Intel has released new details about its new paid CPU platform, which is now officially called "Intel On Demand."
The software-defined platform will allow system administrators to pay additional fees to activate special accelerators built into their fourth-generation Xeon Scalable "Sapphire Rapids" processors.
The often-delayed new line of processors is expected to arrive in early 2023 and, unlike Intel's consumer-focused Alder Lake line of processors, Rapids is aimed at data center users who provide services such as hosting. on the cloud.
What will the new features enable?
Based on a set of updates merged with Linux 5.18, originally reported by Phoronix (opens in a new tab), Intel on Demand will discover which features are physically present in a particular processor.
The platform will then offer administrators the option to enable them and allow them to measure how often the feature is used, using "meter certificates," which verify the use of enabled licensed hardware features.
It has been reported that the Sapphire Rapids processors will include several acceleration technologies such as Advanced Matrix Extensions (AMX), Dynamic Load Balancer (DLB), Intel Data Streaming Accelerator (DSA), Intel In-Memory Analytics Accelerator (IAA), and Intel QuickAssist. . Technology (QAT) to accelerate specific workloads.
Intel has not yet released details on the exact price and capabilities of the new platform, but has indicated that they will revolve around AI, analytics, networking and computing.
The hardware giant's decision to move to a higher-paying model comes as the company appears to be caught in a period of change.
The chip giant has announced a spending reduction plan that is expected to cut costs by €3 billion in 2023, expected to reach between €8 and €10 billion in annual cost reductions by the end of 2025, and could include a "significant number" of layoffs as part of broader cost-cutting measures.