AMD EPYC Server-Grade CPUs With ZEN 3 Architecture Specifications Confirmed

AMD has been very successful with the ZEN 3 Ryzen and Threadripper CPUs. However, the company didn’t launch the ZEN 3 based EPYC Server CPUs. The final specifications of these powerful processors for mainframe applications are now out.

The ZEN 3 AMD EPYC Server grade CPUs start at 8 Cores and 16 Threads, and peak at 64 Cores and 128 Threads. They will have slightly higher Boost Clock Speeds than the previous generation ZEN 2 based EPYY CPUs. These processors should officially arrive in the next two months. The ZEN 3 based CPUs are codenamed ‘Milan’ and they will succeed the AMD ‘Rome’ EPYC CPUs which are based on the ZEN 2 Core Architecture.

Understanding ZEN 3 AMD EPYC Server-grade CPUs and Their Specifications:

The AMD ‘Milan’ EPYC CPUs will have about 200 MHz higher frequencies over the ZEN 2-based ‘Rome’ CPUs. The actual frequencies will vary slightly depending on the variant. For example, the 64 Core and 128 Threaded EPYC 7763 will boost up to 3.5 GHz which is 100 MHz higher than EPYC 7742.

However, the biggest difference and the fastest CPU in the AMD Milan lineup is the AMD EPYC 72F3. Packing only 8 Cores and 16 Threads, the CPU goes up to 4.1 GHz, which is 200 MHz higher than AMD EPYC 7F52 from the Rome series.

AMD’s ZEN 1 based EPYC CPUs were codenamed, Naples. The second generation was Rome, and the third is Milan. Understanding the naming scheme can be a little difficult. However, a Twitter user ExecutableFix has offered a simplified chart that decodes the rather complex naming scheme for AMD EPYC CPUs.

According to the chart, the last digit in the EPYC product name defines which family does the processor belongs to. Hence, the number 3 means it is the 3^rd Gen AMD EPYY CPU belonging to the ZEN 3-based Milan Series. The digit that is at second place from the beginning of the naming scheme denotes the number of Cores. Hence, 2 stands for 8 cores and 3 doubles that count to 16.

However, this is not the case all the time. Some digits refer to ranges, such as 4 could mean 24 up to 28 cores, and 6 means 40 to 46 cores. Still, the number 5 always means 32 cores while 7 refers to 64 core CPU, which is the highest core count for this generation.

The third digit from the beginning defines the performance target for the EPYC SKU. All AMD EPYC CPUs with the digit 1 at the third place indicate they are value-oriented. Meanwhile, digits 4 and 6 are meant to indicate performance applications. The third possibility is F, which refers to EPYC with high performing cores.

Interestingly, some AMD EPYC CPUs could also sport a P at the end. This indicates a feature is modified. In the current scenario, the letter P at the end means that the CPU is targeted for single-socket systems.

ZEN 3 AMD ‘Milan’ EPYC CPUs Launch:

AMD has made some seriously tall claims about its own ZEN 3-based AMD EPYC CPUs. The company claims its latest processors for servers can offer over 68 percent higher performance when compared to Intel Xeon 6258.

#AMD #EPYC 7643 'Milan' 48 Core / 96 Thread Zen 3 CPU Benchmarked, Up To 3.45 GHz All-Core Boost Clocks & Knocking Down Dual Intel Xeon's
https://t.co/C33uwzYCiW

— Hassan Mujtaba (@hms1193) January 29, 2021

AMD, in its Q4 Earnings Call, confirmed that the AMD 3rd Gen EPYC Milan is scheduled to officially launch in March 2021. Needless to add, these are server-grade CPUs and will not be available as individual SKUs for desktop use.