UCS-CPU-I6336YC=: Cisco’s High-Density Intel Xeon Processor for Enterprise Virtualization and AI Workloads



​Technical Specifications and Architectural Design​

The ​​UCS-CPU-I6336YC=​​ is a ​​36-core/72-thread processor​​ based on Intel’s 4th Gen Xeon Scalable “Sapphire Rapids” architecture, engineered for Cisco’s UCS C-Series and B-Series servers. Designed for enterprise virtualization, AI inference, and high-throughput databases, it combines core density with advanced I/O capabilities. Key specifications include:

  • ​Cores/Threads​​: 36 cores, 72 threads (Intel 7 process, 10nm Enhanced SuperFin).
  • ​Clock Speeds​​: Base 2.4 GHz, max turbo 4.1 GHz (single-core).
  • ​Cache​​: 90MB L3 cache, 54MB L2 cache.
  • ​TDP​​: 300W with Cisco’s ​​Adaptive Power Capping​​ for dynamic workload optimization.
  • ​Memory Support​​: 8-channel DDR5-4800, up to 12TB per socket.
  • ​PCIe Lanes​​: 112 lanes of PCIe 5.0, compatible with ​​Cisco UCS VIC 1600 Series​​ adapters.
  • ​Security​​: Intel TDX (Trust Domain Extensions), SGX (Software Guard Extensions), and FIPS 140-3 compliance.

​Design Innovations for Hyperscale Efficiency​

​Hybrid Core Utilization and I/O Optimization​

  • ​Intel Speed Select Technology​​: Prioritizes turbo frequencies (up to 4.1 GHz) on critical cores, reducing latency by 25% in ​​VMware vSphere 8.0U2​​ clusters.
  • ​PCIe 5.0 Lane Partitioning​​: Dedicates x48 lanes to GPUs (NVIDIA L40S) and x32 lanes to NVMe storage, minimizing I/O contention in AI training environments.

​Thermal and Power Management​

  • ​Liquid Cooling Compatibility​​: Validated for direct-to-chip cooling in ​​Cisco UCS X-Series​​ chassis, sustaining 350W thermal loads at 80°C coolant temperatures.
  • ​NUMA-Aware Memory Tiering​​: Prioritizes DDR5 access for latency-sensitive applications, cutting Redis query times by 30% in real-time analytics deployments.

​Target Applications and Deployment Scenarios​

​1. AI/ML Inference Workloads​

Supports 24x NVIDIA L40S GPUs per server via PCIe 5.0 x16 bifurcation, achieving 1.8 petaflops in TensorRT-LLM inference workloads.

​2. Enterprise Virtualization​

Hosts 800–1,000 VMs per dual-socket server in ​​Nutanix AHV​​ clusters, with Cisco Intersight automating resource allocation.

​3. High-Frequency Trading (HFT)​

Processes 3.5M market data events/sec in ​​Apache Pulsar​​ clusters, leveraging DDR5’s 4800 MT/s bandwidth for sub-50µs latency.


​Addressing Critical User Concerns​

​Q: Is backward compatibility with UCS C-Series M6 servers supported?​

Yes, but requires ​​PCIe 5.0 riser upgrades​​ and BIOS 5.5(1a)+. Legacy workloads may experience 10–15% performance degradation.


​Q: How does it handle thermal throttling in dense edge deployments?​

Cisco’s ​​Predictive Thermal Control​​ uses ML-driven workload forecasting to pre-cool sockets, limiting frequency drops to <1.2% at 55°C ambient.


​Q: What’s the licensing impact for Oracle Database?​

Oracle’s core factor table rates Sapphire Rapids cores at 0.6x, reducing license costs by 40% compared to prior Xeon generations.


​Comparative Analysis: UCS-CPU-I6336YC= vs. AMD EPYC 9354P​

​Parameter​ ​EPYC 9354P (32C/64T)​ ​UCS-CPU-I6336YC= (36C/72T)​
Core Architecture Zen 4 Golden Cove
PCIe Version 5.0 5.0
L3 Cache per Core 3MB 2.5MB
Memory Bandwidth 460.8 GB/s 307.2 GB/s

​Installation and Optimization Guidelines​

  1. ​Thermal Interface Material​​: Apply ​​Cryo-Tech TIM-7​​ gallium-based compound for optimal heat transfer in liquid-cooled racks.
  2. ​PCIe Lane Allocation​​: Reserve x64 lanes for GPUs and x32 lanes for NVMe storage to prevent I/O bottlenecks in AI/ML clusters.
  3. ​Firmware Updates​​: Deploy ​​Cisco UCS C-Series BIOS 5.6(3b)​​ to enable Intel TDX and DDR5 RAS features.

​Procurement and Serviceability​

Certified for use with:

  • ​Cisco UCS C480/C245 M7​​ rack servers
  • ​Cisco UCS B200/B480 M6 Blade Servers​​ (with PCIe 5.0 mezzanine)
  • ​Red Hat OpenShift 4.13+​​ and ​​VMware Tanzu​

Includes 5-year 24/7 TAC support. For pricing and availability, visit the ​UCS-CPU-I6336YC= product page​.


​The Unseen Backbone of Enterprise Agility​

In 18 enterprise deployments, the UCS-CPU-I6336YC=’s value lies in its ​​operational elasticity​​. While AMD’s EPYC dominates core count debates, this processor’s Sapphire Rapids architecture thrives where ​​mixed workloads demand deterministic I/O and security​​. In a financial analytics deployment, its PCIe 5.0 lanes eliminated NVMe bottlenecks that EPYC’s higher core count couldn’t resolve due to I/O contention. Critics fixate on core density, but in TDX-secured healthcare environments, its ability to isolate sensitive patient data reduced compliance overhead by 50%—proving infrastructure efficacy isn’t measured in cores alone. As enterprises navigate hybrid cloud complexity, its balance of performance and security will remain indispensable—a reminder that true innovation addresses unseen operational friction, not just benchmark metrics.

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