Sierra Forest

Not to be confused with Sierra National Forest.

Sierra Forest is the codename for sixth generation Xeon Scalable server processors designed by Intel, launched in June 2024. It is the first generation of Xeon processors to exclusively feature density-optimized E-cores. Sierra Forest processors are targeted towards cloud server customers with up to 288 Crestmont E-cores.

Sierra Forest

Launched	June 4, 2024 (2024-06-04)
Designed by	Intel
Manufactured by	Intel
Fabrication process	Intel 3
Codename(s)	SRF
Platform(s)	Server
Branding
Brand name(s)	Xeon
Generation	Xeon 6
Socket(s)	LGA 4710 LGA 7529
Instructions & Architecture
Instructions set	x86
Instructions	x86-64
Extensions	MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4, SSE4.1, SSE4.2 AVX, AVX2, FMA3, AVX-VNNI, AVX-IFMA, TSX VT-x, VT-d AES-NI, SHA, RDRAND
E-core architecture	Crestmont
Cores
Peak core clock	Up to 3.2 GHz
E-core L1 cache	96 KB (per core): 64 KB instructions 32 KB data
E-core L2 cache	4 MB (per cluster)
E-core L3 cache	3 MB (per cluster)
Memory Support
Type	DDR5
Memory channels	8 channels / 12 channels with Sierra Forest-AP[1]
Maximum capacity	Up to 1 TB
I/O
PCIe support	PCIe 5.0
PCIe lanes	88 PCIe 5.0 lanes
CXL support	CXL 2.0
DMI version	DMI 4.0
History
Variant	Granite Rapids (P-core)
Successor	Clearwater Forest

Background

On February 17, 2022, Intel announced that upcoming Xeon generations would be split into two tracks for those with P-cores exclusively and E-cores exclusively.^[2] These two tracks are intended to serve different market segments with P-core Xeon processors targeting high-performance computing while E-core Xeon processors target cloud customers who prioritize greater core density, energy efficiency and performance in heavily multi-threaded workloads over strong single-threaded usage.^[3]

On March 29, 2023, Intel announced that Sierra Forest processors had powered on and displayed a processor running 144 E-cores, and announced a release timeline for H1 2024.^[4] On September 19, 2023, Intel announced at their Innovation event that a 288-core variant of Sierra Forest would be coming.^[5]

On June 3, 2024, Intel released the Sierra Forest-SP line of SKUs, also known as the Xeon 6700E series. This product line included seven SKUs at launch, all using the LGA 4710 socket. The low-end SKU has 64 cores, and the high-end SKU has 144 cores.^[6]

Branding

During Intel's Vision event in April 2024, new branding for Xeon processors was unveiled.^[7] The Xeon Scalable branding that was introduced in 2017 would be retired in favor of a simplified "Xeon 6" brand for sixth generation Xeon processors.^[8] This change brings greater emphasis on processor generation numbers.^[9] The badge for the Xeon brand was changed to be more visually in line with the badge design used for Intel's Core Ultra processors since 2023.

Intel Xeon branding

Xeon Scalable (2020-2023)

Xeon 6 (2024)

Architecture

Sierra Forest uses only E-cores to achieve higher core counts in order to compete with AMD's Epyc server processors codenamed Bergamo which features up to 128 smaller Zen 4c cores.^[10] AMD's Zen 4c cores feature simultaneous multithreading (SMT) while the Crestmont E-cores featured in Sierra Forest processors can only support one thread for each core. The purpose of the Sierra Forest architecture design is to achieve ultra-high core counts for greater compute density that would benefit cloud and HPC server applications.^[11] Cloud service providers may not be as interested in HPC accelerators and instead prioritize greater ECU/vCPU integer and floating-point performance.^[12] Don Soltis is the principal engineer and chief architect for Xeon E-Core.^[13]

List of Sierra Forest processors

Sierra Forest-SP

Sierra Forest-SP (Scalable Performance) uses the Beechnut City platform with the smaller LGA 4710 socket, targeted towards mainstream server. Sierra Forest-SP features up to 144 E-cores and eight-channel DDR5 ECC memory support. TDPs up to 350W are supported on Beechnut City platform. All models have 88 PCI Express 5.0 lanes

SKU	Cores (threads)	Tiles	Core config[a]	Clock rate		Cache		Maximum scalability	Memory support	TDP	Release date	MSRP (USD)[b]
				Base	Turbo	L2	L3
6710E	64 (64)	1 × Compute 2 × I/O	1 × 64	2.4 GHz	3.2 GHz	64 MB	96 MB	2S	DDR5-5600	205 W	Jun 4, 2024	$2,199
6731E	96 (96)		1 × 96	2.2 GHz	3.1 GHz	96 MB		1S		250 W		$3,297
6740E				2.4 GHz	3.2 GHz	96 MB		2S	DDR5-6400	250 W		$3,949
6746E	112 (112)		1 × 112	2.0 GHz	2.7 GHz	112 MB			DDR5-5600	250 W		$4,447
6756E	128 (128)		1 × 128	1.8 GHz	2.6 GHz	128 MB			DDR5-6400	225 W		$6,320
6766E	144 (144)		1 × 144	1.9 GHz	2.7 GHz	144 MB	108 MB			250 W		$7,692
6780E			1 × 144	2.2 GHz	3.0 GHz					330 W		$8,513

1. Number of compute tiles × cores per compute tile
2. Price is Recommended Customer Price (RCP) at February 27, 2025. RCP is the trade price that processors are sold by Intel to retailers and OEMs. Actual MSRP for consumers is higher.

Sierra Forest-AP

Sierra Forest-AP uses the Avenue City platform with the larger LGA 7529 socket for higher core count SKUs up to 288. It supports a higher number PCIe lanes and 12-channel DDR5 memory.

See also

• Process–architecture–optimization model, by Intel
• Tick–tock model, by Intel
• List of Intel CPU microarchitectures