Overview
Are you ready to take your AI edge system to the next level? By qualifying your hardware through the Intel® Edge System Qualification (ESQ) for Intel® AI Edge System, you ensure your solution is fully interoperable with Intel’s Edge AI Libraries and sized for optimal performance—whether Entry, Mainstream, Efficiency Optimized, or Scalable Performance.
Get StartedSystem Requirements
Edge AI System Qualification with 3 Tiers, Endless Possibilities
To qualify as an Intel® AI Edge System under the ESQ program, platforms must meet rigorous benchmarks for performance, reliability, and scalability. These benchmarks are organized into three performance tiers — Mainstream & Entry, Efficiency Optimized, and Scalable Performance — helping solution builders select systems that align with their application needs and deployment scale.
Note: Only systems launched in 2025 or later are eligible for qualification, including catalog inclusion and associated benefits.
Power large-scale Vision AI and Generative AI deployments across warehouses, retail stores, and datacenters with verified edge-ready platforms.
Xeon-Based Systems
Built for enterprise-grade AI workloads, multi-stream processing, and high-throughput deployments.
Processors:
- Intel® Xeon® 6 Processors
- 5th Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors
- Intel® Xeon® W Processors
Key Specs:
- SKU: Dual and Single Socket
- Minimum Cores: 32 cores
- TDP: 250 watts
AI Features:
- Intel® Advanced Matrix Extensions (Intel® AMX)
- Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 512 (Intel® AVX-512)
- System Memory: Minimum 512 GB DDR5, 5600 MT/s (1DPC)
Discrete GPU Options:
- Intel® Arc™ B580
- Intel® Arc™ Pro B60 Graphics
- Intel® Arc™ Pro B50 Graphics
Core-Based Systems
Optimized for high-performance edge deployments with advanced AI capabilities.
Processors:
- Intel® Core Ultra Series 2
- Intel® Core™ Series 2
- Intel® Core™ Series 1
Key Specs:
- Minimum Cores: 8 Performance-cores (P-cores)
- TDP: 65 watts
AI Features:
- Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (Intel® AVX2)
- System Memory: Minimum 64 GB DDR5
Discrete GPU Options:
- Intel® Arc™ B580
Note: Only systems launched in 2025 or later are eligible for qualification, including catalog inclusion and associated benefits.
Intel® Core Ultra-Based Systems
Balanced for performance and power efficiency, ideal for mid-scale Edge AI deployments.
See All Core Ultra-Based Systems
Processors:
- Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 2
Graphics:
- Integrated GPU with 7 Xe-Cores or more
Key Specs:
- SKU: Single Socket
- Minimum Cores: 8 Performance-cores (P-cores)
- TDP: 28 watts
AI Features:
- Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (Intel® AVX2)
System Memory:
- Minimum 32 GB DDR5 (Dual Channel)
- Recommended speed: 5600 MT/s
Note: Only systems launched in 2025 or later are eligible for qualification, including catalog inclusion and associated benefits.
These systems are designed to deliver reliable compute performance, real-time control, and low power consumption, making them ideal for single-function embedded applications such as Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals, digital signage, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and interactive kiosks.
Mainstream
Processors:
- Intel® Core™ Series 2
- Intel® Core™ Series 1
Key Specs:
- Minimum Cores: 8 Performance-cores (P-cores)
- TDP: 65 watts
AI Features:
- Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (Intel® AVX2)
- System Memory: Minimum 32 GB DDR5
Note: Only systems launched in 2025 or later are eligible for qualification, including catalog inclusion and associated benefits.
Entry
Processors:
- Intel® Processor for Desktop
- Intel® Processor U-series
- Intel® Processor N-series
Key Specs:
- TDP: 15–35 watts (depending on series)
AI Features:
- Intel® AVX2
- System Memory: Minimum 32 GB DDR5 (recommended for light AI workloads)
Note: Only systems launched in 2025 or later are eligible for qualification, including catalog inclusion and associated benefits.
Get Started
Here’s the step-by-step guide to qualify your system as Intel® AI Edge System.
Click here to download an offline copy of the qualification process.
Prepare the System by Installing
- Ubuntu 24.04* Desktop or
- 24.04 Server LTS or newer (for Intel® Xeon based systems)
Note : ESQ Framework does not Windows* 11 at the moment.
Complete the following tasks to meet system dependencies before initiating system qualifications.
-
Configure system drivers:
Copied!sudo bash -c "$(wget -qLO - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/intel/edge-developer-kit-reference-scripts/refs/heads/main/main_installer.sh)" -
Install essential system packages:
Copied!sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y curl git -
Install Docker Engine:
Copied!# Add Docker's official GPG key sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install ca-certificates curl sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings sudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc -
Add the repository to APT sources:
Copied!echo \ "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \ $(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME") stable" | \ sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null sudo apt-get update -
Install Docker packages:
Copied!sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io dockerbuildx- plugin docker-compose-plugin -
Install Python Package Manager:
Copied!Install uv to accelerate Python* package management: curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh && source $HOME/.local/bin/env
To pull and install ESQ sources from GitHub, run the command below.
uv tool install --force --refresh git+https://github.com/open-edge-platform/edgesystem-qualification.git@main -
Verify if ESQ Tool is correctly installed
Copied!esq --version
-
If ESQ run was initiated previously, we recommend user to clean previous environment and data with the command below
Copied!esq clean --all
Running Average Power Limit (RAPL) provides us energy consumption data from Intel processors. To allow Intel® ESQ to collect power configuration information without requiring root privileges, please configure non-root access to RAPL (Running Average Power Limit) powercap files for platform power monitoring.
Run the automated setup script to configure group-based permissions:
sudo bash -c "$(wget -qLO - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/open-edge-platform/edge-system-qualification/refs/heads/main/scripts/setup-powercap-permissions.sh)" 
Click the image for the full view.
To run ESQ qualification, run command below. This process will take at least 3-4 hours, depending on the system SKU and test coverage.
esq run Once the qualification is completed, a report will be generated which details for system qualifications and eligibility for submission and vertical specific benchmarks.
Click the image for the full view.
If your system has passed ESQ qualification, as shown above, proceed to submit Click here to Submit your Qualified System’s Test Report.
For Intel partners facing technical or qualification challenges, proceed to raise your issues via Intel Premier Support.
For ESQ case disposition, select following product and categories as follows:
- Product as “Intel® Edge Software Recipes”
- Category as “Software/Driver/OS”
- Sub-Category as “Intel® Edge System Qualification”
Vertical Application Benchmark
Edge AI is not one-size-fits-all. Whether you're an end-user, system integrator, or application builder, your success depends on choosing a platform that delivers the right balance of performance, efficiency, and scalability — for your specific vertical.
That’s why we’ve introduced vertical benchmarking: a performance-first approach that helps you select the ideal system based on your workload and deployment goals.
Choose the System That Matches Your Retail Needs-
Explore the System Tiers that Meets Your use-case expectations for retail.
Mainstream & Entry For small stores and pilot deployments
- Ideal for point-of-sale terminals, kiosks, and single-screen digital signage
- Cost-effective and easy to deploy
- Supports basic shelf monitoring and single-camera checkout
Efficiency Optimized for mid-sized retail environments
- Powers smart POS systems with automated self-checkout
- Supports smart kiosks running medium-sized LLMs
- Handles multi-camera loss prevention and customer flow tracking
- Balanced performance for real-time analytics in dynamic retail spaces
Scalable Performance (Add this tier if needed for large-scale retail chains or enterprise deployments)
- Supports multi-zone analytics, generative AI for customer interaction, and advanced inventory intelligence
- Designed for high-throughput, multi-modal workloads, and enterprise-grade scalability
Smarter Production Starts Here
Delivering Manufacturing Use-Cases Edge AI System Tiers
Mainstream & Entry
- For basic inspection tasks and small-scale operations.
- Ideal for single-camera defect detection and pilot setups.
- Example: Single Camera Pallet defect detection using lightweight models.
Efficiency Optimized
- For mid-sized factories and multi-line operations.
- Balanced compute for real-time inspection and analytics.
- Example: Weld porosity detection, time-series analysis for maintenance.
Scalable Performance
- For enterprise-grade industrial automation.
- Supports multi-sensor fusion, generative AI, and high-throughput pipelines.
- Example: Vision + LLM integration for augmented worker guidance and predictive diagnostics.
Metro AI Suite – Performance That Scales With Your Vision
Choose the platform that aligns with your deployment to deliver smart cities and transportation requirements:
Mainstream & Entry
- For basic deployments and pilot projects.
- Cost-effective, reliable, and easy to scale.
- Ideal for loitering detection, smart parking, and simple video search.
Efficiency Optimized
- For mid-scale deployments with balanced performance.
- Designed for real-time responsiveness and energy efficiency.
- Ideal for smart intersections, tolling systems, and traffic analytics.
Scalable Performance
- For enterprise-grade, high-throughput applications.
- Supports complex workloads and multi-sensor fusion.
- Ideal for generative AI video summarization, multimodal search, and city-wide monitoring.
Submit your Qualified System’s Test Report
You're almost there! Submit your qualified system test report by clicking the button below, include your system details and attach your qualification report to complete the process.
Submit Your ESQ Test Report
Support
Support is available via Intel Premier Support for Intel partners.
For correct case disposition, please select the following products and categories.
- Product “Intel® Edge Software Recipes”
- Category as “Software/Driver/OS”
- Sub-Category as “Intel® Edge System Qualification”
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest updates on materials posted on the Intel Industry Solution Builders program.
By submitting this form, you are confirming you are an adult 18 years or older and you agree to share your personal information with Intel to use for this business request. You also agree to subscribe to stay connected to the latest Intel technologies and industry trends by email and telephone. You may unsubscribe at any time. Intel’s websites and communications are subject to our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use.
By submitting this form, you are confirming you are an adult (18 years or older) and you agree to share your personal information with Intel to use for this business request. You also agree to subscribe to stay connected to the latest Intel technologies and industry trends by email. You may unsubscribe at any time. Intel’s websites and communications are subject to our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use.