AMD is readying a new line of EPYC branded server processors in the Socket AM5 package, VideoCardz reports. The new processor lineup is being built to target two distinct classes of customers—small business servers, and data-centers selling small-size dedicated servers that were otherwise having to offer Ryzen chips. Intel currently has the Xeon E-2400 series "Raptor Lake-E" processors in the Socket LGA1700 package to target these exact kinds of customers. The EPYC 4004 series will be based on the same "Raphael" package as the Ryzen 7000 series, and will be a step up from the Ryzen PRO 7000 series. What sets the Ryzen PRO 7000 apart from the EPYC 4004 series are the target markets. The Ryzen PRO series target commercial desktops. Perhaps the biggest differentiator between EPYC 4004 and Ryzen PRO 7000 series is the support and warranty AMD provides to its server processors.

The "Raphael" package gives the EPYC 4004 series CPU core counts ranging between 6 and 16. These CPU cores are based on the "Zen 4" microarchitecture. The memory controllers in the I/O die will probably be reconfigured to support server memory densities, besides ECC support like on the Ryzen PRO 7000 series. There's even talk of variants with 3D V-cache, although it remains to be seen if the 12-core and 16-core variants are similar to the 7900X3D and 7950X3D, where only one of the two CCDs has 3D V-cache; or if they're the chip we all dreamed about—a "Raphael" with both CCDs featuring 3D V-cache. There are already Socket AM5 motherboards by companies such as Advantech, which are server-grade, with server-relevant I/O, like the one pictured below, and so the ecosystem for EPYC 4004 series already exists, along with upgrade headroom for future generations.