There is no documented 50-core Intel Xeon Phi x200 processor. Intel’s top model in that generation is the Xeon Phi 7290, with 72 cores. The “50-core” description is best treated as a historical shorthand or a title mismatch, not as a specification. The 7290 is a 2016, 14 nm server processor that is now discontinued and marked end-of-servicing.
What the Xeon Phi 7290 actually is
The Xeon Phi 7290 belongs to Intel’s Knights Landing (x200) family, introduced at ISC High Performance in Germany on June 20, 2016. It was designed for highly parallel server and high-performance-computing workloads rather than ordinary desktop use.
Intel’s documented specifications identify it as a 72-core processor with a 1.50 GHz base frequency, up to 1.70 GHz turbo frequency, 36 MB of L2 cache and a 245 W thermal design power (TDP). Intel lists Q4 2016 as its launch period.
Because no official x200 model has 50 cores, calling the 7290 a “50-core” chip obscures the useful distinction: it is the highest-core-count model in the documented x200 lineup, not a 50-core product.
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- Processor Type: Xeon Phi
Xeon Phi x200 model lineup
| Model | Documented cores | Family position |
|---|---|---|
| Xeon Phi 7210 / 7210F | 64 | Entry x200 core count |
| Xeon Phi 7230 / 7230F | 64 | 64-core x200 variant |
| Xeon Phi 7250 / 7250F | 68 | Intermediate core count |
| Xeon Phi 7290 / 7290F | 72 | Highest documented x200 core count |
The “F” suffix identifies a closely related family variant in Intel’s archival table; the table establishes core counts, not a performance ranking between each suffix pair.
Key specifications of the 7290
| Specification | Intel-listed value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture generation | Knights Landing (x200) | Determines platform, firmware and software compatibility. |
| Lithography | 14 nm | Identifies the 2016 manufacturing generation. |
| Core count | 72 | Provides substantial thread-level parallelism for suitable workloads. |
| Base frequency | 1.50 GHz | Represents the rated operating point rather than a guaranteed all-core turbo speed. |
| Maximum turbo frequency | 1.70 GHz | Applies when thermal, electrical and workload conditions allow. |
| L2 cache | 36 MB | On-chip cache available to the processor cores. |
| TDP | 245 W | Sets a demanding cooling and power-delivery requirement. |
| Maximum memory | 384 GB | Intel’s stated platform limit for supported memory. |
| Memory bandwidth | 115.2 GB/s maximum | A specification maximum, not a universal application result. |
| Memory type | DDR4-2400, ECC | Requires server-class memory support and error correction. |
| Memory channels | Six | Channel population affects achievable bandwidth. |
| Expansion interface | PCIe 3.0, up to 36 lanes | Constrains accelerator and storage connectivity. |
| Instruction-set extension | AVX-512 | Applications must be built and tuned to benefit from these vector instructions. |
| Package/socket | SVLCLGA3647 | Requires a compatible LGA3647 server board and firmware. |
What those specifications mean in practice
Parallelism comes before headline speed
The 7290’s value is its large number of cores and vector capability. Workloads that divide cleanly across many threads and use AVX-512 can exploit the design. A lightly threaded application may not, and the relatively modest rated frequencies mean that core count alone cannot predict performance.
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Memory balance is part of the design
Six DDR4 memory channels and the listed bandwidth target make memory population and NUMA-aware software important. A system with the processor installed but poorly populated channels can leave performance on the table. The 384 GB maximum is an Intel platform specification, not a promise that every server motherboard accepts that capacity.
Power and cooling are system decisions
The processor’s high server-class TDP requires a chassis, heatsink, fans and voltage-regulation hardware designed for it. A socket that physically accepts the package is not sufficient if the platform’s BIOS, power delivery or cooling profile does not support the 7290.
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- Intel Xeon E-2286G (OEM Tray Processor) CPU Only - No retail Packaging
- Total Cores 6
- Total Threads 12
- Processor Base Frequency 4.00 GHz
- Max Turbo Frequency 4.90 GHz
Platform, I/O and virtualization limits
Intel specifies the SVLCLGA3647 package/socket, PCIe 3.0 with up to 36 lanes, ECC memory and DDR4-2400 support. Confirm all of these at the complete-system level: board documentation, firmware revision and vendor support determine whether a used processor will boot.
Intel’s product page states that Xeon Phi processors do not currently support virtualization. That makes the 7290 a poor fit for a conventional virtual-machine host where hardware virtualization is a requirement. Bare-metal HPC, scientific and other dedicated deployments are a more natural match.
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- Process Type: Six-Core Intel Xeon Processor X5690
- Frequency: 3.46 GHz
- Bus Speed: 6.4 GT/s
- Intel Smart Cache: 12 MB
- Process: 32 nm
How to evaluate a Xeon Phi system
Compare complete systems rather than processor names alone. Use these checks:
- Core count and frequency: establish whether the workload benefits from many slower cores or favors fewer faster cores.
- Memory configuration: verify total capacity, six-channel population, ECC support and the platform’s actual bandwidth behavior.
- Thermal design: confirm that the chassis and cooling assembly are rated for the processor’s TDP.
- Socket and firmware: check SVLCLGA3647 compatibility, BIOS support and the exact server model.
- AVX-512 readiness: verify that compilers, libraries and applications can use the instruction set; otherwise the advertised vector capability may provide little benefit.
- Virtualization: treat Intel’s stated lack of virtualization support as a hard constraint for hypervisor plans.
- Lifecycle: determine whether firmware, replacement parts and vendor servicing remain available.
No authoritative benchmark in the available documentation establishes the 7290 as an overall performance “champion.” Its suitability depends on workload, software tuning and the rest of the server.
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- Compatible with motherboards based on Intel chipsets of the 700 and 600 series.
Buying a 7290 today
The accurate product description is Intel Xeon Phi 7290 processor. Since Intel marks the model discontinued and end-of-servicing, current offers should be treated as used, refurbished or legacy-server hardware.
Checks before purchase
- Identify the exact server or motherboard model and confirm SVLCLGA3647 support.
- Check the vendor’s BIOS or microcode requirements for the 7290.
- Verify heatsink, fan, power-delivery and chassis compatibility with the processor’s thermal class.
- Confirm that the listing includes the condition, stepping and any required carrier or retention hardware.
- Ask how returns and testing are handled; old enterprise parts can arrive pulled from systems or with unknown service history.
- Price the complete platform, memory and cooling, not just the processor.
Marketplace inventory and program eligibility change constantly, so verify the live listing and seller terms before paying. A cheap chip is not a bargain if a compatible LGA3647 system, firmware update or cooling assembly is unavailable.
Who should consider it?
The 7290 can make sense for a specialist who already owns a compatible legacy server and has software that scales across many cores and can use AVX-512. It is much harder to justify for a new general-purpose server, a virtualized environment or an application whose performance depends on single-thread speed. In those cases, platform age, support status and software constraints outweigh the 72-core headline.
Bottom line
Intel’s documented “50-core” Xeon Phi does not exist. The relevant top-end x200 part is the 72-core Xeon Phi 7290, launched in 2016 and now discontinued. Its six-channel memory subsystem, AVX-512 support and many-core design can still suit carefully matched bare-metal workloads, but LGA3647 compatibility, cooling, firmware, virtualization limitations and end-of-servicing status must all be checked before treating a used processor as a viable system.
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