Intel Xeon Silver 4516Y Plus

Name: Intel Xeon Silver 4516Y Plus
Brand: Intel
SKU: 72626

Manufacturer: Intel

The Intel Xeon Silver 4516Y Plus is a 24-core enterprise processor designed for server environments where sustained multi-threaded workloads and large memory configurations are central to daily operations. Running at a base frequency of 2.2 GHz across all cores, it leverages Turbo Boost 2.0 to reach up to 3.7 GHz under load, while 48 threads through multithreading allow it to process dense parallel tasks efficiently. Built on a 10 nm process with a 185W thermal design power rating and a maximum operating temperature of 90 °C, it does not include integrated graphics, keeping the design oriented entirely toward compute throughput.

On the memory side, the processor supports an eight-channel DDR5 configuration with speeds up to 4400 MHz, a peak bandwidth of 281.6 GB/s, and the ability to address up to 4000GB of ECC memory — a specification that suits memory-intensive server and enterprise workloads where data integrity is critical. The bus transfer rate is rated at 16 GT/s, and the chip connects via PCIe 5 for fast peripheral and storage integration. A 45 MB L3 cache — translating to 1.88 MB per core — supports sustained throughput across the full core count, and the supported instruction sets include AVX2, AES, FMA3, and SSE 4.2, among others. The clock multiplier is fixed at 22 and cannot be unlocked.

Pros

With 24 cores and 48 threads, it provides broad parallel processing capacity suited to multi-tenant virtualization and concurrent server workloads
The 45 MB L3 cache, distributed at 1.88 MB per core, supports sustained data throughput across the full core count without frequent memory fetches
Eight-channel DDR5 support with a peak bandwidth of 281.6 GB/s ensures the memory subsystem can keep pace with the processor during data-intensive operations
Support for up to 4000GB of ECC memory makes it viable for large in-memory database workloads where both capacity and data integrity are required
PCIe 5 connectivity enables fast integration with modern high-bandwidth storage and networking adapters
The instruction set includes AVX2, AES, and FMA3, enabling hardware-accelerated vector processing and cryptographic operations

Cons

A 185W TDP places significant demands on server cooling infrastructure and power delivery, which can complicate deployment in thermally constrained environments
The turbo ceiling of 3.7 GHz via Turbo Boost 2.0 reflects a design focused on sustained parallel throughput rather than high single-core burst frequency
The clock multiplier is locked at 22, removing any option to tune operating frequency beyond the default Turbo Boost behavior
No integrated graphics are available, requiring a separate solution for any display or management console output
No benchmark data is provided in the available specs, making it harder to quantify real-world performance from the supplied information alone

Who is this for?

The Intel Xeon Silver 4516Y Plus is well-matched to server environments that require sustained multi-threaded throughput across a high core count, making it a natural fit for workloads such as large-scale virtualization, high-density containerization, and parallel compute tasks. Its eight-channel DDR5 memory subsystem supporting up to 4000GB of ECC capacity gives it strong credentials for memory-intensive applications like in-memory databases, data analytics, and enterprise middleware platforms where both volume and reliability are non-negotiable. The combination of PCIe 5 connectivity and AVX2/AES instruction support also makes it suitable for deployments involving high-bandwidth storage, fast networking fabrics, or workloads that benefit from hardware-accelerated cryptographic and vector processing.

Who is this NOT for?

Workloads that depend on high single-core execution speed are not well-served by this processor, as its design prioritizes core count and memory bandwidth over per-core burst frequency — the turbo ceiling of 3.7 GHz and a locked multiplier leave little room for single-threaded performance optimization. It is also unsuitable for any deployment that requires integrated graphics, since none are available and a separate display solution must be provided. Additionally, the 185W TDP makes it a poor fit for power-constrained or thermally limited environments, such as edge computing enclosures or high-density rack configurations where thermal management is already under pressure.

General info:

Thermal Design Power (TDP)	185W
semiconductor size	10 nm
PCI Express (PCIe) version	5
Supports 64-bit	✓
CPU temperature	90 °C
Has integrated graphics	✕

The Intel Xeon Silver 4516Y Plus is manufactured on a 10 nm process and carries a Thermal Design Power rating of 185W, with a maximum operating temperature of 90 °C. It supports 64-bit operation and interfaces with the platform via PCIe 5, enabling high-bandwidth connectivity for modern storage and peripheral devices. Integrated graphics are not included, which is consistent with its server-oriented design where dedicated or no display output is the standard deployment approach.

Performance:

CPU speed	24 x 2.2 GHz
CPU threads	48 threads
turbo clock speed	3.7GHz
L3 cache	45 MB
clock multiplier	22
Has an unlocked multiplier	✕
L3 core	1.88 MB/core
Turbo Boost version	2

The Intel Xeon Silver 4516Y Plus operates across 24 cores at a base frequency of 2.2 GHz, delivering 48 threads through multithreading for broad parallel workload coverage. Turbo Boost 2.0 allows the processor to reach up to 3.7 GHz when conditions permit, though the clock multiplier of 22 is fixed and cannot be adjusted. The 45 MB L3 cache — allocated at 1.88 MB per core — provides a sizable shared data buffer that helps sustain throughput across the full core count during demanding workloads.

Memory:

Supports ECC memory	✓
maximum memory bandwidth	281.6 GB/s
DDR memory version	5
RAM speed (max)	4400 MHz
maximum memory amount	4000GB
memory channels	8
bus transfer rate	16 GT/s

The Intel Xeon Silver 4516Y Plus supports an eight-channel DDR5 memory configuration running at up to 4400 MHz, delivering a peak bandwidth of 281.6 GB/s to feed its 24-core design under load. It accommodates up to 4000GB of ECC memory, with error-correcting code support ensuring data integrity in server environments where reliability is critical. The bus transfer rate is rated at 16 GT/s, underpinning fast communication between the processor and the memory subsystem.

Features:

uses multithreading	✓
instruction sets	MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2
Has NX bit	✓

The Intel Xeon Silver 4516Y Plus supports multithreading, enabling each physical core to process two threads simultaneously and improving overall parallel execution efficiency across its 24-core design. The processor covers a broad instruction set that includes AVX2, AES, FMA3, F16C, MMX, AVX, SSE 4.1, and SSE 4.2, supporting optimized code paths for vector processing, cryptographic operations, and floating-point workloads. NX bit support is also present, providing hardware-assisted memory protection against certain forms of malicious code execution.

Benchmarks:

Miscellaneous:

RAM speed	4400 MHz

The supported RAM speed for the Intel Xeon Silver 4516Y Plus is 4400 MHz, reflecting the operating frequency at which the memory subsystem is rated to run.

Final Verdict

The Intel Xeon Silver 4516Y Plus is a server processor with a clear and consistent purpose: delivering broad parallel compute capacity backed by an expansive, high-bandwidth memory subsystem. With 24 cores, 48 threads, and eight-channel DDR5 support reaching up to 4000GB of ECC memory at 281.6 GB/s, it is well-equipped for the kinds of data-intensive, multi-threaded enterprise workloads — virtualization, in-memory databases, parallel analytics — where these attributes translate directly into operational value. Its 185W TDP and locked multiplier reflect the trade-offs inherent to a processor of this class, and its modest single-thread ceiling means it is best deployed in scenarios that can distribute work across its full core count. For data center operators and enterprise IT teams building infrastructure around sustained parallel throughput and large-scale memory requirements, the Intel Xeon Silver 4516Y Plus is a technically coherent and purpose-built choice.