
In a significant stride towards the future of data center processing power, Ventana, a tech company founded in 2018, is gearing up to unveil its highly anticipated 192-core Veryon V2 RISC-V CPU in 2024. This groundbreaking development places Ventana in direct competition with industry giants like AMD and their Epyc Genoa and Bergamo CPUs.
RISC-V, an open-standard CPU architecture that has recently gained traction in the server market, forms the bedrock of Ventana’s innovative approach. The Veryon V2 represents a quantum leap from its predecessor, the Veryon V1, which appears to have been shelved in favor of this advanced iteration.
One of the most striking features of the Veryon V2 is its formidable 192-core configuration. This sheer number of cores places it squarely in the realm of high-performance computing, promising a significant boost in processing capabilities for data centers. This leap forward in core count is a testament to Ventana’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is technologically achievable.
Furthermore, the V2 introduces a more efficient 4nm node from TSMC, an upgrade from the 5nm node employed in its predecessor. This shift represents a tangible step forward in terms of energy efficiency and performance optimization. Additionally, the V2 embraces the standard RISC-V RVA23 vector instructions, a strategic move by Ventana to align its CPUs with industry-wide standards, enhancing compatibility with software and hardware ecosystems.
Ventana’s strategic vision extends beyond mere core count and node size. The company is pioneering the use of domain-specific accelerator (DSA) chiplets, which are poised to deliver substantial performance gains compared to conventional CPUs. These DSA chiplets are tailor-made to accelerate specific workloads, offering a level of specialization that holds the potential to revolutionize data center computing. This forward-looking approach positions Ventana at the forefront of innovation in the CPU market.
Taking a page from AMD’s playbook, Ventana adopts a chiplet-based design for the Veryon V2. This architecture features an I/O hub chiplet and compute chiplets housing the CPU cores. This design choice allows for a more modular and scalable approach to CPU development. Additionally, Ventana introduces customization options for the I/O hub chiplet, enabling hardware acceleration—an aspect not currently offered by AMD.
Ventana’s bold claims about the Veryon V2’s capabilities are backed by their assertion that it would take twice as many x86 or ARM CPUs to match the performance of their 192-core RISC-V CPU. They also project that their innovative chiplet-based design and DSA hardware will substantially reduce development time and costs, estimating a development cycle of less than a year and costs under $25 million.
While these claims certainly paint an impressive picture, it is crucial to approach them with a healthy dose of skepticism. The Veryon V2 is set to hit the market in 2024, likely in the latter half of the year, according to industry sources. This gives ample time for the tech community to scrutinize and validate Ventana’s ambitious promises.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of data center technology, Ventana’s Veryon V2 RISC-V CPU stands as a testament to the relentless pursuit of innovation. With its 192-core powerhouse and forward-looking DSA chiplets, Ventana is poised to make a significant impact on the data center processing landscape, challenging industry incumbents and paving the way for a new era of computing power.
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