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
923
1235
750
471
883
553
1064
247
1368
799
877
423 *
313 *
429 *
775 *
475 *
675 *
455 *
3350 *
647 *
313 *
320 *
578 *
552
403.gcc
429.mcf
445.gobmk
456.hmmer
458.sjeng
462.libquantum
464.h264ref
471.omnetpp
473.astar
483.xalancbmk
SPECint(R)_rate_base2006
SPECint_rate2006
478
Not Run
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Intel® Xeon® Processor E7-4870
Base Base Peak Peak Peak
Copies Run Time Rate Copies Run Time Rate
------ --------- --------- ------ --------- ---------
Base
Benchmarks
--------------
400.perlbench
400.perlbench
400.perlbench
401.bzip2
401.bzip2
401.bzip2
403.gcc
403.gcc
403.gcc
429.mcf
429.mcf
429.mcf
445.gobmk
445.gobmk
445.gobmk
456.hmmer
456.hmmer
456.hmmer
458.sjeng
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
922
924
918
1235
1234
1233
746
753
763
470
472
470
883
886
882
555
551
548
1064
1063
1065
247
247
247
1325
1358
1367
799
799
799
879
877
875
478
477
478
424 *
423 S
426 S
313 S
313 *
313 S
432 S
427 *
422 S
776 *
774 S
776 S
475 *
474 S
476 S
672 S
677 *
681 S
455 *
455 S
454 S
3350 S
3360 *
3360 S
668 S
652 *
647 S
313 S
313 *
313 S
319 S
320 *
321 S
577 S
579 S
578 *
458.sjeng
458.sjeng
462.libquantum
462.libquantum
462.libquantum
464.h264ref
464.h264ref
464.h264ref
471.omnetpp
471.omnetpp
471.omnetpp
473.astar
473.astar
473.astar
483.xalancbmk
483.xalancbmk
483.xalancbmk
==============
400.perlbench
401.bzip2
======= =====================================================
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
922
1234
753
470
883
551
1064
247
1358
799
877
424 *
313 *
427 *
776 *
475 *
677 *
455 *
3360 *
652 *
313 *
320 *
578 *
553
403.gcc
429.mcf
445.gobmk
456.hmmer
458.sjeng
462.libquantum
464.h264ref
471.omnetpp
473.astar
483.xalancbmk
SPECint(R)_rate_base2006
SPECint_rate2006
478
Not Run
7
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Intel® Xeon® Processor E7-8870
Base Base Peak Peak Peak
Copies Run Time Rate Copies Run Time Rate
------ --------- --------- ------ --------- ---------
Base
Benchmarks
--------------
400.perlbench
400.perlbench
400.perlbench
401.bzip2
401.bzip2
401.bzip2
403.gcc
403.gcc
403.gcc
429.mcf
429.mcf
429.mcf
445.gobmk
445.gobmk
445.gobmk
456.hmmer
456.hmmer
456.hmmer
458.sjeng
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
925
919
920
1233
1231
1232
747
747
756
470
471
471
880
882
884
554
554
555
1066
1063
1065
247
247
247
1314
1313
1335
798
798
798
876
879
876
477
477
480
423 S
425 S
425 *
313 S
313 S
313 *
431 *
431 S
426 S
777 S
774 S
775 *
477 S
475 *
475 S
674 *
674 S
673 S
454 S
455 S
455 *
3350 S
3360 S
3350 *
674 *
674 S
663 S
313 *
313 S
313 S
321 S
319 S
321 *
579 S
578 *
575 S
458.sjeng
458.sjeng
462.libquantum
462.libquantum
462.libquantum
464.h264ref
464.h264ref
464.h264ref
471.omnetpp
471.omnetpp
471.omnetpp
473.astar
473.astar
473.astar
483.xalancbmk
483.xalancbmk
483.xalancbmk
==============
400.perlbench
401.bzip2
======= =====================================================
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
920
1232
747
471
882
554
1065
247
1314
798
876
425 *
313 *
431 *
775 *
475 *
674 *
455 *
3350 *
674 *
313 *
321 *
578 *
555
403.gcc
429.mcf
445.gobmk
456.hmmer
458.sjeng
462.libquantum
464.h264ref
471.omnetpp
473.astar
483.xalancbmk
SPECint(R)_rate_base2006
SPECint_rate2006
477
Not Run
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Author
Frank Jensen is a Performance Engineer in Intel’s Data Center Marketing Group
Software and workloads used in performance tests may have been optimized for performance only on Intel microprocessors. Performance tests, such as
SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations and functions. Any change to any of those
factors may cause the results to vary. You should consult other information and performance tests to assist you in fully evaluating your contemplated
purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products.
Intel does not control or audit the design or implementation of third party benchmarks or Web sites referenced in this document. Intel encourages all of
its customers to visit the referenced Web sites or others where similar performance benchmarks are reported and confirm whether the referenced
benchmarks are accurate and reflect performance of servers available for purchase.
This paper is for informational purposes only. THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER. INCLUDING WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT, FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY WARRANTY OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF ANY PROPOSAL,
SPECIFICATION OR SAMPLE. Intel disclaims all liability, including liability for infringement of any proprietary rights relating to use of information in this
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SPEC and the benchmark name SPECint are trademarks of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation. Benchmark results stated above reflect
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microprocessors. These optimizations include SSE2, SSE3, and SSE3 instruction sets and other optimizations. Intel does not guarantee the availability,
functionality, or effectiveness of any optimization on microprocessors not manufactured by Intel.
Microprocessor-dependent optimizations in this product are intended for use with Intel microprocessors. Certain optimizations not specific to Intel
microarchitecture are reserved for Intel microprocessors. Please refer to the applicable product User and Reference Guides for more information
regarding the specific instruction sets covered by this notice.
Notice revision #20110804
Copyright® 2012 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel®, Xeon®, and the Xeon® logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in other countries. * Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. All timeframes, dates and
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