AMD has quietly launched its EPYC Embedded 8004 series processors, targeting demanding applications such as networking, storage and industrial edge environments.
Built on AMD’s “Zen 4c” architecture (the first processor series in the AMD embedded portfolio to feature these cores), they offer 8 to 64 cores and support up to 1,152TB of DDR5 memory. With TDP ratings from 70W to 225W, the series is designed to combine energy efficiency with reliable performance.
The lineup, based on the EPYC 8004 “Siena” series launched last year, includes six models: the 64-core 8534P, 48-core 8434P, 32-core 8324P, 24-core 8224P, 16-core 8124P and 12-core 8C24P, each targeting different performance needs.
“Siena” is coming to the embedded market
The 8224P, with its 24 cores and 180W TDP, stands out for its balance between power and affordability, making it a good alternative to Threadripper Lite. The 8124P, with 16 cores and a TDP of 125 W, offers a budget-friendly option for multi-threaded applications without high power consumption. Also worth mentioning is the 12-core EPYC 8C24P which has a TDP of 100W, but a cTDP range of 70-100W.
The new embedded processors are equipped with advanced features such as Direct Memory Access (DMA) for offloading data transfers, Non-Transparent Bridging (NTB) for reliable CPU communication and DRAM Flush to NVMe for secure data retention during power outages. Featuring dual SPI for secure boot and Device Identity Attestation to prevent unauthorized changes, the series provides data integrity and system security.
Built with a compact SP6 socket that is 19% smaller than the Embedded 9004 Series, the EPYC 8004 Series fits into space-constrained systems while maintaining high efficiency. It has a seven-year lifecycle support, not much different from the non-embedded 8004 processors, and includes Yocto Framework support that enables optimized Linux-based operating systems tailored to specific embedded needs.
Summarizing the new embedded processors: ServeTheHome says: “Placed between the AMD EPYC 4004 Series and EPYC 9004 Series, the EPYC 8004 “Siena” platform is nice because it gives a large number of cores to a platform that costs less than the EPYC 9004 Series, but which is better expandable than the EPYC 4004 series. For many applications, things like connectivity are more important than achieving the maximum clock speed on a CPU. With the AMD EPYC Embedded 8004 series, the company indicates that “Siena” is coming to the embedded market. To be clear, we think the EPYC 8004 is a great platform. However, we do wish AMD did a little more branding work to differentiate why a chip is in the Embedded line.”