AMD Naples - 32 cores / 64 threads / 8 memory channels / 64 PCIe lanes

AMD lost almost all of its server market share, but now with the new Zen architecture it may have a fighting chance to fight again.

The new platform is called AMD "Naples" and it offers about 2x the performance of Intel Xeons at the same price. Even though these server processors are based on Zen architecture, they will go into a new socket type, not AM4, because they'll have 4x more memory channels and PCI-Express lanes, so they need a lot more contacts in the socket.

Photo source WCCFTECH

As you can see in the illustration above, one Naples CPU will have 4 dual channel memory controllers, which can handle two or more modules each. It seems like AMD is optimizing for single and dual socket servers, as the exact same platform will also be a perfect workstation, if you put it in a larger case with standard expansion slot space, for professional graphics cards, network cards ...etc.

Enthusiasts will probably be interested in the Naples platform as well, because of the 64 PCIe lanes per processor, which could mean up to 4 high end video cards working at full speed in a single system.

Photo source WCCFTECH

Unfortunately most applications and games still work best on 4-8 threads, so the PC industry needs to tackle this problem, before such "multi-core multi-GPU beast" systems can be fully utilized. This process could take years, as Intel won't be launching even just 6-core mainstream products until 2018.