Intel Corp. this week added two new low-voltage quad-core Intel Xeon processors into the lineup, boosting overall performance and reducing power consumption of each core down to 12.5W, an exceptionally low figure. The new chips, which are made using 45nm process technology, will allow Intel’s partners to create low-power high-density servers with considerably higher performance.

Intel’s new microprocessors are quad-core Intel Xeon L5420 and L5410 chips that operate at 2.50GHz and 2.33GHz, respectively. Both central processing units utilize 1333MHz processor system bus (PSB) and feature 12MB of level-two cache. The new low-voltage Xeon processors are intended for dual-processor (DP) servers or workstations and have only 50W thermal design power (TDP), or 12.5W per core.

Previous-generation low-voltage Intel Xeon processors with 50W TDP for DP machines operated at clock-speeds in the range of 1.60GHz – 2.00GHz and featured 8MB of L2 cache, thus, providing substantially lower performance.

“Using Intel’s hafnium-infused high-k metal gate transistors has allowed our quad-core 45nm low-voltage server chips to attain new heights in power-efficient performance. These chips deliver the speed needed while using meager amounts of energy,” said Kirk Skaugen, vice president and general manager of Intel’s server platforms group.

Next quarter, Intel will also begin shipping a new dual-core low-voltage processor that will boast a 40W TDP and clock speed of 3.0GHz, with a 6 MB cache size and a 1333MHz PSB. Intel is also extending the existing quad-core Intel Xeon processor 5400-series for embedded market segments by offering the processor model L5410 with support for a 7-year life cycle.

Intel quad-core Xeon processor L5410 and L5420 are priced at $320 and $380, respectively, in 1000-unit quantities.