AMD Introduces New Data Center Processor Tailored For Video Processing

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. debuted the Alveo MA35D, a new data center accelerator, last week. The Alveo MA35D will enable enterprises like streaming providers to handle video more efficiently. The MA35D is the replacement for a product formerly known as the Alveo U30. It can process four times as many simultaneous 1080p video streams, totaling 32 while consuming less energy. According to internal AMD experiments, the MA35D has 66% lower "typical power consumption" than the Alveo U30. Streaming providers do not disseminate video content in its original format, but instead compress it into a file format. Videos preserved in compressed formats require less space for storage. Consequently, it can be transmitted over the network using less bandwidth, reducing costs.

Encoding is the process of altering a video stream's file format. The new MA35D accelerator from AMD is designed specifically for encoding. It is also capable of decoding, which is the process of returning a video broadcast to its original file format. A computing module that packs one or more processors into a chassis that is smaller than a standard server is an accelerator card. AMD claims that a standard one-rack-unit server can accommodate eight MA35D cards. A computer with eight MA35D accelerators can manage up to 256 video streams in parallel. 

Optimizing a processor for a particular workload increases its performance. If an application performs multiplications frequently, engineers can construct a processor with a large number of multiplication-optimized circuits. Such a microprocessor would be more efficient than a general-purpose processor with fewer specialized circuits. The chip manufacturer is presently providing MA35D samples to early customers. In the third quarter, AMD company intends to commence high-volume shipments.