Intel's high-end x86-based CPU chips, pronounced "
zee-ahn." Xeon chips are faster and more advanced than the mainstream Intel lines (Pentium, Core, etc.). Designed for servers and high-end workstations, Xeons include error-checking memory (see
ECC) and system management features (see
SMBus) not found in the regular chips. They have from two to 18 cores, the fastest system buses and largest memory capacities with some chips addressing a terabyte of RAM.
Xeon Model Designations
Introduced in 1998, Xeons have used various model names and numbers: Xeon Pentium II, Xeon Pentium III, Xeon DP (dual processor), Xeon MP (multiprocessor), Xeon 3000, 5000, 6000, 7000, Xeon E3, E5, E7 and Xeon Bronze, Silver and Gold. See
x86,
Xeon Phi,
Intel Core and
Itanium.