Intel Xeon Gold 6346 Processor

Intel Xeon Gold 6346 — 16 cores and 32 threads at 3.1 GHz base / 3.6 GHz turbo, 36 MB cache, 205 W TDP, FCLGA4189. Supplied from stock with a 1-year warranty.

The high-clock 16-core Gold of the Ice Lake stack

The 6346 belongs to the 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable (Ice Lake-SP) family, launched in Q2 2021 on a 10 nm process. It pairs 16 cores / 32 threads with a 3.1 GHz base - the highest base clock of this batch's 16-core and larger parts - and a 3.6 GHz turbo ceiling on a 205 W envelope, plus PCIe 4.0 with 64 lanes. The chip is rated 2S (two sockets) with three UPI links at 11.2 GT/s, and it runs DDR4-3200 across eight channels with a 6 TB per-socket ceiling - Intel Optane persistent memory 200 series is supported alongside DDR4. Intel Speed Select comes as Core Power, Turbo Frequency and Base Frequency variants, with a high-priority / low-priority partition of 4 cores at 3.2 GHz and 12 cores at 3.0 GHz.

Security and acceleration are Ice Lake staples: AVX-512 with two FMA units, DL Boost, TSX-NI and VMD, Intel Crypto Acceleration, Resource Director Technology and Speed Shift, plus Total Memory Encryption, Run Sure reliability and Platform Firmware Resilience. SGX is supported with Intel SPS and a 64 GB enclave page cache. Thermal rating is TCASE 78 °C in a 77.5 mm × 56.5 mm package.

Technical specifications

Servers that commonly take this processor

The 6346 fits any FCLGA4189 (Whitley) platform whose BIOS supports 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable parts, in single- or dual-CPU two-socket systems. Typical systems that run it include:

• Dell PowerEdge R750 / R650
• HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10 Plus / DL360 Gen10 Plus
• Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650 V2 / SR630 V2
• Two-socket storage, database and appliance chassis built around the Whitley platform

Because the part is rated 2S with three UPI links, it can pair with a second 6346 in dual-socket nodes - check that the platform BIOS and the second CPU stepping are compatible before ordering, and make sure the chassis cooling is rated for two 205 W processors.

How it compares across generations

Against the 2nd Gen Platinum 8280, the 6346 gives up twelve cores (16 vs 28) and 2.5 MB of cache but runs 400 MHz higher at base (3.1 vs 2.7 GHz), conceding 400 MHz at turbo (3.6 vs 4.0 GHz) on the same 205 W; in exchange it moves I/O to PCIe 4.0 with 64 lanes (up from 48 on PCIe 3.0) and widens memory to eight channels with a 6 TB ceiling (up from six channels, 1 TB). Against its Gold sibling, the 32-core 6338, it gives up sixteen cores (16 vs 32) and 12 MB of cache but runs 1.1 GHz higher at base (3.1 vs 2.0 GHz) and 400 MHz higher at turbo (3.6 vs 3.2 GHz) on the same 205 W envelope. Next to the 18-core 6354 it trades two cores and 3 MB of cache for a 100 MHz higher base clock (3.1 vs 3.0 GHz) on the same turbo and power budget.

How each processor is tested before it ships

1. Visual inspection of the heat spreader, capacitors and substrate on arrival.
2. Thermal paste residue cleaned from the IHS; socket contact pads checked under magnification.
3. sSpec marking (SRKHN) verified against the order line before testing.
4. Full-core load test on an LGA4189 diagnostic board, confirming rated clocks and cache.
5. Re-run of the memory controller stress pass, then anti-static packing for dispatch.

Warranty and lead time

Every 6346 carries a 1-year warranty covering defects in workmanship and function; a verified faulty unit is replaced or refunded with return shipping covered. New units come in Intel tray packaging (order code CD8068904570201); tested pull units are labelled as such and priced separately. In-stock units typically ship within 2-3 business days after payment confirmation.

Purchasing and volume enquiries

Pricing is quotation-based rather than fixed. Send the quantity, condition preference (new or tested) and delivery destination, and we reply with a firm quote including current stock and lead time. Volume and project pricing is available for multi-unit orders.