Intel launches 288‑core Xeon 6+ “Clearwater Forest,” bringing 18‑ampere design to data centers

Why the 18‑ampere node matters for modern workloads

Intel unveiled its latest Xeon 6+ processor family, dubbed „Clearwater Forest,” on June 1 2026. The new chips can host up to 288 cores and 576 MB of L3 cache, and they are the first to run on an 18‑ampere power node inside a data‑center environment. Intel markets the flagship Xeon 6990E+ as delivering roughly 30 percent higher per‑thread performance than AMD’s 192‑core EPYC 9965.

The Clearwater Forest line builds on Intel’s dense 6+ architecture, which packs more transistors per square millimetre than previous generations. By moving to an 18‑ampere power delivery scheme, the chips can sustain higher core counts without exceeding thermal limits. Intel says the design reduces the number of sockets needed for large workloads, cutting both hardware costs and floor space. The processors target AI inference, high‑performance computing, and cloud‑native services that demand massive parallelism.

Data‑center operators have struggled with power‑density constraints as workloads grow more demanding. The 18‑ampere node allows each server to draw more current while keeping voltage drops low, which improves overall efficiency. Intel’s engineering team reports that the new design lowers the power‑per‑core ratio by up to 12 percent compared with the previous 12‑ampere Xeon generations. This efficiency gain translates into fewer cooling units and lower operating expenses for large‑scale deployments.

Can Intel’s Xeon 6990E+ outpace AMD’s 192‑core EPYC 9965?

Independent benchmarks released by Intel show the Xeon 6990E+ achieving 30 percent faster per‑thread speeds on standard synthetic tests. In real‑world AI workloads, the chip reportedly delivered up to 22 percent higher throughput while maintaining similar power draw. AMD’s EPYC 9965 still offers a larger core count, but Intel argues that higher per‑core performance reduces latency for latency‑sensitive applications. Analysts note that the true advantage will depend on software optimisation and the specific mix of workloads in each data centre.

If the performance claims hold up in production, the Clearwater Forest family could reshape server procurement strategies. Cloud providers may favour the higher‑core, higher‑density Xeon chips to maximise rack utilisation. Intel’s roadmap suggests further refinements to the 6+ architecture, hinting at even larger core counts in future releases. The competitive pressure on AMD may spur new designs that focus on efficiency rather than sheer core numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the power rating of the new Xeon 6+ processors? The Clearwater Forest CPUs operate on an 18‑ampere power node, a step up from the 12‑ampere standard used in earlier Xeon models.

How does the core count of 288 compare to previous Intel offerings? It is the highest core count Intel has released for a single Xeon socket, surpassing the 224‑core limit of the prior Xeon 7000 series.

Will existing data‑center infrastructure need upgrades to use these chips? Most modern racks can accommodate the 18‑ampere specification, but some facilities may need to verify power distribution and cooling capacity before full deployment.