AMD announces Epyc Embedded 9004 Series CPUs with up to 96 cores

[Shawn Knight]

Why it matters: AMD has announced a new line of Epyc processors for embedded applications. The aptly-named AMD Epyc Embedded 9004 Series consists of 10 models with core counts ranging from 16 to 96, and thermal design power (TDP) profiles between 200 watts and 400 watts. Base clock speeds range from 2.4GHz to 3.25GHz with a max frequency of up to 4.15GHz on select models, and all are built using the Zen 4 5nm process.

AMD's new embedded solutions support non-volatile dual in-line memory modules (NVDIMMs), which is a hybrid type of memory that combines volatile DRAM and non-volatile flash memory, as well as non-transparent bridging (NTB) to boost system reliability by enabling the exchange of data between two redundant CPUs.

Model	Cores	TDP (W)	Base Clock	Max Frequency
9654	96	360W	2.4 GHz	3.7 GHz
9554	64	360W	3.1 GHz	3.75 GHz
9454	48	290W	2.75 GHz	3.8 GHz
9354	32	280W	3.25 GHz	3.8 GHz
9254	24	200W	2.9 GHz	4.15 GHz
9124	16	200W	3.0 GHz	3.7 GHz
9654P	96	360W	2.4 GHz	3.7 GHz
9554P	64	360W	3.1 GHz	3.75 GHz
9454P	48	290W	2.75 GHz	3.8 GHz
9354P	32	280W	3.25 GHz	3.8 GHz

Epyc Embedded 9004 additionally supports dual serial peripheral interface ports, so off-chip ROMs can be used for secure boot.

AMD said it plans to make its new processors available for up to seven years to ensure a long support cycle.

Two of the company's largest clients are already working on products featuring AMD's new hardware. Siemens' new SIMATIC IPC RS-828A server will run Epyc Embedded 9004 Series processors, and Advantech's ASMB-831 server board also supports the Socket SP5 solution. AMD said Advantech's board is ideal for image analysis across a variety of fields including smart city applications and security surveillance.

AMD's Epyc Embedded 9004 Series chips are now sampling to OEM and ODM customers, and production shipments are expected to get under way in April. Evaluation kits with a reference board, development tool kits and complete documentation are also available to qualified customers, AMD added.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/97933-amd-announces-epyc-embedded-9004-series-cpus-up.html

 

[human7]

So, what does "embedded" mean in this context? When I think of embedded systems, I think of microcontrollers, robots, and kitchen appliances, not 96 core server/supercomputer grade CPUs with 400 Watt TDPs. Although, maybe it's the robots designing these to start the AI revolution? (But seriously, what kind of embedded system needs this?)

Couldn't both examples in this article be run on standard servers?

 

[yRaz]

So, what does "embedded" mean in this context? When I think of embedded systems, I think of microcontrollers, robots, and kitchen appliances, not 96 core server/supercomputer grade CPUs with 400 Watt TDPs. Although, maybe it's the robots designing these to start the AI revolution? (But seriously, what kind of embedded system needs this?)

Couldn't both examples in this article be run on standard servers?

It's a weird term. People often call those things that people put in rack mounts just servers, that's not always the case. You could have an "embedded system" of 48 epyc CPUs in a single rack doing certain compute task. When you look at a supercomputer, those aren't "servers" in there, they're "embedded systems." Or at least that's the best way I can describe it because of how loosely 'server' and 'embedded system' are used.