● Covered by 1 source · 6 reportsMedium impact6 neutral
AMD Details Zen 6 Epyc "Venice" and "Venice-X" CPUs, Featuring Up to 256 Cores and 1.15GB V-Cache
Key points
- AMD's Zen 6 Epyc "Venice" processors are detailed.
- Venice-X CPU launches in H2 2027 with 96 cores, 1152 MB 3D V-Cache, 5.15 GHz boost.
- Epyc 9996 "Venice" features 256 cores, 1.6 TB/s memory bandwidth, 128 PCIe 6 lanes.
- Zen 6c "dense" design used for 256-core Venice variant.
- Venice-X supports 16-channel memory with DDR5 RDIMMs.
- Venice-X CPU was revealed at AMD's Advancing AI event.
- Venice-X is built on the Zen 6 microarchitecture, same as Venice SP7.
- Venice SP7 is now in production.
- Venice-X has higher clock speeds than Genoa-X, which clocks up to 3.7 GHz.
- Epyc 9996 is a 256-core/512-thread chip.
- Epyc 9996 is the first to launch in a "broad portfolio" for Venice.
- Epyc 9996 has 1.6 TB/s memory bandwidth with fast MRDIMMs.
- Epyc 9996 has 128 PCIe 6 lanes in 1P configuration, 160 lanes in 2P.
- AMD's CPU roadmap extends through 2028.
- Zen 7 "Florence" will debut in 2028.
- Zen 7 "Florence" will include new AI compute extensions.
- Zen 8 "Ravenna" is in development for 2030.
- Intel will launch its new core with Nova Lake on desktop first.
- Intel's VP Robert Hallock commented on AMD's Zen 6 data center launch.
AMD Unveils Zen 6 Epyc Processors
AMD has provided initial details for its Zen 6 Epyc "Venice" server processors, which have been teased for over a year. The company plans a "broad portfolio" for Venice, including purpose-built solutions for different applications. This strategy is similar to how Intel has segmented its Xeon ranges and AMD has previously segmented its Epyc offerings.
Venice-X Targets High-Performance Computing
The Venice-X CPU is scheduled for release in the second half of 2027. It will feature 96 cores, 1152 MB of 3D V-Cache, and clock speeds up to 5.15 GHz. This processor is built on the Zen 6 microarchitecture, the same as Venice SP7, and is designed for high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. Venice-X supports 16-channel memory with standard DDR5 RDIMMs.
Epyc 9996 "Venice" Specifications
The Epyc 9996 is a 256-core / 512-thread chip, representing the first Zen 6 CPU in the Venice lineup. This variant utilizes AMD's Zen 6c "dense" design to achieve its 256-core count. It offers up to 1.6 TB/s of memory bandwidth with fast MRDIMMs and 128 PCIe 6 lanes in a 1P configuration, or 160 lanes in a 2P configuration.
Performance Claims and Market Positioning
AMD claims significant performance advantages for its Zen 6 Epyc processors. The company states that the Epyc 9996 can achieve up to a 3.4x performance increase over Intel Xeon competition and a 20% increase over Nvidia Vera in certain configurations. The Venice-X also features higher clock speeds compared to previous Epyc variants like the 96-core Epyc 9684X, which clocks up to 3.7 GHz.
Updates
- Intel will launch its new core with Nova Lake on desktop first.
- Intel's VP Robert Hallock commented on AMD's Zen 6 data center launch.
- Venice-X CPU was revealed at AMD's Advancing AI event.
- Venice-X is built on the Zen 6 microarchitecture, same as Venice SP7.
- Venice SP7 is now in production.
- Venice-X has higher clock speeds than Genoa-X, which clocks up to 3.7 GHz.
- Epyc 9996 is a 256-core/512-thread chip.
- Epyc 9996 is the first to launch in a "broad portfolio" for Venice.
- Epyc 9996 has 1.6 TB/s memory bandwidth with fast MRDIMMs.
- Epyc 9996 has 128 PCIe 6 lanes in 1P configuration, 160 lanes in 2P.
- AMD's CPU roadmap extends through 2028.
- Zen 7 "Florence" will debut in 2028.
- Zen 7 "Florence" will include new AI compute extensions.
- Zen 8 "Ravenna" is in development for 2030.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
How outlets covered it
Intel plans to introduce its new core architecture with Nova Lake desktop processors before releasing it for data center products, a strategy that contrasts with AMD's recent approach of launching new architectures in the data center first. This move indicates Intel's continued focus on the enthusiast desktop market despite shifts in the industry driven by AI demand.
AMD's upcoming Zen 6 processors, expected in 2026, will include new per-core optimizations like CPPC Performance Priority, FloorPerf, and HighestFreq to improve gaming performance by prioritizing foreground tasks and managing thermal/power budgets more efficiently. These features aim to reduce microstutters and improve 1% low frame rates in games by preventing background tasks from impacting primary applications during thermal throttling.
AMD announced that its Zen 7 generation of EPYC processors, arriving in 2028, will be split into three distinct families: Florence, Ferrara, and Fidenza. This strategy marks a departure from previous generations, segmenting the EPYC lineup to address specific AI-focused deployments and host node requirements.
AMD announced its CPU roadmap extending to 2028 and beyond, detailing Zen 7 'Florence' for 2028 and Zen 8 'Ravenna' in development for 2030. This roadmap indicates AMD's long-term strategy for its data center platforms and diversification of its CPU offerings for AI workloads.
AMD has released initial details for its Zen 6 Epyc "Venice" server processors, including a 256-core variant and a roadmap for future models. These new processors are designed to compete with Intel Xeon and Nvidia Vera offerings, with AMD claiming significant performance advantages in certain configurations.
AMD announced its Venice-X CPU, scheduled for release in the second half of 2027, featuring 1152 MB of 3D V-Cache, 96 cores, and a 5.15 GHz boost clock. This Zen 6 microarchitecture-based processor targets high-performance computing (HPC) workloads with its large cache and high clock speeds.