POWER10

POWER10. It is a 64-bit RISC microprocessor designed by IBM and manufactured by Samsung using advanced process technology. Announced in 2020 and launched in 2021, it serves as the successor to the POWER9 processor, focusing on performance per watt, security, and hybrid cloud workloads. The architecture is engineered to support large-scale enterprise deployments, artificial intelligence inferencing, and modern data-intensive applications.

Overview

The development of this processor was led by teams at IBM Research and IBM Systems, with key contributions from facilities in Austin, New York, and Böblingen. It represents a significant evolution from its predecessor, incorporating lessons from deployments in systems like the AC922 and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory supercomputers. The design goals emphasized energy efficiency for dense data centers, leading to a partnership with Samsung Electronics for fabrication. Initial announcements highlighted its intended use in future systems from partners such as Wistron and Inspur.

Architecture

The core microarchitecture implements a superscalar, out-of-order execution design with support for simultaneous multithreading. It features a new core complex design that groups multiple cores, with significant enhancements to the memory hierarchy including an integrated memory controller supporting DDR5 and PCI Express 5.0. A major innovation is the introduction of the PowerAXON interconnect, which enables high-bandwidth, low-latency communication between sockets and accelerators. Security is a foundational element, with features like transparent memory encryption and hardware-enforced isolation built directly into the silicon.

Performance and features

Key performance advancements include a focus on integer and floating-point throughput optimized for commercial and technical computing. The processor incorporates specialized acceleration engines for tasks like cryptography and matrix multiplication common in AI workloads. Its energy efficiency, measured in performance per watt, is a stated highlight, aimed at reducing operational costs in facilities like the Marist College data center. The memory subsystem's support for large, shared memory pools benefits applications from SAP HANA to the IBM Db2 database platform.

Chips and systems

The processor is offered in different configurations, including multi-chip modules and single-chip designs for varying market segments. It forms the foundation for new servers in the IBM Power Systems family, such as the E1080 enterprise system. Technology partners like Wistron and Inspur integrate it into their own server designs for global markets. These systems are targeted at major enterprise clients, cloud service providers, and research institutions, including collaborations with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

Software support

The operating system ecosystem is led by IBM AIX and distributions of Linux such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The open-source OpenPOWER Foundation continues to foster development around the platform, with tools and compilers from the GNU Compiler Collection and LLVM being optimized. Major software stacks from Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, and VMware are certified to run on systems utilizing this processor. Development and virtualization are further supported by technologies like Kubernetes and the IBM Cloud Pak portfolio.

Category:Microprocessors Category:IBM microprocessors Category:Power Architecture