AmpereOne at Hot Chips 2024: Maximizing Density

Ampere Computing showcased its latest server CPU, AmpereOne, at Hot Chips 2024, emphasizing its focus on cloud-native processors designed for high density and consistent performance without relying on process node scaling. Unlike competitors that utilize Arm's Neoverse cores, AmpereOne features a custom core design capable of reaching speeds up to 3.7 GHz. The architecture prioritizes a large L2 cache and advanced branch prediction techniques, achieving over 95% accuracy in challenging workloads. The frontend design is unconventional, utilizing a small instruction cache to minimize latency, while the backend execution engine includes deep schedulers and multiple execution pipes for efficient processing. The load/store unit is designed to handle memory dependencies effectively, with advanced mechanisms for fast forwarding and memory tagging to enhance security. Overall, AmpereOne aims to maximize server density and performance for cloud providers, positioning itself as a competitive option in the server CPU market.

- AmpereOne features a custom core design, contrasting with competitors using Arm's Neoverse cores.

- The CPU achieves high branch prediction accuracy and employs a unique frontend design to reduce latency.

- The backend execution engine includes deep schedulers and multiple execution pipes for efficient processing.

- Advanced memory handling mechanisms enhance performance and security, including memory tagging.

- AmpereOne is designed to maximize server density and consistent performance for cloud-native applications.