Performance is irrelevant depending on metrics. If my new zCPU chip is 60% as fast as a Xeon at your task, that’s a problem. If it can do it at 40% of the Xeo

Performance is irrelevant depending on metrics. If my new zCPU chip is 60% as fast as a Xeon at your task, that’s a problem. If it can do it at 40% of the Xeon’s power, things get interesting. I could use twice as many zCPUs, be 20% faster, and use 20% less power. That also means less cooling capacity in my DC. Some tasks will always need the absolute best single threaded performance. But a lot don’t. And the Xeon’s power requirements leave a large opening we’re starting to see other companies poke at with things like Graviton.