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AMD’s massive SP7 socket for EPYC Venice and Intel’s gargantuan 9,324-pin socket for Diamond Rapids appear at Computex — SP7 and LGA9324-1 sockets will power the next generation of AI servers
We managed to grab pics of the newest upcoming server sockets from both AMD and Intel at Computex 2026. Both AMD and Intel are preparing to launch their next-generation server platforms that use all-new sockets, which enable new levels of performance, functionality, and power delivery.
AMD is a bit ahead with its SP7 platform in 2026, while Intel’s gargantuan 9324-pin socket will be used for Xeon ‘Diamond Rapids’ in 2027. While the platforms are entirely different, what makes them similar is the massive dimensions of CPU sockets and coolers.
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AMD’s SP7 is the company’s next-generation socket that will support AMD’s 6th Generation EPYC ‘Venice’ processors with up to 256 cores. The socket is huge and is rumored to support 16 DDR6 memory channels using 12.8 GT/s MRDIMMs as well as up to 96 PCIe 6.0 lanes (with the CXL protocol on top, though this is a processor, not a socket feature).
Based on information from Auras, the SP7 socket will be able to handle CPUs with a peak power consumption of up to 1,400W, so Auras and other companies are prepping liquid cooling solutions for these parts. In person, the socket is strikingly large, occupying most of my palm and overshadowing today’s server CPU packages.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
Given the fact that the socket must support so many memory channels and PCIe lanes, it is not surprising that it is that large. Despite its enormous dimensions, the socket is still compact enough to enable dual-socket server designs, so AMD’s partners will be able to offer systems with up to 512 x86 cores as soon as its next-generation EPYC processors arrive later this year.
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Meanwhile, for those systems that do not need so many cores and memory channels, AMD is prepping the SP8 platform that is set to offer fewer cores and DDR5 channels. Interestingly, Auras is working on water blocks for SP8 sockets as well, which means that the platform will still be quite mighty in terms of power consumption.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
But while AMD’s SP7 is huge, Intel’s 9324-pin socket easily dwarfs it, as it is noticeably longer than the palm of my hand. The socket will work with Intel’s Xeon ‘Diamond Rapids’ processors with up to 192 cores, a 16-channel DDR5 memory subsystem supporting MRDIMMs, and PCIe Gen6 lanes.
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Intel is yet to announce the processor base power of Diamond Rapids processors, though, since Auras is prepping water blocks for these CPUs, we're talking about circa 300W – 500W PBP and over 1 kW peak power consumption. Meanwhile, given that the socket is so massive, we would not be surprised if Intel’s 9324-pin socket will also support the Coral Rapids processors, presumably due in 2028 – 2029.
Anton Shilov is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends.
