These new processors feature a new microarchitecture versus previous-generation Xeons and Intel has revamped the naming convention and arrangement of the product stack as well. Whereas previous-generation Xeon processors carried version, class, and model number designations – for example, Xeon E5-2697 v4 – the Xeon Scalable processor family is now designated by Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories, with a single model number.
The new naming convention will take some getting used to if you’re already familiar with Intel’s previous-generation Xeons, but it’s relatively straightforward in the grand scheme of things. We will explain shortly…
With the Brickley and Grantley-EP platforms, Xeon E7 series processors sat at the top of the stack, followed by Xeon E5s (and Xeon E3s). Moving forward, with this current-generation of Xeon Scalable processors based on the 14nm Skylake-SP microarchitecture and with next-generation Cascade Lake-based Xeons, however, the Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze naming will be used. Xeon Platinum processors obviously sit at the top of the stack, followed by Gold, and so on.
