The AMD EPYC 8004 "Siena" processors have demonstrated notable performance improvements on Linux systems since their launch two years ago. Benchmarks on the 64-core EPYC 8534P reveal gains from software updates, benefiting energy-efficient server deployments. These advancements highlight the value of keeping Linux stacks current for optimized total cost of ownership.
The AMD EPYC 8004 "Siena" series, introduced in September 2023, targets single-socket server platforms emphasizing energy efficiency and total cost of ownership (TCO). These processors offer up to 64 cores and 128 threads per socket, supported by six memory channels, making them suitable for cost-optimized deployments.
Recent benchmarks conducted on the AMD EPYC 8534P, a 64-core model from the series, compare its performance from launch to the present. At launch, testing used an Ubuntu 23.10 development snapshot with the Linux 6.5 kernel and GCC 13.2 compiler. In contrast, current evaluations employ Ubuntu 25.10, the Linux 6.18 LTS kernel, and GCC 15.2 compiler, showcasing enhancements from two years of software evolution.
These updates enable users who adopted EPYC 8004 servers since 2023 to extract additional performance without hardware changes. The improvements stem from advancements in the Linux ecosystem, including kernel and compiler optimizations. Looking ahead, the upcoming Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, expected in April 2026, will feature Linux kernels around 6.20 to 7.0, potentially delivering further gains, especially with enhancements in versions 6.19 and beyond.
This progression underscores the ongoing relevance of the Siena series for efficient computing, where software maturity plays a key role in maximizing hardware potential.
