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Ice Lake-SP is the mainstream one- and two-socket branch of Intel’s 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable family—not the entire family. The generation also includes Cooper Lake processors, chiefly the H and HL models intended for four- and eight-socket systems. For a used server, homelab, or enterprise replacement build, the best Ice Lake value depends on current system price, memory, licensing, cooling, and workload—not simply core count.
This guide separates the platforms, lists the Ice Lake-SP SKUs, preserves Intel’s historical 2021 recommended customer pricing (RCP), and identifies sensible choices for virtualization, databases, networking, media, and high-throughput workloads.
Ice Lake-SP versus Cooper Lake-SP
Ice Lake-SP: primarily the non-H/HL 4300, 5300, 6300, and 8300 processors for one- and two-socket servers.
Cooper Lake-SP: the associated four- and eight-socket branch, including models such as 8353H, 8360H, 8376H, 8380H, and their HL variants.
#1 Best Overall
- CPU: Supports 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors
- Socket: Single Socket P+ (LGA 4189)
- Chipset: Intel C621A
- Supported DIMM Quantity: 8 DIMM slots (1DPC)
- Supported Type: Supports DDR4 288-pin RDIMM, LRDIMM, RDIMM/LRDIMM-3DS, Intel Optane Persistent Memory 200 series
“3rd Gen Xeon Scalable” is therefore a commercial-generation label, while “Ice Lake-SP” identifies the mainstream platform implementation. A model number beginning with 83 does not, by itself, prove that a processor belongs in an Ice Lake comparison. Intel’s product brief separates the one-/two-socket and four-/eight-socket groups.
| Attribute | Ice Lake-SP | Cooper Lake-SP |
|---|---|---|
| Main socket range | 1S/2S | 4S/8S |
| Typical suffix pattern | Non-H/HL |
H/HL |
| Role | Mainstream 3rd Gen server platform | Specialized high-socket-count systems |
| Treatment here | Primary SKU list | Excluded from the main buying tables |
What Ice Lake-SP changed
Ice Lake-SP is a 2021 server platform based on Intel’s Ice Lake architecture. Mainstream models span 8 to 40 cores and bring several platform capabilities that matter more than the processor name alone:
- PCIe 4.0: up to 64 PCIe Gen 4 lanes per CPU, compared with up to 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes on the prior-generation comparison platform.
- Six-channel memory: DDR4-3200 support is available on most mainstream parts, subject to the exact SKU, DIMM population, and server design.
- Optane Persistent Memory 200 Series: supported on selected processors and supported platforms, not universally.
- AVX-512 and Intel Deep Learning Boost: useful for workloads compiled and configured to exploit the relevant instruction sets.
- Intel SGX: available with different enclave-capacity options. Support is not the same as having the maximum enclave capacity.
- Intel Speed Select Technology: available on selected models, including the
Yvariants. - Workload-specific models: networking/NFV, cloud, media, long-life, thermal/NEBS, and single-socket variants.
Feature availability varies by SKU. Check Intel ARK, the product brief, and the server manufacturer’s documentation before treating any feature as guaranteed.
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Complete Ice Lake-SP SKU list
The following are the clean Ice Lake-SP members identified in the supplied Intel family data. The H and HL Cooper Lake parts are deliberately omitted.
Silver 4300
4309Y, 4310, 4310T, 4314, 4316
Gold 5300
5315Y, 5317, 5318N, 5318S, 5318Y, 5320, 5320T
Gold 6300
6312U, 6314U, 6326, 6330, 6330N, 6334, 6336Y, 6338, 6338N, 6338T, 6342, 6346, 6348, 6354
Platinum 8300
8351N, 8352M, 8352S, 8352V, 8352Y, 8358, 8358P, 8360Y, 8362, 8368, 8368Q, 8380
Intel ARK is the appropriate current reference for product names, specifications, and lifecycle information because specifications and availability can change.
General-purpose specifications and historical launch RCP
RCP means Intel’s recommended customer price in the launch-era product brief. These are historical 2021 figures, not current September 2026 used-market quotes.
| SKU | Tier | Cores | Base | Single-core turbo | All-core turbo | Cache | TDP | Socket class | Launch RCP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4309Y | Silver | 8 | 2.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz | 3.4 GHz | 12 MB | 105 W | 1S/2S | $501 |
| 4310 | Silver | 12 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 18 MB | 120 W | 1S/2S | $501 |
| 4314 | Silver | 16 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 24 MB | 135 W | 1S/2S | $694 |
| 4316 | Silver | 20 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 30 MB | 150 W | 1S/2S | $1,002 |
| 5315Y | Gold | 8 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 12 MB | 140 W | 1S/2S | $895 |
| 5317 | Gold | 12 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 18 MB | 150 W | 1S/2S | $950 |
| 5318Y | Gold | 24 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 36 MB | 165 W | 1S/2S | $1,273 |
| 5320 | Gold | 26 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 39 MB | 185 W | 1S/2S | $1,555 |
| 6326 | Gold | 16 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 24 MB | 185 W | 1S/2S | $1,300 |
| 6330 | Gold | 28 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 42 MB | 205 W | 1S/2S | $1,894 |
| 6334 | Gold | 8 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 18 MB | 165 W | 1S/2S | $2,214 |
| 6336Y | Gold | 24 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 36 MB | 185 W | 1S/2S | $1,977 |
| 6338 | Gold | 32 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 48 MB | 205 W | 1S/2S | $2,612 |
| 6342 | Gold | 24 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 36 MB | 230 W | 1S/2S | $2,529 |
| 6346 | Gold | 16 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 36 MB | 205 W | 1S/2S | $2,300 |
| 6348 | Gold | 28 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 42 MB | 235 W | 1S/2S | $3,072 |
| 6354 | Gold | 18 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 39 MB | 205 W | 1S/2S | $2,445 |
| 8352Y | Platinum | 32 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 48 MB | 205 W | 1S/2S | $3,450 |
| 8358 | Platinum | 32 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 48 MB | 250 W | 1S/2S | $3,950 |
| 8360Y | Platinum | 36 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 54 MB | 250 W | 1S/2S | $4,702 |
| 8362 | Platinum | 32 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 48 MB | 265 W | 1S/2S | $5,448 |
| 8368 | Platinum | 38 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 57 MB | 270 W | 1S/2S | $6,302 |
| 8380 | Platinum | 40 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 60 MB | 270 W | 1S/2S | $8,099 |
The supplied product brief does not provide every requested clock, cache, or turbo field for every specialized SKU in a single comparable table. Use ARK for the exact processor record rather than filling gaps with assumptions.
Rank #2
- Super Micro X11DDW-L Motherboard
- 2nd generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors (cascade lake-spa), Intel Xeon Scalable processors. Dual socket lga-3647 (socket P) supported, CPU TDP support up to 205W TDP, 2 UPI up to 10. 4 get/s
- Up to 3TB 3DS ECC RDIMM, ddr4-2933mhz; up to 3TB 3DS ECC LRDIMM, ddr4-2933mhz, in 12 DIMM slots; up to 2TB Intel Optane DC persistent Memory in memory mode (cascade Lake only)
- 1 PCI-E 3. 0 x32 Left Riser Slot, 1 PCI-E 3. 0 x16 Right Riser Slot, 1 PCI-E 3. 0 x16 for Add-On-Module (AOM) M. 2 Interface: PCI-E 3. 0 x4 M. 2 Form Factor: 2242, 2260, 2280, 22110 M. 2 Key: M-Key
- 1 VGA port
Specialized Ice Lake models
| Category | SKU | Cores | Base | Turbo | TDP | Launch RCP | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Networking/NFV | 5318N | 24 | 2.1 GHz | 3.4 GHz | 150 W | $1,375 | Networking-oriented |
| Networking/NFV | 6330N | 28 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 165 W | $2,029 | Networking/NFV |
| Networking/NFV | 6338N | 32 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 185 W | $2,795 | Networking/NFV |
| Networking | 8351N | 36 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 225 W | $3,027 | One-socket only |
| Cloud/IaaS | 8358P | 32 | 2.6 | — | 240 W | $3,950 | Cloud-specialized |
| Cloud/SaaS | 8352V | 36 | 2.1 | — | 195 W | $3,450 | Cloud-specialized |
| Media | 8352M | 32 | 2.3 | — | 185 W | $3,864 | Media-processing optimized |
| Long-life/NEBS | 4310T | 10 | 2.3 | — | 105 W | $555 | Thermal- and lifecycle-oriented |
| Long-life/NEBS | 5320T | 20 | 2.3 | — | 150 W | $1,727 | Thermal- and lifecycle-oriented |
| Long-life/NEBS | 6338T | 24 | 2.1 | — | 165 W | $2,742 | Thermal- and lifecycle-oriented |
| Single-socket | 6312U | 24 | 2.4 | — | 185 W | $1,450 | 1S optimized |
| Single-socket | 6314U | 32 | 2.3 | — | 205 W | $2,600 | 1S optimized |
Other specialized Ice Lake entries in the complete list include 5318S, 8352S, 8368Q, and the Y models. The product brief associates S with maximum SGX enclave capacity among selected models, Q with liquid cooling and high SGX capacity, and Y with Intel Speed Select Performance Profile 2.0. Confirm the exact feature set in ARK and the system documentation.
Suffix guide
| Suffix | Practical meaning |
|---|---|
Y |
Intel Speed Select Technology—Performance Profile 2.0. |
N |
Networking-oriented on several Gold models; 8351N is a one-socket exception. |
T |
Long-life, thermal-friendly, and NEBS-oriented. |
U |
Single-socket optimized. |
P |
Cloud/IaaS specialized. |
V |
Cloud/SaaS specialized. |
M |
Media-processing optimized. |
S |
Maximum SGX enclave capacity among selected models. |
Q |
Liquid-cooled and high-SGX-capacity variant. |
H/HL |
Cooper Lake four-/eight-socket branch, not mainstream Ice Lake-SP. |
This is a practical Ice Lake-era guide, not a universal Xeon suffix dictionary. Do not infer compatibility or a feature from a suffix alone; Intel’s broader suffix guidance, ARK, and the OEM’s support matrix are the final references.
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Dividing launch RCP by core count shows Intel’s original positioning, but it is only a screening tool:
| SKU | Launch RCP | Cores | Approx. RCP/core |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4309Y | $501 | 8 | $62.63 |
| 4310 | $501 | 12 | $41.75 |
| 4314 | $694 | 16 | $43.38 |
| 5318Y | $1,273 | 24 | $53.04 |
| 6326 | $1,300 | 16 | $81.25 |
| 6330 | $1,894 | 28 | $67.64 |
| 6338 | $2,612 | 32 | $81.63 |
| 6342 | $2,529 | 24 | $105.38 |
| 6348 | $3,072 | 28 | $109.71 |
| 8358 | $3,950 | 32 | $123.44 |
| 8368 | $6,302 | 38 | $165.84 |
| 8380 | $8,099 | 40 | $202.48 |
These prices are from 2021. They should not be mistaken for current used prices, live inventory, or an affiliate price. No reliable September 2026 street-price conclusion follows from this table.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Ice Lake CPU makes sense?
Lowest-cost general-purpose entry: Xeon Silver 4310
The 4310 offered 12 cores at the same historical RCP as the 8-core 4309Y. Its lower clocks make it less attractive for latency-sensitive work, but it is a sensible baseline for a low-cost dual-socket server. In the used market, compare it directly with the 4314 and 4316; a small price difference can change the answer.
Budget 16-core: Xeon Silver 4314
The 4314 combines 16 cores, a 135 W TDP, and a relatively low launch RCP. It is a stronger fit than the entry Silver parts for virtualization density and parallel work when the board, memory, and cooling support it.
General-purpose 24-core: Xeon Gold 5318Y
The 5318Y is a strong all-purpose candidate on historical positioning, especially for virtualization. Its 2.1 GHz base and 2.6 GHz all-core turbo mean it should not automatically win for lightly threaded applications.
Balanced 28-core: Xeon Gold 6330
The 6330 offers 28 cores and 42 MB cache at a lower historical RCP than the 32-core 6338. It is a reasonable middle-of-the-stack option for workloads that need throughput without Platinum pricing.
32-core performance balance: Xeon Gold 6338
The 6338 provides 32 cores at a lower historical RCP than the Platinum 8358 and has a lower listed TDP. The 8358 can still make sense where its higher clock behavior, Platinum-tier qualification, or specific OEM configuration matters.
Rank #3
![Intel Xeon Silver [3rd Gen] 4309Y Octa-core [8 Core] 2.80 GHz Processor - OEM Pack](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31b8cM8sFgL._SL160_.jpg)
- The Intel Xeon Silver 4309Y is an entry-level server processor in Intel's 3rd Generation Xeon Scalable ("Ice Lake") family, designed for enterprise servers, virtualization, storage appliances, and general-purpose datacenter workloads.
High-frequency work: Xeon Gold 6346 or 6354
The 6346 and 6354 have 3.6 GHz listed all-core turbo figures and are better candidates than low-clock, high-core-count models for some databases, latency-sensitive services, and licensing-limited workloads. Their lower core counts make them poor choices when maximum throughput per socket is the priority.
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Maximum mainstream Ice Lake core count: Xeon Platinum 8380
The 8380 is the highest-core-count mainstream Ice Lake-SP SKU at 40 cores. Its historical $8,099 RCP makes it difficult to justify on price per core alone. It becomes more defensible when avoiding a second socket, meeting a memory or expansion requirement, or controlling software licensing and system count is more important than processor acquisition cost.
Choose by workload
Virtualization
Prioritize cores, memory capacity, six-channel bandwidth, sustained all-core behavior, and the cost of a second socket. Candidate models include the 5318Y, 6330, 6338, 8352Y, and 8358P. A high single-core turbo number does not by itself determine VM density; memory, storage, licensing, and NUMA topology often matter more.
Databases
Start with per-core performance, memory capacity and bandwidth, NUMA behavior, software licensing, storage latency, and PCIe expansion. The 6346, 6354, 6336Y, 6334, or 8358 may fit different combinations of those constraints. Validate with the actual database and configuration.
HPC and vector workloads
Check AVX-512 behavior, sustained all-core frequency, memory bandwidth, application scaling, and cooling. Vendor-sponsored benchmark claims are not universal evidence; any benchmark must identify the application, compiler, software version, instruction set, socket count, memory configuration, and power limits. Avoid general claims that Ice Lake is always faster or slower than AMD EPYC.
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Consider Deep Learning Boost, the media-oriented 8352M, accelerator attachment, memory and PCIe topology, and whether a GPU or dedicated accelerator would provide better economics.
Networking and NFV
Use an N model when its networking qualification or platform behavior is relevant. Pay particular attention to the 8351N: it is one-socket only, despite being an 8300-series processor.
Telecom, embedded, and NEBS deployments
The T models are the relevant starting point when thermal behavior, long-life availability, and telecom qualification matter. They are not automatically the best choice for an ordinary refurbished server.
Used-server compatibility checklist
Ice Lake-SP is not a drop-in upgrade for a Skylake or Cascade Lake Xeon Scalable server. Before buying a processor, verify:
- Exact motherboard and socket platform: confirm that it is an Ice Lake-compatible board.
- BIOS/UEFI: check the required firmware revision and supported processor list.
- OEM restrictions: Dell, HPE, Lenovo, Supermicro, and custom systems may validate different processors and impose their own firmware, heatsink, and parts requirements.
- Socket count: confirm that the SKU supports the intended 1S or 2S configuration. The 6312U, 6314U, and 8351N are single-socket-only exceptions.
- Memory: verify ECC Registered DIMM type, supported capacity, speed, and population rules.
- Cooling and power: 205–270 W processors require an appropriate heatsink, airflow path, VRM, power supply, and chassis.
- Expansion: confirm that the server actually exposes the PCIe Gen 4 lanes and risers you need.
- CPU provenance: avoid engineering or qualification samples unless the seller documents them and accepts returns.
- Total system cost: include motherboard, memory, heatsink, risers, power supply, chassis, shipping, warranty, and electricity—not just the bare CPU.
The safest final authority is the exact server manufacturer’s support matrix. Intel’s Where to Buy directory identifies supported server partners, while examples of system-specific documentation include HPE’s platform documentation and Lenovo’s ThinkSystem processor comparison.
Alternatives to consider
- 2nd Gen Xeon Scalable/Cascade Lake: potentially cheaper complete platforms, but generally older PCIe and platform capabilities.
- Cooper Lake: relevant when you specifically need a four- or eight-socket system, not as a normal Ice Lake upgrade.
- AMD EPYC 7002/7003: strong alternatives for core count and memory bandwidth, depending on platform price, software, and workload.
- Newer Intel Xeon generations: potentially higher acquisition cost but newer performance, efficiency, and lifecycle characteristics.
Detailed current performance or market-price comparisons require date-stamped testing and pricing; the historical RCP data here cannot establish those comparisons.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
