Ampere releases ARM server processors, later with 128-core variant

Ampere has released its lineup of Altra server processors. The manufacturer supplies the chips in twelve different variants with up to 80 ARM cores. In the fourth quarter, Ampere will also start sampling Altra Max. That is a chip with 128 cores.

Earlier, Ampere already announced its 80-core Altra server processor, but the company announced its complete lineup this week. In total, Ampere offers twelve different Altra variants, of which four models with 80 cores, one with 72 cores, four with 64 cores and one with 48 cores. The company also comes with two 32-core models, although these are the same CPU, with a variant having 4TB of pre-installed memory, AnandTech writes.

Slides from the March Altra announcement

The Altra CPUs are based on ARM’s Neoverse N1 cores, just like Amazon’s Graviton2 chip. Currently, Ampere offers its Altra CPUs in different variants from 32 to 80 cores, with speeds up to 3.3GHz, depending on the model. The most high-end variant is the Q80-33, which has 80 cores at a clock speed of 3.3GHz. This chip has a TDP of 250W. The cheapest model is the Q32-17, with 32 cores at 1.7GHz and a TDP of 45W. The CPUs are made on a 7nm process from TSMC.

The CPUs can be installed in motherboards with a maximum of two sockets. Each CPU has 128 PCI-E 4.0 lanes. In two socket configurations, 192 pci-e lanes are available for add-in cards. The processors also support 4TB DDR4-3200 memory per socket, divided over 8 channels and 16 dimm slots.

Ampere is also working on an Altra server processor with 128 cores. This CPU has the working name Altra Max and will use the same platform as the current Altra processors. The company will also introduce a second generation of Altra CPUs in 2022, which will use a 5nm process from TSMC.

Ampere has not publicly announced the prices of its CPUs. It does report that several customers, including Cloudflare, are currently purchasing its CPUs. The chips are immediately available to companies, with the exception of the 128-core variant, with which Ampere will start sampling in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Ampere Altra is not Ampere’s first server processor lineup. Previously, the company released its eMAG server processors with up to 32 cores. Other companies are also working on ARM server processors, including Fujitsu, with its A64FX CPU. Currently, the most powerful supercomputer uses these processors.

Image via AnandTech

*With 4TB pre-installed memory