EPYC

EPYC is AMD's brand of server processors designed for data centers, cloud infrastructure, and high-performance computing. Introduced in 2017 with the Naples family, EPYC CPUs are built to support multi-socket systems, high core counts, substantial memory bandwidth, and extensive I/O. Each generation uses AMD’s Zen-based microarchitecture and a chiplet design that couples core compute dies with an I/O die via Infinity Fabric.

The first generation, Naples, offered up to 32 cores per socket, eight memory channels, and PCIe 3.0. The second generation, Rome (Zen 2), raised core counts to 64 and added PCIe 4.0. The third generation, Milan (Zen 3), refined performance and efficiency while maintaining up to 64 cores and PCIe 4.0, with improvements in IPC and memory handling. The fourth generation, Genoa (Zen 4), introduced PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory, delivering higher core counts (up to 96 per socket) and greater overall performance and efficiency. A cloud-optimized variant, Bergamo based on Zen 4c, was introduced to deliver very high core counts (up to about 128 cores per socket) for hyperscale workloads.

EPYC processors are widely deployed across enterprise data centers, cloud providers, and HPC clusters. They compete with Intel Xeon processors by offering high core density, strong memory bandwidth, and support for newer I/O technologies such as PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 where available. The EPYC platform has influenced datacenter design and software optimization through its emphasis on scalable multi-socket configurations, advanced interconnects, and continued advancements in core performance and energy efficiency.