Arm Unveils ‘Best Generation of Neoverse Technology Yet’

Arm's third generation of its Neoverse IP is designed to maximize TCO for intensive workloads and support new technologies like chiplets.

Arm has announced two new Arm Neoverse Compute Subsystems (CSS) built on “the best generation of Neoverse technology yet.” What makes these new offerings stand out in the crowded landscape of computing technologies? 

Arm's two new Arm Neoverse Compute Subsystems (CSS) include the Arm Neoverse CSS V3 and the Arm Neoverse CSS N3. 

Arm Introduces the Neoverse CSS N3 and V3

The Arm Neoverse CSS V3 and Neoverse CSS N3 represent the latest advancements in Arm's compute subsystem portfolio.

The Neoverse CSS V3 is the inaugural product for the high-performance V-series portfolio, engineered to deliver a 50% improvement in performance per socket over its predecessor, the Neoverse CSS N2. This enhancement is crucial for applications requiring high computational throughput, such as advanced analytics, machine learning, and high-performance computing tasks. The V3 subsystem supports leading memory and IO standards to provide a robust platform for building high-performance SoCs.

The Arm Neoverse N3 CPU. 

The Neoverse CSS N3 extends Arm's N-series CSS roadmap and focuses on maximizing performance per watt, a critical metric for energy-sensitive environments like edge computing and data centers. The N3 offers a 20% increase in performance per watt compared to the CSS N2, enabling more efficient processing and lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for infrastructure deployments. Architectural enhancements and optimizations reduce power consumption while boosting performance.

Both the CSS V3 and N3 are pivotal in Arm's ecosystem, enabling partners to leverage pre-configured, pre-validated subsystems to accelerate the development of custom silicon solutions. This approach significantly reduces design complexity and time to market, allowing partners to focus on differentiating their products.

Arm Neoverse CSS S3 for Confidential Compute and Chiplets

As part of this launch, Arm also unveiled the Arm Neoverse CSS S3, an advancement in the infrastructure-specific system IP landscape. 

This third-generation system IP is engineered to meet the diverse needs of applications spanning from high-performance computing (HPC) and machine learning to edge computing and data processing units (DPUs). The Neoverse S3 chassis is distinguished by its focus on delivering key innovations such as chiplets, confidential computing, and support for leading industry standards like UCIe, DDR5, CXL 3.1, and PCIe Gen5/Gen6.

The Arm Neoverse system diagram showing the S3 chassis. 

At its core, the Neoverse CSS S3 is designed to enhance composability, increase IO throughput, and bolster security. It achieves this through a suite of system IPs, including Arm RME for confidential computing. Arm RME aligns with the industry-standard DPE for "in use" data protection, ensuring that data remains secure not only when stored or in transit but also when actively being processed in memory. 

Furthermore, the Neoverse S3 introduces upgraded IO and memory systems that can support the latest standards, including PCIe Gen6 and CXL 3.1, thereby ensuring high-speed data transfer and efficient memory access. This is complemented by standardized chiplet interfaces with AMBA CHI C2C over UCIe, facilitating the development of modular and efficient SoCs.

Strides for Computing

In a time where digital transformation is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, the demand for more powerful, efficient, and scalable computing infrastructure has never been higher. Enterprises are constantly on the lookout for advancements that can provide a competitive edge, improve performance, and reduce operational costs. 

Arm's Neoverse CSS V3, N3, and the S3 system IP are a significant stride forward in the company’s technology. The enhanced performance and efficiency of the Neoverse CSS V3 and N3, coupled with the composability and security features of the S3, have the potential to accelerate the pace of digital transformation across various sectors. According to Arm, Neoverse CSS is already being deployed by many large industry players, including Microsoft Cobalt.

All images used courtesy of Arm.