At the 2025 Intel Tech Tour held in Arizona, more than 200 participants from the global technology sector, including media representatives, analysts, and customers, were introduced to Intel’s upcoming Xeon 6+ server processor. The new chip, code-named Clearwater Forest, is set to launch in the first half of 2026.
Clearwater Forest will be built on Intel’s advanced 18A semiconductor node and is designed specifically for hyperscale data centers, cloud service providers, and telecommunications companies. The processor features up to 288 efficient cores (E-cores) and delivers a 17% increase in Instructions Per Cycle compared to its predecessor, Sierra Forest. According to Intel, these improvements will offer gains in processing density, throughput, and power efficiency.
Kevork Kechichian, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Data Center Group, said: “Clearwater Forest empowers data centers, cloud providers and telecom operators to scale workloads more efficiently, dramatically reduce energy consumption, and deliver smarter, more responsive services. Moreover, it will bring a significant boost in performance to current Xeon platforms, with transformative capabilities to drive further competitiveness and innovation in the rapidly evolving market.”
The event marked the first time the Intel Tech Tour was hosted in the United States.
