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Linux Kernel Patch Hints At At 32-Core Support For AMD Zen Chips

Posted by timothy on from the more-like-seeds-than-cores dept.

New submitter Iamthecheese points to an article which says that a patch published on the Linux Kernel Mailing List indicates that AMD's forthcoming Zen processors will have as many as 32 cores per socket, but notes that while the article's headline says "Confirms," "the article text doesn't bear that out." Still, he writes, There are hints of such from last year. A leaked patch for the 14 nanometer AMD Zeppelin (Family 17h, Model 00h) reveals support for up to 32 cores. Another blog says pretty much the same thing. We recently discussed an announced 4+8 core AMD chip, but nothing like this.

4 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory XKCD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    https://xkcd.com/619/

    1. Re:Obligatory XKCD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      I am afraid that this is more appropriate: http://i.imgur.com/GDyOS.png

  2. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Linux already supports 32 cores very well, (Or 1024...) Still, driver support is needed for the details of adressing (up to) 32 cores on that particular architecture. Hence the patch. AMD may or may not turn out a 32-core chip in the near future - but at least their architecture supports that number of cores. Which is a bit interesting. If it turns out too hard to make, expect chips with 12-20 cores and gradually more as production quality ramps up.

  3. Re:Intel by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    AMD long ago gave up competing on raw CPU performance with Intel. They compete on price and integration. They have better on-board GPUs than Intel, and they cost less. The XBOne and PS4 both use AMD CPUs and GPUs.

    The question is if these markets are enough.

    --
    const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
    SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC