The AMD EPYC 7551P is a high-end server processor designed to handle demanding data-centric workloads, such as cloud computing, virtualization, and enterprise applications. As part of the second generation of AMD’s Zen core architecture, the EPYC 7551P offers significant performance improvements over its predecessor, making it an attractive option for businesses seeking to upgrade their infrastructure.

Architecture and Specifications

The EPYC 7551P features 32 cores (4 CCDs) with a base clock speed of 2.0 GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 3.0 GHz. It has a total of 64 threads, thanks to AMD’s Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) technology. The processor also boasts an impressive 128 PCIe lanes, allowing for high-bandwidth connectivity to various peripherals.

The EPYC 7551P is built using TSMC’s 14nm process and features a large cache hierarchy, including 512KB L2 cache per core, 64MB L3 cache shared among all cores, and 4MB of L1 cache. The processor also includes support for DDR4 memory at speeds up to 3200 MHz.

Performance

In terms of performance, the EPYC 7551P is a beast. It offers significant improvements over Intel’s Xeon Scalable processors in various workloads, including:

• Single-threaded workloads: The EPYC 7551P delivers impressive single-threaded performance, thanks to its high IPC (instructions per clock) and large cache hierarchy.
• Multi-threaded workloads: With 64 threads at its disposal, the EPYC 7551P excels in multi-threaded applications like virtualization, cloud computing, and database management.
• Memory bandwidth-intensive workloads: The EPYC 7551P’s high memory bandwidth (up to 3200 MHz) makes it well-suited for workloads that rely heavily on memory access.

Comparison with Competitors

The AMD EPYC 7551P competes directly with Intel’s Xeon Scalable processors, particularly the Xeon Platinum 8180 and Xeon Gold 6148. While Intel’s offerings have traditionally been stronger in single-threaded performance, the EPYC 7551P makes up for it with its superior multi-threading capabilities.

Power Consumption

The EPYC 7551P has a TDP (thermal design power) of 240W, which is relatively high compared to other server processors. However, this is necessary to support the processor’s high performance and large cache hierarchy. AMD recommends using a high-wattage power supply when deploying the EPYC 7551P in production environments.

Conclusion

The AMD EPYC 7551P is an exceptional server processor designed for data-centric workloads that require high multi-threaded performance, memory bandwidth, and large cache hierarchies. Its impressive specifications, combined with its competitive pricing, make it an attractive option for businesses seeking to upgrade their infrastructure or build new cloud computing platforms.

Technical Specifications:

• Cores/Threads: 32 cores (4 CCDs), 64 threads
• Base Clock Speed: 2.0 GHz
• Boost Clock Speed: up to 3.0 GHz
• L1 Cache: 4MB per core
• L2 Cache: 512KB per core
• L3 Cache: 64MB shared among all cores
• PCIe Lanes: 128 lanes
• Memory Support: DDR4 at speeds up to 3200 MHz
• TDP: 240W
• Socket: SP3 (Socket SP3)