At the beginning of 2020 we wondered if the future of ARM was in data centers. Ampere Computing had recently introduced its processor ARM a 80 core , at the time known only by its codename “QuickSilver”. This processor is now available on the market and, according to early benchmarks, is a credible contender in the processor arena, able to offer equal or even higher performance to those offered by Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC processors.

Ampere Other: ARM processors competitive with Intel and AMD

According to the tests carried out by Phoronix , which we invite you to read to know the results, Ampere Altra processors would be competitive with Intel Xeon Platinum 8280 “Cascade Lake” and with AMD EPYC 7742 “Rome” . There are two aspects that emerge clearly: on the one hand there is the fact that ARM maintains its leadership in terms of energy efficiency even when the architecture is brought to high performance and consumption levels. This was not so true in the past, when ARM could not compete with x 86 if it was brought to a high performance level.

On the other hand there is the fact that Ampere Altra processors, based on the ARM Neoverse N1 architecture, are capable of compete with x processors 86 in pure performance and sometimes even surpass them. This is a notable change in the scenario that demonstrates how the use of ARM in high-performance servers is no longer just a supposition, but a real and concrete possibility that undermines the very primacy that so far has allowed ax 86 to dominate the market.

Ampere Other proves that high ARM processors performance and high efficiency for the server market are possible, just as the Apple M1 processor demonstrates the same for the desktop environment. The gauntlet ax 86 is thrown and at this point it is not at all obvious to understand who will be the winner. For sure there is only that competition in the processor market will increase over the next few years, to the benefit of companies and individuals.