UPDATE: Adding higher-end AMD Opteron processor scores into the table, adding a link to a review of the Intel Xeon MP processor with 4MB of cache.

As expected, Intel Corporation today unveiled its three new Xeon microprocessors for multiprocessor servers. The top of the line chip adds strong muscle to the IA32 MP server CPU product line and will be Intel’s flagship offering for this market in 2004.

In line with previous reports, Intel today delivered 3 new Xeon MP processors at 3.00GHz, 2.70GHz and 2.20GHz speed bins. The flagship offering boast 4MB of L3 cache, while the remaining parts feature 2MB of level-three cache. All new Xeon MP microprocessors are drop-in compatible with existing multiprocessor IA32 infrastructure, such as applications based on OEM custom chipsets or powered by ServerWorks GC-HE, GC-LE chipsets, using 400MHz Quad Pumped Bus.

Intel Xeon MP 3.00GHz processor delivers up to 25% better performance compared to previous versions based on TPC-C, SPECjbb2000 and SAP R/3 benchmark results, according to Intel.

System manufacturers are expected to offer more than 50 Intel Xeon processor MP-based systems, ranging from 4 to 32 processors, this year, Intel said. Manufacturers of Intel’s Xeon MP systems include Bull, Dell, Egenera, Fujitsu, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Gateway, HP, Hitachi, IBM, Kraftway, Langchao, Lenovo, NEC, Powerleader, Samsung, Toshiba and Unisys , as well as regional system builders.

The Intel Xeon processor MP at 3.00GHz featuring 4MB L3 cache is now available worldwide for Intel’s list price of $3692 in 1000-unit quantities. The 2.20GHz and 2.70GHz Xeon MP models are priced at $1177 and $1980 respectively.

Dell already offers PowerEdge 6000 servers with up to 4 Xeon MP 3.00GHz processors. The company has by now submitted performance results of its new servers to SPEC.org.

X-bit labs compiled SPECint_base2000 and SPECfp_rate_base2000 scores delivered by Dell PowerEdge 6000 servers against competitors:

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Note that performance results for AMD Opteron and Intel Pentium 4 processors were submitted by AMD and Intel respectively; Intel Itanium 2 numbers come from HP’s Integrity rx8620 servers; Intel Xeon DP performance figures were obtained on Dell’s Precision Workstation 650.

There is also a review of the new Xeon MP processor with 4MB of cache over AnandTech.