AMD is to release a high-performance CPU made especially for servers, codenamed “Naples”. This new CPU is to be built to scale across the cloud data centre and traditional on-premises server configurations.
One of the main and ideal uses for this Naples CPU is to be put to work in seismic analysis. These brand new CPUs are being promised to be able to deliver superior memory bandwidth, along with many high-speed input and output channels in a single chip. This would make it stand out and above all other server CPUs that are available on the market at this current point in time. According to AMD representatives, this new and innovative CPU is will be able to deliver the widely and highly regarded “Zen” x86 processing engine, in an industry first and industry-leading configuration of up to a maximum of 32 cores in total. With regards to performance and architecture, the AMD Naples CPU will offer 45% more cores, 122% more memory bandwidth as well as 60% more input/output capacity (I/O) than what is currently being offered.
The new CPU is specced at up to 32-cores, eight memory channels, 128 lanes of PCIe 3 and AMD Infinity Fabric coherent interconnect for two Naples CPUs in a 2-socket system. The Naples CPU is a direct play at the data centre market. AMD is hoping to capitalise on a strong performance in the 1-2 socket market.
AMD’s Naples server CPU is a multichip-module design rather than a unified 32-core chip. AMD has accomplished this by glueing together multiple four-core CCXs into at least two multi-chip-modules (MCMs). Each MCM has four memory controllers and there are two groups of four in a 32-core chip, which is how AMD hits its 8-channel memory target. Total memory bandwidth per CPU is 170 GB/s. The company promises the chips will begin to be shipped out in the second quarter of 2017, at which point we’ll also get more information such as general pricing and clock speeds.
