Expanding its quad-core processor family line-up, Intel has launched two quad-core 50-watt server processors that consume 35-60% less power compared to its existing 80 and 120-watt server products.

As firms focus on reducing electricity bills and cooling costs associated with computing needs, these new processors, requiring 12.5-watts for each of the four cores or processing engines, deliver similar performance and set a new standard in energy efficiency, claims Intel.

Servers based on the new processors are designed for dense Internet data centres, blade servers and industry verticals such as financial services where scale and density of servers are sensitive to power and cooling costs.

"We have responded to the industry's call to deliver breakthroughs for data centre energy efficiency. IT managers can get quad-core Xeon servers at the price of dual-core products," said Kirk Skaugen, VP, Intel's digital enterprise group.