SP8 socket: CPUs, chipsets and cooler fit
SP8 is AMD's mainstream server socket for the EPYC 9006 Venice family. It is a land grid array socket with 5,572 contacts, and the package measures 123.9 × 80.9 mm. The platform covers 8 to 128 cores per processor with single and dual socket boards.
Quick facts
| Maker | AMD |
|---|---|
| Package type | LGA |
| Contacts | 5,572 |
| Package size | 123.9 × 80.9 mm |
| Introduced | July 2026 |
| Status | Current |
| Memory | DDR5, 8 channels per socket with 2 DIMMs per channel (RDIMM, 3DS RDIMM and MRDIMM up to 12800 MT/s) |
| PCIe from the CPU | PCIe 6.0 with 128 lanes plus 8 PCIe 4.0 lanes in 1P, and 192 lanes plus 16 PCIe 4.0 lanes in 2P. CXL 3.1. |
| Cooler mounting holes | Board specific (server heatsink) |
| Replaces | SP6 |
| Replaced by | None |
Overview
The socket pairs 8 channels of DDR5 with a generous PCIe 6.0 lane budget, which suits virtualization hosts, edge servers and cost-sensitive deployments that need expansion more than peak memory bandwidth. Single-socket P models cut the price for hosts that will never grow a second socket.
SP8 arrived with the Venice launch in July 2026 for mainstream boards, while SP7 serves the high core count range. As with SP7, the board support list decides which processors each board runs.
Processor generations
| Codename | Marketing name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venice | EPYC 9006 series | 2026 | Zen 6 and Zen 6c server processors on TSMC 2 nm, from 8 cores to 128 cores, with single-socket P models and high-frequency F models. |
Memory layout
Each SP8 processor carries 8 channels of DDR5 with two DIMMs per channel, for 16 slots and up to 8 TiB of RAM per CPU. RDIMM and 3DS RDIMM cover capacity and MRDIMM reaches 12800 MT/s in the platform table. Full population at top speeds needs a board qualified for it.
With half the channels of SP7, memory bandwidth per core is lower at high core counts. That is the intended trade. Hosts that stream large datasets per core belong on SP7, while virtualization and edge hosts with working sets that fit the 256 MB to 512 MB of L3 run well on SP8.
PCIe and CXL
Single-socket SP8 boards carry 128 PCIe 6.0 lanes plus 8 PCIe 4.0 lanes, and dual-socket boards carry 192 PCIe 6.0 lanes plus 16 PCIe 4.0 lanes, with CXL 3.1 on the fabric. That is more Gen 6 lanes than SP7 offers, which helps NVMe-heavy and accelerator-heavy builds.
Lane counts vary by board wiring, so the block diagram of the exact board decides how many slots and M.2 or EDSFF bays actually run at full speed. Six F models boost to 5 GHz for frequency sensitive licenses, and five P models are single-socket only.
Power and cooling
SP8 parts span 130 W to 400 W of default CPU power. Retention uses the SRM mechanism, a change from the SAM mechanism of SP6. Cooling ranges from enterprise air to liquid at the top of the range, always tied to the board and chassis rating.
A board qualified for a 130 W edge part is not automatically qualified for a 400 W 128-core part. Check the vendor list for allowed processors, minimum BIOS and any airflow rules before ordering.
One socket or two
Standard SP8 models run in 1P or 2P boards. P suffix models are single-socket only and cost less than their dual-socket twins, for example the 9736P against the 9736. F suffix models trade some efficiency for boost clocks up to 5 GHz.
Staying on SP8, the upgrade path runs from small edge parts to the 128-core models without a board change, as long as power and cooling allow. Moving from SP6 or SP5 needs a new board and DIMMs.
CPUs on SP8
22 processor pages in the database, newest first.
| Processor | Cores / threads | Base / boost | TDP | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD EPYC 9016 | 8 / 16 | 3.05 / 4.8 GHz | 130 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9116 | 16 / 32 | 2.85 / 4.5 GHz | 160 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9176F | 16 / 32 | 3.9 / 5.0 GHz | 200 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9256 | 24 / 48 | 2.85 / 4.5 GHz | 190 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9276F | 24 / 48 | 3.8 / 5.0 GHz | 230 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9336 | 32 / 64 | 3.15 / 3.7 GHz | 195 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9356 | 32 / 64 | 3.6 / 4.5 GHz | 250 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9356P | 32 / 64 | 3.6 / 4.5 GHz | 250 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9376F | 32 / 64 | 3.8 / 5.0 GHz | 285 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9456 | 48 / 96 | 3.2 / 3.7 GHz | 265 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9456P | 48 / 96 | 3.2 / 3.7 GHz | 265 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9476F | 48 / 96 | 3.65 / 5.0 GHz | 330 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9526 | 64 / 128 | 2.75 / 3.7 GHz | 220 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9536 | 64 / 128 | 3.25 / 4.0 GHz | 300 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9536P | 64 / 128 | 3.25 / 4.0 GHz | 300 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9576F | 64 / 128 | 3.55 / 5.0 GHz | 400 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9646 | 96 / 192 | 2.8 / 3.7 GHz | 300 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9646P | 96 / 192 | 2.8 / 3.7 GHz | 300 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9676F | 96 / 192 | 3.1 / 5.0 GHz | 400 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9736 | 128 / 256 | 2.7 / 3.7 GHz | 360 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9736P | 128 / 256 | 2.7 / 3.7 GHz | 360 W | Jul 2026 |
| AMD EPYC 9746 | 128 / 256 | 2.9 / 4.0 GHz | 400 W | Jul 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
Which processors fit SP8?
EPYC 9006 Venice processors for Socket SP8, from 8 cores to 128 cores. SP7 parts do not fit, and Turin parts for SP5 do not fit.
What is the difference between SP8 and SP7?
SP8 is the mainstream platform with 8 memory channels, up to 400 W parts and more PCIe 6.0 lanes per board. SP7 is the high-end platform with 16 channels and parts to 600 W.
What memory does SP8 use?
DDR5 RDIMM, 3DS RDIMM and MRDIMM, up to DDR5-8000 and MRDIMM-12800 in the platform table, with two DIMMs per channel. The board vendor qualifies exact types.
Does SP8 support one or two sockets?
Both, depending on the board. Models with a P suffix run in single-socket boards only, while standard models run in 1P or 2P boards.
Sources and verification
- AMD EPYC 9006 Server CPUs for AI-First Data Centers (AMD)
- AMD Posts the Full EPYC 9006 SKU List: 31 Venice Parts (StorageReview)
- AMD Epyc 9006: Server-CPUs mit Zen 6 und 3D V-Cache (PC Games Hardware)
- EPYC 9006 Zen 6 Venice CPUs Get Full Spec and Pricing (Tom's Hardware)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .