AMD is ushering in a new era in the history of server processors by introducing the EPYC 9005 Turin lineup. This innovation promises to set new standards for performance, core density, and energy efficiency. What are the prospects of this breakthrough?
Increased Core Count
The standout feature of the updated processors is their core count. The innovation offers up to 192 cores, powered by the Zen5C architecture. There are versions with 128 cores and an L3 cache capacity of up to 512 MB. As a result, any server application runs faster and more efficiently, including multithreaded tasks.
Thanks to the increased core count, performance has significantly improved. For cloud workloads, performance grew by 17% (compared to previous versions), and for neural network tasks, it surged by 37%.
Financial Considerations
Implementing new capabilities requires certain investments. For the series in question, the price range is quite broad. The base model with 8 cores costs $527, while the top-tier version with the maximum 192 cores is priced at nearly $15,000.
Such an investment may be justified for large data centers, as the number of servers can be significantly reduced while maintaining computational power. However, for entities that aren’t giants like Amazon or Google with substantial revenues, more budget-friendly options can be found in our catalog at https://powerup.ua/servernye-pk/.
Comparing Energy Efficiency
Undoubtedly, the latest processors outperform their competitors in efficiency in many aspects. This was proven by SPECpower tests, which revealed the following:
- Compared to the Intel Xeon 8592+, dual-socket servers based on AMD EPYC Turin deliver 1.7 times higher performance per watt.
- Energy consumption is reduced by nearly 70% when replacing 100 Intel-based servers with just 14 Turin-based servers.
- It would take 35 Intel servers to match the power of 14 Turin-based servers.
As a result, large cloud providers and enterprises have a strong opportunity to minimize energy costs.
Architecture and Integration of Cutting-Edge Technologies
The adoption of the Zen5 architecture marks a significant step forward for the brand. The latest processors feature an increased number of optimized transistors, support for frequencies up to 5 GHz, expanded memory channels for handling large data volumes, and support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 for faster operations.
Security is another critical focus for the company. Enhanced encryption mechanisms and protections against hardware vulnerabilities have been implemented, making these processors suitable for even the most critical tasks.
The Fly in the Ointment
Of course, no innovation is perfect. With the increased core count comes higher heat dissipation. In top-tier models, thermal output reaches 500 W, posing a significant challenge for cooling systems. Notably, even with the transition to finer process nodes (3 and 4 nm), the chip area remains unchanged, so heat dissipation remains a pressing issue.
The following conclusions can be drawn:
- Standard air cooling is insufficiently effective.
- Many data centers will need to transition to liquid cooling.
- It is highly likely that the manufacturer will soon offer systems with integrated cooling solutions.
Conclusion
The new lineup represents the most powerful server processor to date, setting a new benchmark in the industry. Like any innovation, it has its strengths and weaknesses. Nevertheless, it signals the arrival of new standards in this field. The battle for dominance in the server processor market is in full swing, and we eagerly await Intel’s response.
