Benchmarks show the Intel Xeon 6780E Sierra Forest processor running about 14 percent faster on Linux now than at its launch in June 2024. This gain comes from upstream software optimizations over the past year and a half. The tests compare Ubuntu 24.04 LTS from launch to a current development version of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.
The Intel Xeon 6780E, part of the Sierra Forest family, launched in June 2024. Fresh benchmarks conducted as part of end-of-year 2025 testing reveal notable progress in its Linux performance. Using the same dual-processor server setup, the evaluation pits the original Ubuntu 24.04 LTS software stack against a development snapshot of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, set for release in April.
These improvements stem from upstream Linux enhancements made by Intel and other contributors throughout 2025. The processor itself boasts 144 cores, a maximum turbo frequency of 3GHz, a base frequency of 2.2GHz, 108MB of cache, support for AVX2 instructions, and a thermal design power of 330 watts.
While firmware challenges have complicated testing on the reference server, the latest results highlight how open-source optimizations have boosted efficiency. This evolution aligns with broader trends seen in other Intel and AMD server chips, such as Granite Rapids and EPYC series, where software updates have similarly enhanced performance over time.
Looking ahead, these findings precede comparisons with next-generation Intel Clearwater Forest, expected later this year, and fresh matchups against AMD EPYC 9005 processors. Such advancements underscore the ongoing refinement of Linux for high-performance computing workloads.