Intel introduced its first low-voltage dual-core Xeon processor for servers, which the company claims will have up to two to four times the performance-per-watt of previous Intel Xeon processors and platforms.

The new chip Intel is the third variant of Intel's Yonah processor core. Next to Core Duo and Core Solo, the company now offers the blade server CPU Xeon LV, formerly code-named Sossaman.

With a total dissipated power (TDP) of 31 watts, the new low-voltage Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor is ideal for deployments requiring high compute density and power optimization, including single-height (1U) chassis and blade servers, SAN and NAS solutions, and network infrastructure equipment, said Intel. Intel also claims that the new processor excels at handling demanding multi-threaded, multi-tasking applications such as high-performance computing and financial services, claims the company.

The Dual?Core Intel Xeon processor LV 2.0 GHz and 1.66 GHz are available from Intel now for $423 and $209 per unit, respectively, in 1,000?unit quantities.