AMD has announced the launch of its 5th Gen AMD EPYC Embedded processors, expanding its x86 embedded processor portfolio.
These new AMD EPYC Embedded 9005 Series CPUs are driven by the "Zen 5" architecture and tailored for the embedded market, balancing computational capabilities with specific features that enhance product longevity, reliability, and system resilience. The 5th Gen AMD EPYC processors aim to deliver efficiency and performance that are pivotal for networking, storage, and industrial edge environments.
Salil Raje, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Adaptive and Embedded Computing at AMD, stated, "AI-driven network traffic, exploding data storage requirements and the expansion of industrial edge computing are driving the demand for higher compute performance in embedded platforms. 5th Gen AMD EPYC Embedded processors bring leadership performance and efficiency to embedded customers, together with the long product lifecycles and enhanced system resiliency they rely on to design confidently and ensure continuous operations in demanding 'always-on' environments."
The processors support a range of core counts from 8 to 192 in a single socket, providing considerable scalability. The industry-leading core density is said to result in up to 1.3 and 1.6 times improved data processing throughput for networking and storage workloads, respectively. These outcomes make the processors suitable for applications in network and security firewall platforms, storage systems, and industrial control applications.
Leveraging the "Zen 5c" core architecture, the new processors offer enhanced throughput and energy efficiency, with an estimated 1.3 times increase in socket throughput and a similar improvement in performance per watt compared to competitors. The capacity of up to 6TB of DDR5 memory per socket and extended I/O connectivity enables heightened storage capacity and expedited data transfers for networking and storage applications.
The series is also equipped with robust embedded features extending over a 7-year product manufacturing support to meet the longer operational demands of embedded markets. AMD aims to increase the design lifetime operation targets to seven years for production SKUs, ensuring prolonged product stability and reducing maintenance needs. These features are imperative for embedded systems that operate in critical environments, intending to minimise unplanned halts and costs.
The processors also incorporate NTB (Non-Transparent Bridging) to augment system redundancy and failover capabilities, along with DRAM Flush and Dual SPI for improved data integrity and security capabilities. This is designed to provide a long-lasting and secure platform.
AMD is collaborating closely with partners such as Cisco and IBM to ensure the seamless integration of the new processors into next-generation platforms. "We chose AMD EPYC Embedded 9005 Series processor for one of our high-end firewall products because it delivers the high compute performance that we need, from its scalability—up to 192 cores—to its high memory and I/O bandwidth," said Lukasz Bromirski, Director of Product Management at Cisco. "We know we can count on AMD, not only for great performance, but also cutting-edge quality and support and consistent roadmap execution."
IBM has also implemented the processors in its systems. Matthew Geiser, Product Management of IBM Storage for Data, AI, and HPC, noted, "IBM Storage Scale System 6000 is designed to deliver speed, performance, and reliability for demanding enterprise AI workloads. One of the main benefits of the AMD EPYC Embedded 9005 processors is the introduction of redundant paths for high data availability and robust connectivity options, which will pair nicely with performance-intensive applications running on IBM Storage Scale System."
The processors are already being sampled with early access customers, and production is expected to start in the second quarter of 2025. The CPUs come in the SP5 socket form factor, which maintains compatibility with the previous generation for a straightforward upgrade path.
