The Intel Xeon E3-1290 v2 was a server/workstation processor with 4 cores, launched in May 2012. It is part of the Xeon lineup, using the Ivy Bridge architecture with Socket LGA1155. Thanks to Intel Hyper-Threading the core-count is effectively doubled, to 8 threads. Xeon E3-1290 v2 has 8 MB of L3 cache and operates at a base frequency of 3.7 GHz, with a maximum turbo frequency of 4.1 GHz depending on workload conditions. Intel is manufacturing the Xeon E3-1290 v2 on a 22 nm production process, featuring advanced power efficiency. With a TDP of 87 W, this processor offers a balanced performance-to-power ratio, though adequate cooling is still recommended. Intel's processor supports DDR3 memory with a dual-channel interface, running at speeds up to 1600 MHz. ECC memory is supported as well, which is crucial for mission-critical systems to prevent data corruption. For communication with other system components, the Xeon E3-1290 v2 utilizes a PCI-Express Gen 3 connection. This processor does not include integrated graphics, so a discrete graphics card may be required. Hardware virtualization is fully supported on the Xeon E3-1290 v2, significantly enhancing virtual machine performance. The processor also includes Intel's Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) for improved floating-point performance in demanding applications.