AMD Epyc 'Venice' will be built on TSMC's N2 node, 5th-gen Epyc to be fabbed in Arizona

[DragonSlayer101]

In a nutshell: The 6th-generation AMD Epyc processors, codenamed Venice, will be the first high-performance computing product built using TSMC's 2nm (N2) process node. Team Red also confirmed that TSMC's new Fab 21 facility in Arizona has successfully validated 5th-generation Epyc silicon and will handle some of the chip production in the United States.

Venice, built on AMD's upcoming Zen 6 microarchitecture, represents a major milestone in the company's data center roadmap and remains on track for release next year. While AMD withheld further details, it confirmed the silicon has been taped out and brought up – indicating the CCD powered on successfully and passed initial tests.

Leaked details indicate that Epyc Venice CPUs will use the new SP7 socket, replacing the SP6 (LGA 4094) platform in Zen 4c-based Siena processors. Rumors also point to support for both 12-channel and 16-channel memory configurations, along with faster DIMM speeds on the PCIe Gen 6 interface.

The new N2 process node marks TSMC's first use of gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet transistors. The company calls it the industry's most advanced technology for density and energy efficiency, claiming the nanosheet structure delivers a 15 percent performance boost at the same voltage or a 24 to 35 percent drop in power use compared to the older 3nm finFET (N3) process.

The announcement comes on the heels of Intel's delay of its Xeon "Clearwater Forest" data center processors, now expected in the first half of 2026. Initially slated for release this year and based on the company's 18A process technology, the chips will arrive at least a few quarters late – even if Intel sticks to its revised timeline.

Unlike Clearwater Forest, Intel's Panther Lake CPUs for client PCs, built on the 18A process, remain on track for release later this year. Like other recent Intel chips, Panther Lake will use a hybrid architecture combining Cougar Cove performance and Skymont efficiency cores. The processors will also feature the Xe3 'Celestial' GPU, offering up to 12 Xe3 cores.

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AMD Epyc 'Venice' will be built on TSMC's N2 node, 5th-gen Epyc to be fabbed in Arizona

 

[Squid Surprise]

I wonder when Threadripper will be made in that node - EPYC is a bit too costly for me still…

 

[BobDolesGhost]

EPYC is a bit too costly for me still…

Nonsense.. tis pocket change ye peasant!

lol, man I'd love to have 1 at home just to play with. As I have no server needs myself, It would just be looking at CPU-Z and grinning, and trying to play Diablo 2 Resurrected on it

 

[yRaz]

I wonder when Threadripper will be made in that node - EPYC is a bit too costly for me still…

luckily for me, these recent Epyc generations have made used Intel server hardware a bargain, especially the DDR4 stuff. They might not have the singled threaded performance that the new stuff has these days, but there is still plenty of compute in those old Xeons. They aren't even that old, my newest one is only 5 years old. If I have one of my racks running full bore you can hear it down the hall in my living room from the garage.

 

[RudyBob]

I'm not tired of winning

 

[Squid Surprise]

luckily for me, these recent Epyc generations have made used Intel server hardware a bargain, especially the DDR4 stuff. They might not have the singled threaded performance that the new stuff has these days, but there is still plenty of compute in those old Xeons. They aren't even that old, my newest one is only 5 years old. If I have one of my racks running full bore you can hear it down the hall in my living room from the garage.

Well, I’ve got the 7980x - it’s pretty awesome… getting the 7995x would have been more than double… hard to justify spending even more on EPYC… I used to have an Intel 5960x until a year ago…

 

[Burty117]

Just recently built myself a new home server, got an Epyc 7282 + H11SSL-C Super Micro Motherboard together as a set for £340, and they were both “opened box, unused” and they really were for all intents and purposes, brand new.

 

[AnilD]

AMD hitting tape-out on a 2nm Epyc chip before Intel even ships its 18A server CPUs is a pretty big flex. If Venice delivers on efficiency and bandwidth rumors, the data center market could see a major shakeup — especially with that SP7 socket and up to 16-channel memory.

Wild to think that AMD might be producing bleeding-edge server chips in Arizona before Intel gets there with its own fabs.

 

[daffy duck]

I wonder when Threadripper will be made in that node - EPYC is a bit too costly for me still…

In Australia there's appears to be very little difference in price between EPYC and TR in a like-for-like comparison. TR is insanely overpriced.

 

[Squid Surprise]

In Australia there's appears to be very little difference in price between EPYC and TR in a like-for-like comparison. TR is insanely overpriced.

Yikes... well, in Canada, the Epyc 64 core (9575F) costs about 3x the price of the 7980x... not to mention motherboard and stuff is also pricier with Epyc... They ARE pretty sweet - but don't think I can justify that...