At OCP Summit 2022, Microsoft confirmed what’s a next-generation server for the remainder of the world. The server proven we had been instructed was an AMD EPYC “Genoa” era server. This was a part of the Microsoft Hydra demonstration on the present flooring.
Microsoft Reveals AMD Genoa 1P Server Powered by Hydra at OCP Summit 2022
At OCP Summit 2022, whereas strolling via the Microsoft sales space, one thing instantly caught my eye, Microsoft was displaying AMD Genoa. One can see the brand new socket and the 24x DIMM slots, albeit with solely two populated.
One thing which may be instantly noticeable is the cooling answer. It is a 1U platform so there’s restricted peak. We can’t disclose the identify of the socket, or specs past DDR5, and PCIe Gen5 help that AMD has already mentioned for its upcoming Genoa platform as a result of we’re below embargo.
What we are able to do nonetheless is present the completely large heat-pipe and heatsink setup.
The CPU has a small heatsink over it, however then there are eight copper warmth pipes that result in a a lot bigger heatsink that sits alongside the facility provides.
It is a very Microsoft server design with 10x E1.S EDSFFF slots within the center. On the aspect we are able to see a small Gigabyte GPU that Microsoft added to this server simply to reveal Hydra.
There are additionally numerous slots and cabled PCIe connectors on the motherboard.
The actual star of this, except for Genoa, is the Hydra card. It is a card that may be a BMC on a card collectively developed with Nuvoton. One can see that it plugs into the motherboard by way of an OCP NIC 3.0 connector. You possibly can be taught extra about OCP NIC 3.0 kind elements in our information.
This can have Microsoft’s silicon root of belief and extra working. A part of the objective of the newer OCP servers is to be extra modular so elements may be changed or upgraded extra simply.
Ultimate Phrases
Microsoft has been a serious supporter of AMD EPYC and has been a key buyer. We anticipate that as Genoa launches later this quarter we’ll hear extra from Microsoft about its deployment. Nonetheless, one can inform that we’re removed from the times of 125W TDP CPUs with the cooling answer the corporate is deploying. Seeing 24x DIMM slots linked to a single CPU can also be superior since that helps to drive increased reminiscence density.
We can have extra on the AMD EPYC Genoa platform once we can present you the official platforms intimately with efficiency outcomes later this quarter. It’s coming, simply wait.