AMD Zen server chip could have 32 cores, 64MB cache, 128 PCIE Lanes

By Jon Martindale June 16, 2016

amd zen server chip spec rumors amd2015 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Although AMD and Intel’s next-generation CPUs aren’t expected to arrive until 2017, that doesn’t mean we won’t be talking about them a lot in the interim, and the latest rumor to emerge suggests that the Zen server processor is a monster. Along with claims that it has as many as 32 cores, we’re now being told that its shared last-level cache is as high as 64MB.

Of course server chips are usually quite powerful as their jobs are much tougher than your average gaming PC’s. That said, do take these rumors with a pinch of salt, as Fudzilla‘s sources are far from confirmed.

With that caveat out of the way though, we can enjoy the speculation for what it is. Supposedly this Zen chip, code-named Naples, will sport those 32 cores, giving it support for 64 threads if needed. It can be twinned with DDR4 memory we’re told and with up to 128 lanes for third-generation PCIExpress, there should be no shortage of opportunities for add-in cards.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming

Related: AMD comes clean on Zen core details, high-bandwidth memory for Radeon

Perhaps of the greatest impact, if true, is that the chip is said to have 512kb of cache for each core and that each “cluster” has as much as 8MB of L3 cache, giving the chip a total of 64MB of cache.

Other specifications peg the server hardware as able to support up to 32 SATA or NVME drives, with an integrated network controller allowing for up to 16 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections.

There will be variations on the chip though, with the 32-core version acting as the flagship server processor and 16-core, eight-core, quad-core and dual-core versions of the enterprise-focused hardware released around the same time. There is a suggestion that some may show up just before the new year, but most seem to think that a CES debut for Zen is the most likely time for them to make their appearance.

This goes doubly so when you consider that AMD’s CEO, Lisa Su, previously told Fudzilla that the server chips would appear after the desktop versions, which are currently expected to make their appearance at CES 2017 in January.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Computing Coordinator

Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to…

Computing

AMD’s insane 64-core Ryzen Threadripper 3990X processor to arrive in 2020

amd debuts third gen ryzen threadripper motherboard closeup

AMD confirmed on Monday that a third new Ryzen Threadripper chip will hit the market in 2020, the 3990X. It will arrive after AMD’s latest Ryzen Threadripper high-end desktop (HEDT) chips for enthusiasts – the 3970X and the 3960X – that's now available to purchase.

AMD said on Monday the 3990X will pack 64 cores, 128 threads, a 288MB total cache, and a thermal design power (TDP) of 280 watts. Unfortunately, the company didn’t provide additional details like frequencies but promised more information would come next year.

Computing

AMD’s new third-gen Threadripper chips offer 32 cores of power

amd debuts third gen ryzen threadripper motherboard closeup

AMD is heating up its battle with Intel with a slew of high-performance-driven processors. Targeting enthusiasts who don't want to compromise on performance, AMD unveiled its third-generation Ryzen Threadripper processors, which tops out with a massive 32-core, 64-thread design. This year, there will be two models in the Threadripper powerhouse family: The Ryzen 3960X and the Ryzen 3970X.

Like AMD's recent CPU and GPU announcements, the 3rd-Gen Threadripper family will utilize AMD's 7nm Zen 2 architecture, though these high-end silicons are designed to deliver more performance -- especially in multi-threaded workloads, so they should be a powerful contender for creatives and workstation users -- and power efficiency. Given that Intel's comparable 10th-gen parts aren't yet available on the market quite yet, AMD is comparing its new offerings to Intel's 18-core Core i9-9980XE processor, and the Ryzen 3 Threadripper delivers quite a boost in performance, according to the company's internal testing.

Computing

AMD promises Ryzen 4000 in early 2020, Zen 3 chips later in the year

AMD Ryzen 9 3900x pins.

AMD is on track for its major hardware launches in the next few months. With Threadripper 3000 CPUs and RX 5500 GPUs set to debut in the next few weeks, AMD has confirmed it will debut its first Ryzen 4000 CPUs in early 2020, followed on by Zen 3 powered processors later in the year. If all goes to plan, we'll see a similar release schedule to 2019, with mobile chips making their debut first, followed by desktop chips in the latter part of the summer.

The past few CPU generations have seen impressive consistency from AMD's releases. It launched new mobile processors in January, followed by desktop chips in the latter half of the year. That is expected to continue in 2020 with the launch of the first Ryzen 4000 series processors. They will most likely be mobile chips based on the Zen 2 design at the heart of AMD's Ryzen 3000 desktop processors. They will be followed later in the year by Zen 3 desktop chips, fleshing out the rest of the Ryzen 4000 range.