Meet the AMD EPYC 8005, a new server CPU for computing at the edge

The new AMD EPYC 8005 server CPUs are designed for low-power, small-footprint situations. Target workloads include edge computing, cloud storage and telco.

AMD has just introduced the AMD EPYC 8005 server CPUs. These processors, successors to the AMD EPYC 8004 CPUs, are designed for low-power, small-footprint setups. Target workloads include edge computing, telco, cloud storage and retail AI.

Formerly codenamed Sorano, the new AMD EPYC 8005 server CPUs are optimized for edge environments where space and power are both limited. With these CPUs, users can consolidate workloads onto fewer nodes to boost performance/watt, minimize infrastructure footprints, and lower both deployment and operating costs.

This single-socket platform comprises 7 SKUs. Depending on model, the tech specs include a range of 8 to 84 cores; 16 to 168 threads; base clock rates up to 2.95 GHz; max boost clock rates up to 4.5 GHz; and L3 cache ranging from 64 to 384 MB. Power levels, expressed as default TDP, range from 95 to 225 watts.

Compared with its 64-core predecessor, the new high-end 84-core AMD EPYC 8635P CPU delivers 40% higher top-of-stack integer performance and nearly 10% higher performance/watt, according to AMD.

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These new processors are built on same enterprise-grade x86 foundation as AMD’s high-end EPYC 9005 CPUs. That includes AMD’s ‘Zen 5’ technology. It also includes support for AVX-512, a built-in accelerator for workloads that involve heavy vector-based processing.

This unified x86 instruction-set architecture also means users can shift workloads seamlessly from cloud to edge. There’s no need to rewrite code, recompile or re‑architect applications.

Running vRAN

The new AMD EPYC 8005 CPUs are also designed to support the power requirements of vRAN workloads.

vRAN, short for virtualized Radio Access Network, supports 5G networks by using virtualization to transform how networks are deployed, managed and optimized. Also, while traditional RAN requires custom systems and specialized chips, vRAN uses general-purpose server compute.

The new AMD processors support vRAN with compute-intensive L1 processing. This is a RAN stack layer that includes demanding workloads such as beamforming, a technique for signal processing.

Retail AI

The new CPUs also mean retail stores can run AI services on compact, air-cooled systems.

One early user is Wobot.AI. It provides retailers with intelligent video AI agents. These now operate on in-store servers running AMD EPYC 8005 server CPUs.

Wobot’s agents transform existing camera infrastructure into continuous, in-store intelligence. This helps retailers optimize layouts, improve efficiency, and maintain consistent execution across locations.

Cloud Storage

The AMD EPYC 8005 Server CPUs give architects another tool in the kit: a lower-power, right-sized option for dense storage arrays.

So cloud operators can use the new AMD processors to scale up by consolidating software-defined storage (SDS), virtualization and security functions on fewer nodes.

In this way, they can lower their power and cooling requirements while simplifying operations, all while maintaining x86 continuity.

Supermicro Server Support

What kinds of servers will the new AMD processors power? An example has already been announced by Supermicro.

The company recently said its 1U short-depth server, model number AS -1115S-FWTRT, now supports the new EPYC 8005 series.

This air-cooled, single-processor server is designed for virtualization, edge/cloud, 5G networking, firewall and telecom workloads. And its short-depth form factor of under 17 inches means the server can be used in smaller spaces.

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