Intel Details 12th Gen Core SoCs Optimized For Edge Applications (theregister.com) 6
Intel has made available versions of its 12th-generation Core processors optimized for edge and IoT applications, claiming the purpose-built chips enable smaller form factor designs, but with the AI inferencing performance to analyze data right at the edge. The Register reports: The latest members of the Alder Lake family, the 12th Gen Intel Core SoC processors for IoT edge (formerly Alder Lake PS) combine the performance profile and power envelope of the mobile chips but the LGA socket flexibility of the desktop chips, according to Intel, meaning they can be mounted directly on a system board or in a socket for easy replacement. Delivered as a multi-chip package, the new processors combine the Alder Lake cores with an integrated Platform Controller Hub (PCH) providing I/O functions and integrated Iris Xe graphics with up to 96 graphics execution units. [...]
Intel VP and general manager of the Network and Edge Compute Division Jeni Panhorst said in a statement that the new processors were designed for a wide range of vertical industries. "As the digitization of business processes continues to accelerate, the amount of data created at the edge and the need for it to be processed and analyzed locally continues to explode," she said. Another key capability for managing systems deployed in edge scenarios is that these processors include Intel vPro features, which include remote management capabilities built into the hardware at the silicon level, so an IT admin can reach into a system and perform actions such as changing settings, applying patches or rebooting the platform.
The chips support up to eight PCIe 4.0 lanes, and four Thunderbolt 4/USB4 lanes, with up to 64GB of DDR5 or DDR4 memory, and the graphics are slated to deliver four 4K displays or one 8K display. Operating system support includes Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) and Linux options. Intel said the new SoCs are aimed at a broad range of industries, including point-of-sale kit in the retail, banking, and hospitality sectors, industrial PCs and controllers for the manufacturing industry, plus healthcare.
Intel VP and general manager of the Network and Edge Compute Division Jeni Panhorst said in a statement that the new processors were designed for a wide range of vertical industries. "As the digitization of business processes continues to accelerate, the amount of data created at the edge and the need for it to be processed and analyzed locally continues to explode," she said. Another key capability for managing systems deployed in edge scenarios is that these processors include Intel vPro features, which include remote management capabilities built into the hardware at the silicon level, so an IT admin can reach into a system and perform actions such as changing settings, applying patches or rebooting the platform.
The chips support up to eight PCIe 4.0 lanes, and four Thunderbolt 4/USB4 lanes, with up to 64GB of DDR5 or DDR4 memory, and the graphics are slated to deliver four 4K displays or one 8K display. Operating system support includes Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) and Linux options. Intel said the new SoCs are aimed at a broad range of industries, including point-of-sale kit in the retail, banking, and hospitality sectors, industrial PCs and controllers for the manufacturing industry, plus healthcare.
vPro (Score:4, Funny)
Hardware-level backdoor included in every chip. It's not a bug - it's a feature.
Re: vPro (Score:3)
Another key capability for managing systems deployed in edge scenarios is that these processors include Intel vPro features, which include remote management capabilities built into the hardware at the silicon level, so an IT admin or hacker can reach into a system and perform actions such as changing settings, applying patches or rebooting the platform.
FIFY
Atom 2.0? (Score:2)
Wasn't this the same justification/vision/rationalization for the Atom series of processors years and years ago?
I find it hard to believe that anything useful can be done with fewer than 4 cores running at over 3 GHz with at least 16 Gigs of RAM!
LOL
Re: (Score:2)
For what applications are these chips supposed to be again? It seems to be the worst of both worlds. These specs seem confused and same time nonsensical. For AI workloads they are combining GPUs that are far inferior to NVidia and Radeon GPUs with power hungry CPUs. Nvidia [anandtech.com] chose the opposite approach combining lower power ARM processors with their GPUS.
For IoT devices, the processors consume 15-45W? Four 4K displays or one 8K display: Why?
Re: (Score:2)
If it's based on Alder Lake-N, it won't be power hungry.
Re: (Score:2)
Take a look at Intel's product catalogue. Last-gen (Gen 11) featured many "Atom"-based products using the Tremont core:
https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/i... [wikichip.org]
Current-gen Atom - Gracemont - made its debut as a part of Alder Lake. It looks like Intel is leaning heavily on Gracemont for these products.