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Processors Zero in on the Professional Workforce and Workstations

June 04, 2022 by Ikimi .O

Recently, companies like AMD, NVIDIA, and Intel have been targeting the professional world and workstations with a roll-out of advanced processors.

Recently, companies have been creating several technologies for workstation applications. For instance, the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processor series offers several professionals, including artists, architects, and engineers, full-spectrum workstation performance capabilities to design, build, and accelerate their vision for the future.

 

An example of AMD's Ryzen Threadripper processor.

An example of AMD's Ryzen Threadripper processor. Image used courtesy of AMD

 

This article rounds up some of these new technologies, highlighting relevant approaches companies leverage to achieve higher efficiency workforces and workstations.

 

Why Incorporate Latest Processors and GPUs into Workstations?

Unlike conventional personal computers (PCs), workstations are more robust, offering advanced specifications such as:

  • Increased storage
  • Software certification
  • A faster central processing unit (CPU) and graphic processing unit (GPU)
  • The ability to withstand continuous usage 

Companies target workstations to offer users computing systems that efficiently meet workflow needs. To achieve this, they are attempting to integrate enhanced capabilities and future-proof technologies with revolutionary architectures and incorporate them into platforms and GPU solutions to offer creators, designers, and engineers unprecedented graphics, rendering, and AI performance for efficient workflow.

To meet their data-intensive, power-consuming, and highly demanding workloads, workstation users often require systems that offer:

  • Advanced processors
  • Multi-layered security
  • A large memory
  • High power efficiency

For example, the increasing amount of updates for a single visual effect (VFX) shot requires immense processing power to achieve rapid iterations in VFX applications. Thus, the latest solutions from companies offer up to 2X improvements in CPU render times, accelerating increasingly complex workflows to get more done in less time. Unlike other less demanding applications, workstation applications often require more advanced hardware (e.g., next-gen processors and GPUs) that offer high performance, giving professionals a competitive edge.

 

AMD Threadripper Processors: An Overview 

One recent product zeroing in on workstations is AMD's latest Threadripper PRO 5000WX series processors. Claiming advanced capabilities, such as:

  • 64/128 core/thread counts
  • 4.5/4.1 GHz boost/base frequencies
  • 288 MB cache size
  • 280 W thermal design power (TDP)
  • 128 PCIe 4.0 lanes
  • 2 TB error correction code (ECC) memory support

This processor series is comprised of AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO: 5995WX, 5975WX, 5965WX, 5955WX, and 5945WX. This processor series states to leverage three key AMD PRO technologies, including security, manageability, and business-ready capabilities.

AMD claims that these processors' security technology harnesses a state-of-the-art multi-layered approach to limit resource drain, protect data, and avoid downtimes. AMD ensured extra security for the processor series by designing an architecture that prioritizes security features. Moreover, AMD PRO security technology integrates other key innovations, such as Shadow Stack, Secure Processor, and Memory Guard, which ensure protection against control-flow attacks, sensitive data protection, and real-time encryption that protects against physical attacks, respectively.

 

AMD PRO security technology.

AMD PRO security technology. Image used courtesy of AMD

 

Similarly, the AMD PRO's manageability technology aims to simplify processor deployment and management that is compatible with the existing infrastructure of users. AMD PRO business-ready technology ensures the processor series maintains the high quality, longevity, and reliability required for long-term consistency ideal for smart investments and simplified IT planning. Additionally, the 7 nm process technology-based architecture of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO processor series delivers unprecedented CPU core densities that modern workstations need to handle professional workloads.

 

Latest RTX GPU from NVIDIA Enhances Professional Creativity 

With the widescale adoption of remote work and hybrid workspaces, professionals across various industries increasingly demand workstations that ensure creativity and collaboration at high productivity and efficiency. Consequently, NVIDIA recently released its RTX GPU family with capabilities that ensure professionals efficiently handle demanding workloads.

These latest RTX GPUs from NVIDIA leverage next-gen RTX technology for AI, graphics, and ray-tracing performance acceleration. NVIDIA RTX GPUs leverage this RTX technology that integrates 3rd gen Tensor Cores with 2nd gen RT Cores and NVIDIA Ampere architecture to enable up to two times throughput for various workflows regardless of the user’s location. Moreover, the GPUs harness NVIDIA Max-Q technology for AI-based system optimizations, and up to 16 GB of GPU memory for seamless work with larger datasets, models, multi-app workflows, and other NVIDIA technology.

 

NVIDIA RTX A5500 graphics card.

NVIDIA RTX A5500 graphics card. Image used courtesy of NVIDIA

 

The NVIDIA Ampere architecture, which builds on the capabilities of the RTX technology, claims to significantly improve graphics, AI, rendering, and compute workload performance. The architecture offers several GPU innovations beneficial to tasking workstation applications, including:

  • Second-gen RT cores
  • Third-gen tensor cores
  • CUDA cores
  • PCI Express Gen 4.0
  • Third-gen NVLink

In addition to boosting graphics workflows, these cores produce more visually accurate renders and boost AI and data model training by significant levels than previous generations. The NVLink innovation adequately scales up memory and performance across multiple GPUs, offering users higher capabilities for tackling heavier scenes, datasets, and models. Additionally, the NVIDIA Ampere architecture offers a dual-slot power-efficient design that ensures extended battery life across a wide range of applications.

 

Intel Ups the Game with Its Latest vPro Platform 

The final release in this roundup is Intel's recent 12th Gen Core-powered vPro platform, which promises the best in class processor design for business productivity. In its announcement, Intel noted that this latest platform design accounts for top productivity, advanced security, and industry-leading performance in light of business success across several industries.

The Intel vPro platform, comprised of the vPro Enterprise, vPro Essentials, vPro Enterprise for Chrome OS, and vPro Evo Design, claims to combine years of innovation to meet the increasingly tasking demands of modern-day businesses.

 

An overview of speeds of Intel's 12th Gen Core.

An overview of Intel's 12th Gen Core speeds. Image used courtesy of Intel

 

Intelligent efficient-cores (E-cores) and performance-cores (P-cores) aspects of the vPro platform are believed to allow easy multitasking and collaboration. Moreover, the Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) and connectivity performance suite ensure constant wireless connectivity.

Overall, Intel's vPro claims to offer several technologies that enable safer and more efficient workflows through Intel Threat Detection and Hardware Shield technologies to ensure data security and minimize potential threats to business productivity. Moreover, the extended portfolio of the platform delivers a wide variety of solutions from which users can find a solution for healthcare, education, banking, and manufacturing applications.

 


 

Interested in other processing technologies? Read on in the articles down below:

Intel’s AI Processors Aim to Upheave NVIDIA’s Processing Domination

Mobile Processors Pick Up Steam: Samsung Unveils Exynos 2200 Processor

Innovative Interconnects: The Future of Chiplet-based Processors?