AMD Reveals Plans for Low-Power ARM Solution in 2014

Chipmaker AMD announced a strategy and roadmap Tuesday, aimed at enterprise and data center servers. The company unveiled products that address key technologies and meet the requirements of the fastest-growing data center and cloud computing workloads.

64-bit ARM SoC

Set to be released in 2014, AMD's 64-bit ARM Server CPU code-named "Seattle" will look to set the bar in power-efficient server compute. “Seattle” is an 8- and then 16-core CPU based on the ARM Cortex-A57 core and is expected to run at or greater than 2 GHz, with significant improvement in compute-per-watt. It will deliver 128GB DRAM support, extensive offload engines for better power efficiency and reduced CPU loading, server caliber encryption, and compression. Most significantly, this SoC will be the first AMD processor to integrate the advanced Freedom Fabric for dense compute systems directly onto the chip.

"Our strategy is to differentiate ourselves by using our unique IP to build server processors that are particularly well matched to a target workload and thereby drive down the total cost of owning servers," said Andrew Feldman, general manager of the Server Business Unit, AMD. "This strategy unfolds across both the enterprise and data centers and includes leveraging our graphics processing capabilities and embracing both x86 and ARM instruction sets. AMD led the world in the transition to multicore processors and 64-bit computing, and we intend to do it again with our next-generation AMD Opteron families.”

"Berlin" and "Warsaw"

The x86-based processor code named "Berlin" will be available as both as a CPU and APU. Offering almost 8 times the gigaflops per-watt when compared to the current Opteron 6386SE processor "Berlin" will have 4 next-generation "Steamroller" cores. It will be designed to double the performance of the recently available lower power Opteron X-Series "Kyoto" processor. It will be built on the AMD Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA), which  enables uniform memory access for the CPU and GPU and makes programming as easy as C++. It is expected to be available in the frist quarter of 2014.

"Warsaw" is an enterprise server CPU optimized to deliver unparalleled performance and total cost of ownership for two- and four-socket servers. Expected in the first quarter of 2014, it is a fully compatible socket with identical software certifications, making it ideal for the AMD Open 3.0 Server.