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Ampere Launches its First ARM-Based Server Processors in Challenge to Intel

posted by martyb on Friday September 21 2018, @05:40AM   Printer-friendly
from the Ampere.-AMD.-Who's-next? dept.

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for takyon

Ampere is launching two versions of its first ARM-based 64-bit server processor today in a challenge to Intel's dominance of data center chips.

Intel dominates about 99 percent of the server chip market with its x86-based processors, but Ampere is targeting power-efficient, high-performance, and high-memory capacity features with its Ampere eMAG processors for data centers.

Renee James, former president of Intel and CEO of Ampere, said in an interview with VentureBeat that customers can now order the chip from the company's website. The chips are aimed at hyperscale cloud and edge computing, using the ARMv8-A cores. The chips target big data and in-memory databases.

[...] Based on the SPECint benchmark performance, Ampere's eMAG processor can deliver about twice the performance of the Intel Xeon Gold 6130 processor at about the same price, the company said. The eMAG with 32 cores and 3.3 Ghz in performance will sell for $850, and with 16 cores at 3.3 GHz will sell for $550.

[...] Ampere designed its cores, which feature eight DDR4-2667 memory controllers, 42 lanes of PCIe 3.0 for high bandwidth I/O, 125W TDP for maximum power efficiency, and a 16-nanometer FinFET manufacturing process at contract manufacturer TSMC.

Source: https://venturebeat.com/2018/09/18/ampere-launches-its-first-arm-based-server-processors-in-challenge-to-intel/

Previously: Former Intel President Launches New Chip Company With Backing From Carlyle Group

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  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 21 2018, @07:33AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 21 2018, @07:33AM (#738001)

    Intel dominates about 99 percent of the server chip market with its x86-based processors

    I can believe all the POWER, SPARC and big iron left on the 'net amount to less than one percent, but AMD can't even pull a single percentage point? Damn, don't even know how bad things really are.

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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Friday September 21 2018, @09:39AM (1 child)

    by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Friday September 21 2018, @09:39AM (#738031) Journal

    I thought AMD was doing a lot better with Epyc. I guess Intel execs are sipping scotch right now.

    Intel CEO Bracing For EPYC Impact, Aims to Keep AMD Under 20% of Server Market Share [tomshardware.com]

    Shah relates that Krzanich "was very matter-of-fact in saying that Intel would lose server share to AMD in the second half of the year,” which is not news, but he thought it significant that "Mr. Krzanich did not draw a firm line in the sand as it relates to AMD’s potential gains in servers; he only indicated that it was Intel’s job to not let AMD capture 15-20% market share." (emphasis added).

    [...] Intel currently has roughly 99% of the server processor market, but AMD is quickly making inroads. AMD's EPYC processor has proven to be extremely competitive with Intel's offerings, but cautious data center administrators are reluctant to switch to new processor designs, largely due to the huge expenses associated with qualification and software optimizations.

    Hmm, there's something fishy about this graph charting AMD's push into Intel's server turf [theregister.co.uk]

    Aaron Rakers, senior analyst at Wells Fargo, has seen the second 2018 quarter numbers. He told The Register: "Intel's server CPU share is estimated to have declined to 98.7 per cent vs 99 per cent in the prior period and 99.5 per cent a year ago.

    "AMD's server CPU share increased to 1.3 per cent in 2Q18, up from 1 per cent in the prior period and 0.5 per cent a year ago."

    [...] Rakers said AMD believes it can grow its current server market share position to mid-single digits by the end of calendar 2018.

    Achieving a 5 per cent share in just two quarters from the current 1.3 per cent level and 0.4 per cent/quarter growth rate looks unachievable.

    AMD could reach 2.1 per cent by the end of the year at its current share growth rate.

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    • (Score: 2) by bobthecimmerian on Friday September 21 2018, @11:13AM

      by bobthecimmerian (6834) on Friday September 21 2018, @11:13AM (#738048)

      I suspect Intel is still worried. Even if AMD only gets 2% of the server market by the end of the year vs 0.5% a few years ago, it starts to force Intel away from "price our server processors any way we want".