Thursday, November 7, 2024

Amazon’s Graviton4: A Strong Contender Against Intel and AMD

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  • Amazon Graviton4 shows significant improvements over its predecessors.
  • Benchmarked results reveal strong competition against Intel and AMD.
  • Graviton4 leads in ARM64 server performance, paving the way for future advancements.

Amazon’s fourth-generation AWS Graviton4 processor is now generally available, offering a high-performance option in the server CPU market.

Built on Arm Neoverse-V2 cores, the Graviton4 delivers significant enhancements over its predecessors, positioning itself as a formidable competitor to Intel and AMD’s x86 processors.

Impressive Performance Enhancements

The Graviton4 processor features 96 cores and boasts an average of 30% higher compute performance and 40% faster performance for databases and Java software compared to its predecessor, the Graviton3.

These improvements make it a compelling choice for businesses looking for powerful and efficient server solutions.

Benchmarking Against the Giants

To understand how the Graviton4 stacks up against Intel and AMD, Phoronix conducted detailed benchmarking tests.

The site tested five AWS instances in the “16xlarge” configuration, each equipped with 64 vCPUs and 512GB of memory. The instances included:

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  • Graviton4 (r8g.16xlarge)
  • Graviton3 (r7g.16xlarge)
  • Graviton2 (r6g.16xlarge)
  • AMD EPYC 9R14 (r7a.16xlarge)
  • Intel Xeon 8488C (r7i.16xlarge)

These tests were performed using Ubuntu 24.04 with the Linux Kernel 6.8 and the stock GCC 13.2 compiler.

Results That Speak Volumes

The Graviton4 demonstrated impressive performance across a wide range of tests. In the geometric mean of all the test results, it secured the second position, trailing only behind AMD’s EPYC processor.

This outcome aligns with Amazon‘s own performance claims for the Graviton4. The processor outperformed the Intel Xeon instance by about 5%, although AMD’s EPYC processor maintained a lead of approximately 25% in overall performance.

Phoronix founder Michael Larabel commented, “We are at the stage where the Neoverse-V2 cores with Graviton4 are effectively matching Intel Sapphire Rapids core-for-core and depending upon the workload, also matching or outperforming AMD 4th Gen EPYC.”

The Road Ahead for Graviton4

While Intel and AMD continue to dominate in terms of sheer performance, the Graviton4 isn’t far behind. It currently leads in ARM64 server performance, showcasing the potential of ARM-based processors in the server market.

As the Graviton4 becomes more widely adopted, it will face competition from upcoming processors like AMD EPYC Turin and Intel Xeon 6 Granite Rapids.

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The generational leap from Graviton3 to Graviton4 sets high expectations for the future. The performance improvements highlight AWS’s commitment to advancing its processor technology, and it will be exciting to see what the next iteration, Graviton5, will bring to the table.

A New Era for Server CPUs

The AWS Graviton4 represents a significant milestone in the server CPU market. Its combination of high performance and competitive pricing makes it a serious contender against the long-standing x86 duopoly of Intel and AMD.

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Emily Parker
Emily Parker
Emily Parker is a seasoned tech consultant with a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions to clients across various industries. With a deep understanding of emerging technologies and their practical applications, Emily excels in guiding businesses through digital transformation initiatives. Her expertise lies in leveraging data analytics, cloud computing, and cybersecurity to optimize processes, drive efficiency, and enhance overall business performance. Known for her strategic vision and collaborative approach, Emily works closely with stakeholders to identify opportunities and implement tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each organization. As a trusted advisor, she is committed to staying ahead of industry trends and empowering clients to embrace technological advancements for sustainable growth.

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