AmpereOne Aurora: New 512-Core CPU with AI Features and HBM Support announced
Ampere Computing has unveiled a new CPU, the AmpereOne Aurora, which is based on Arm technology and boasts an impressive 512 cores along with specialized AI functionalities. This processor is part of an extended roadmap from the company that also includes support for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM). However, the Aurora processor is not expected to be released before 2026, as Ampere plans to introduce a 256-core model in 2025 first. The Aurora is said to offer up to three times the performance of current models, which range from 96 to 192 cores. The linear scaling of performance with the number of cores is emphasized as a key selling point.
In addition, Ampere has released the pricing for its current CPUs, with the flagship 192-core model priced at $5,555. Models with fewer cores but greater energy efficiency are being sold at higher prices. Despite partnerships with major companies like Supermicro, ASRock Rack, and Gigabyte, and interest from Qualcomm and Oracle at the cloud level, Ampere continues to struggle to establish itself in the market. To compete with in-house Arm CPU developments from tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta, Ampere needs to make its products available more quickly and on a larger scale. Despite the promising roadmap, the company's major breakthrough has yet to materialize.
Arm (originally known as Advanced RISC Machines) is a family of computer processors known for their energy efficiency and scalability. Unlike traditional x86 processors, which are commonly used in desktops and servers, Arm processors utilize a Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) architecture, which simplifies the instructions that the CPU must execute. This simplification allows Arm processors to be more power-efficient while still delivering strong performance, making them increasingly attractive for data centers and cloud environments where energy consumption and heat generation are critical concerns. As cloud computing continues to grow, the demand for servers that can handle vast amounts of data while minimizing power usage is increasing, making Arm-based CPUs an increasingly important player in the server market. Companies like Ampere are betting on this trend by developing high-core count processors that aim to compete with or surpass traditional server processors in both performance and energy efficiency.
