Server Processors

Intel Refreshes 2nd Gen Xeon Scalable, Slashes Prices

February 27, 2020May 25, 2021 David Schor 14 nm, Cascade Lake, Cascade Lake R, Cascade Lake SP, Intel, Xeon Bronze, Xeon Gold, Xeon Platinum, Xeon Scalable, Xeon Silver

Intel refreshes its second-generation Xeon Scalable lineup mid-cycle with new mainstream dual-socket CPUs, improving the performance-per-dollar by as much as 2x over original SKUs.

Architectures Neural Processors Server Processors

Centaur New x86 Server Processor Packs an AI Punch

January 24, 2020May 25, 2021 David Schor 16nm, AI, AVX-512, Centaur Technology, CHA, inference, neural processors, x86

A look at Centaur’s new server-class x86 SoC with an integrated neural processor.

Desktop Processors Mobile Processors Roadmaps Server Processors

Zhaoxin Unveiled Next-Generation x86 SoC Plans: 32-Core Servers, Sub-7nm Client Designs

December 12, 2019May 25, 2021 David Schor 16nm, 5 nm, China, DDR5, PCIe 4.0, x86, Zhaoxin

Zhaoxin unveiled plans for two new x86 SoC designs: a high-performance 16-nanometer server chip with up to 32 cores and a separate 7 nm mobile and desktop chip.

Architectures Embedded Processors Neural Processors Server Processors

Centaur Unveils Its New Server-Class x86 Core: CNS; Adds AVX-512

December 9, 2019May 25, 2021 David Schor 16nm, AVX-512, Centaur Technology, CHA, inference, neural processors, VIA Technologies, x86

Centaur lifts the veil on CNS, its next-generation x86 core for data center and edge computing. The core improving performance in many areas and adds support for the AVX-512 extension.

Roadmaps Server Processors Supercomputing 19 Vector Processors

NEC Refreshes SX-Aurora Vector Engine, Outlines Roadmap

November 30, 2019May 25, 2021 David Schor NEC, SX series, SX-Aurora, Vector Engine (VE), vector processors

NEC refreshes its SX-Aurora Vector Engine accelerator cards, adopts AMD processors, and outlines roadmap.

Architectures Roadmaps Server Processors Supercomputers Supercomputing 19

SC19: Aurora Supercomputer To Feature Intel First Exascale Xe GPGPU, 7nm Ponte Vecchio

November 17, 2019May 25, 2021 David Schor 10 nm, 7 nm, Aurora, Intel, Sapphire Rapids, Supercomputer, Supercomputers, x86, Xe

Intel unveils the node architecture of the Aurora Supercomputer; the system will feature Intel’s first Xe GPGPU for HPC, 7nm Ponte Vecchio.

Server Processors

Arm Makes Headway In HPC, Cloud

November 13, 2019May 25, 2021 David Schor ARM, Azure, Cray, exascale, Fujitsu, Marvell, Scalable Vector Extension (SVE), ThunderX, ThunderX2

Arm makes headway in HPC and cloud with Cray’s new support for the Fujitsu A64FX and Microsoft deployment of Marvell’s ThunderX2 processors.

Roadmaps Server Processors

Marvell Lays Out ARM Server Roadmap

November 9, 2019May 25, 2021 David Schor 16nm, 7 nm, ARM, Linley Processor Conference, Marvell, Scalable Vector Extension (SVE), ThunderX, ThunderX2, ThunderX3, ThunderX4

Marvell outlines its current and future Arm server microprocessor roadmap, aiming at a 2-year cadence with greater than 2x performance gen-over-gen.

Desktop Processors Server Processors

AMD Announces 3rd Gen Ryzen Threadripper

November 8, 2019May 25, 2021 David Schor 7 nm, AMD, Ryzen Threadripper, x86, Zen 2

AMD announces 3rd-generation Ryzen Threadripper microprocessors with up to 32 cores.

Architectures Hot Chips 31 Interconnects Server Processors

IBM Adds POWER9 AIO, Pushes for an Open Memory-Agnostic Interface

November 3, 2019May 25, 2021 David Schor Centaur (buffer chip), Hot Chips 31, IBM, NVLink, Open Memory Interface (OMI), open source, OpenCAPI, Power ISA, POWER9

IBM adds a third variant of POWER9, the POWER9 Advanced I/O (AIO) processor which incorporates the Open Memory Interface (OMI), a new open memory-agnostic interface.