Intel expanded its 45-nanometer (nm) manufacturing chip portfolio with the launch of its first four halogen-free Intel Xeon processors, which combine performance and energy efficiency. Much of the energy efficiency these new processors provide comes from Intel's 45nm manufacturing capability and its reinvented transistors that use a Hafnium-based high-k metal gate formula. In addition, Intel said that all previously launched versions of the Intel Xeon 5200 and 5400 series will now be halogen-free.

The processors are drop-in compatible with existing Intel dual processor platforms that have been in the market since 2006. The Quad-Core Intel Xeon Processor 5400 Series consists of the new X5492, X5470 and L5430 processors, the fastest of which boasts a clock speed of 3.4GHz. The low voltage version uses only 50 watts of power or just 12.5 watts per core. The Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor X5270 runs as low as 80 watts with frequencies as high as 3.5 GHz.

A number of systems vendors are supporting these new processors including Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, Fujitsu-Siemens, Gigabyte, HP, IBM, Microstar, NEC, Quanta, Rackable Systems Inc., Sun Microsystems, Supermicro, Tyan and Verari Systems. The new 5400 series processors are available now, while the X5270 will be available this fall.

Pricing and Availability (1ku quantities)

Quad-Core Intel Xeon L5430 2.66GHz 1333MHz 50W, $562
Quad-Core Intel Xeon X5470 3.33GHz 1333MHz 120W, $1386
Quad-Core Intel Xeon X5492 3.4GHz 1600MHz 150W, $1493
Dual-Core Intel Xeon X5270 3.5GHz 1333MHz 80W, $1172