Intel Xeon 6979P 120c/240t 2.1GHz-3.9GHz 500W (PK8072006023000)

Intel Xeon 6979P Processor (504M Cache, 2.10 GHz) — Granite Rapids Platform for Extreme Dual-Socket Compute Nodes

The Intel Xeon 6979P is a top-tier processor in the Intel Xeon 6 Granite Rapids family, designed for maximum-scale dual-socket systems where raw compute density, memory capacity, and I/O bandwidth define overall platform efficiency. Featuring 120 cores and 240 threads, a 2.10 GHz base frequency, up to 3.9 GHz turbo, and a massive 504 MB shared cache, this CPU targets environments where workloads scale horizontally across hundreds of threads and require predictable, sustained performance under continuous load.

Architectural focus and target environments

The Xeon 6979P is built for modern data centers that prioritize node consolidation and workload density. In a dual-socket configuration, systems can expose 240 physical cores and an enormous shared cache pool, allowing operators to reduce the total number of servers required to deliver a given level of throughput. This makes the processor particularly attractive for large cloud providers, enterprise private clouds, and research facilities running mixed production and batch workloads.

Unlike CPUs optimized primarily for high clock speed, the 6979P is engineered for parallel efficiency. Its architecture excels when tasks can be distributed across many cores, such as large-scale service orchestration, compute backends for SaaS platforms, and high-volume transaction processing engines.

Memory subsystem and data locality

A defining strength of the Xeon 6979P is its ability to support very large memory configurations with high bandwidth. The Granite Rapids platform enables extensive DDR5 memory capacity, allowing nodes to host multi-terabyte memory footprints without compromising throughput. This is especially valuable for in-memory databases, caching layers, and analytics engines that rely on fast access to large datasets.

The 504 MB cache significantly improves data locality for workloads with complex or irregular access patterns. Applications such as graph analytics, large-scale simulations, and data preprocessing pipelines benefit from reduced memory latency and more consistent execution times under load.

I/O scalability and system integration

With PCIe 5.0 support and a high lane count, the Xeon 6979P is well suited for I/O-intensive systems. It can accommodate multiple high-performance NVMe storage devices, next-generation network adapters for high-throughput traffic, and accelerator cards for AI inference, compression, or specialized compute tasks.

This makes the processor an effective foundation for software-defined infrastructure, where storage, networking, and compute resources must scale together without creating bottlenecks.

Power profile and operational considerations

Operating at a 500 W TDP, the Xeon 6979P is designed for data centers with advanced power delivery and cooling capabilities. It is typically deployed in purpose-built servers optimized for sustained high-power operation, rather than general-purpose legacy chassis. When integrated into properly designed platforms, the processor delivers excellent performance per rack unit, even under constant utilization.

For system architects and operators, the Xeon 6979P is most effective when paired with careful NUMA planning, optimized scheduling, and memory-aware application design. In return, it enables exceptionally high consolidation ratios and stable performance for the most demanding enterprise and cloud workloads.