First data of the AMD Naples processors, the professional version of the AMD Ryzen

Robert Sole 7 March, 2017

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AMD offers the first data on AMD Naples server processors, based on the Zen architecture, the same as used in AMD Ryzen processors.

The AMD Zen architecture, which is used in AMD Ryzen processors, will also be used in processors intended for servers and workstations. These processors, known by AMD as Naples, have the mission to compete with the Intel Xeon, which are designed for the same functionality. These processors, internally, differ quite a lot from commercial processors, apparently in the number of cores and frequencies, but their architecture and the instructions they handle are also different, to adapt to specific loads.

AMD Naples is an answer in professional environments where a large number of cores are required, to cope with the required computing power. These new processors arrive with 32 cores based on the Zen architecture and with 64 processing threads. Another characteristic is that these processors are designed to work in systems with two or four sockets, therefore we would have two or four processors, depending on the system. AMD's idea is to compete in the professional segment with more cores, since Intel's processors from its higher-end Xeon family have 24 cores and 48 processing threads.

Regarding performance, the special benchmark used is an anisotropic 3D image rendering system. We can see that the time of the AMD processor is less than that of Intel, but it is normal, since in these types of benchmarks, the number of cores has more weight than the frequencies.

The Naples, in addition, have a renewed communication system between two processors, which has been called Infinity Fabric, which will be responsible for connecting the resources of both processors so that they work efficiently and thus take less time in processing the information. or the data, in addition to allowing blocks of information or data between the two, in a more optimal way.

There are also changes in the DDR4 RAM that the Naples supports, since these processors have eight channels for RAM, which is double that of Intel. Each of these channels supports memory of up to 16GB for each of the eight installable modules, reaching a maximum of 512GB of RAM in configurations of two processors on the same board. The processors also include 64 PCIe 3.0 lanes and in dual socket configurations this rises to 128 PCIe 3.0 lanes.

According to AMD, the new Naples processors improve the performance of the Intel Xeon processors of the same range by 45%, but it is also that they offer 122% more memory bandwidth and 60% more inputs and outputs, than the Intel alternative. Naples, will arrive during the second half of this year and it will be then when the specifications and models are released, in addition to the prices of these processors, which will be very far from the prices of the AMD Ryzen, sure.