The Intel Xeon Gold 5218N is a server/workstation processor with 16 cores, launched in April 2019. It is part of the Xeon Gold lineup, using the Cascade Lake architecture with Socket LGA3647. Thanks to Intel Hyper-Threading, the core-count is effectively doubled, to 32 threads. To further increase overall system performance, up to two Xeon Gold 5218N CPUs can work together in a multi-processor (SMP) configuration.

The Xeon Gold 5218N features a base clock speed of 2.3 GHz and can boost up to 3.7 GHz depending on workload demands. It includes 22 MB of L3 cache, enhancing performance for data-intensive applications. Intel manufactures the Xeon Gold 5218N on a 14 nm production process, ensuring improved efficiency and performance.

With a TDP of 125 W, this processor requires robust cooling solutions to maintain optimal performance. It supports DDR4 memory with a six-channel interface, operating at speeds up to 2666 MHz, and includes ECC (Error-Correcting Code) support, making it ideal for mission-critical systems where data integrity is paramount.

For system communication, the Xeon Gold 5218N utilizes PCI-Express Gen 3, providing high-speed connectivity for peripherals and storage. This processor does not include integrated graphics, so a dedicated graphics card may be necessary for display output.

Hardware virtualization is fully supported, significantly improving virtual machine performance, making the Xeon Gold 5218N an excellent choice for enterprise and cloud computing environments. Additionally, it includes advanced security features such as Intel SGX (Software Guard Extensions) and Intel AES-NI for enhanced encryption performance.

Overall, the Intel Xeon Gold 5218N is a powerful and efficient processor designed for high-performance computing, virtualization, and enterprise workloads.