Baidu selects AMD processors to power its AI and cloud computing datacenters.
Chipmaker AMD and Chinese language Internet search provider Baidu have announced the immediate availability of AMD-powered artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing services. The advanced features of the AMD EPYC processor in a single-socket platform allow Baidu to deliver massive storage and compute services to its customers, with plans to further expand its use of AMD EPYC processors across its global data centers beginning in the first quarter of 2018.
The technical advantages of this partnership are substantial. The AMD EPYC processor supports 128 lanes of PCIe connectivity and delivers 2.6 times the input/output density compared to competitive solutions, enabling Baidu to achieve a significant level of scale in high-performance x86 infrastructure. The combination of performance from the EPYC processor cores and compute and I/O density packaged in a single-socket configuration provides the ideal platform for Baidu's next generation cloud services.
Liu Chao, senior director for Baidu System Technologies Department, stated: "By offering outstanding performance in single-processor systems, the AMD EPYC platform provides flexibility and high-performance in our datacenter, which allows Baidu to deliver more efficient services to our customers." He added that "Baidu's mission is to make a complex world simpler through technology, and we are constantly looking to discover and apply the latest cutting-edge technologies, innovations, and solutions to business."
Scott Aylor, corporate vice president and general manager at AMD Enterprise Solutions, characterized Baidu as "a long-recognized pioneer in datacenter innovations," noting that "with their adoption of AMD EPYC they continue down that path by leveraging our single-socket innovations to power their ABC strategy." Aylor concluded: "It is a thrilling experience to work side-by-side with Baidu to explore the capabilities of AMD EPYC and maximize its application across their customers' workloads."