Fujitsu is preparing to introduce a new data center processor in 2027. Called Monaka, the 288-core chip (144 cores x two sockets) will be based on the Armv9-A architecture and will ditch high-bandwidth memory in favor of PCIe 6.0 (CXL3.0).
The chip will use a 3D multi-core architecture for more cores, lower latency, and high performance. This architecture uses a 2nm process for the core chip, which offers high performance and lower power consumption, and a 5nm SRAM chip for all of the last-level cache, tightly coupled to the core chip using Through-Silicon Via (TSV) technology. It will have 12-channel DDR5 memory and be air-cooled.
Fujitsu says Monaka will protect sensitive data in cloud, edge and HPC environments using Confidential Computing. This protects data by encrypting each virtual machine with a unique key managed directly by the processor hardware and firmware.
Successor of A64fx
“Monaka is expected to redefine the computing experience,” Fujitsu said. “Projections for 2027 suggest an impressive two-fold increase in application performance and two-fold increase in energy efficiency compared to competitors, positioning Fujitsu-Monaka at the pinnacle of innovation.”
The processor, aimed at AI and HPC systems, is the successor to the Fujitsu A64FX used in the Fugaku supercomputer, which is based on the Armv8-A architecture with 48 cores and HBM2. Fugaku (pictured above) is currently ranked as the world’s fourth most powerful supercomputer and the Monaka chip is likely to be used in its successor, FugakuNEXT, due in 2030.
Monaka hardware will feature support for the Linux operating system and a standard system architecture, and Fujitsu is collaborating with Arm on open-source software development, including development tools, compilers, and libraries. Monaka will face stiff competition from dominant x86 processors, but its support for standard software and development environments may help ease its adoption.
“Fujitsu-Monaka’s commitment to open ecosystems and energy-efficient CPUs will be a crucial step in the democratization of AI,” the company said in its announcement. “Fujitsu’s forward-thinking approach, with the development of the Fujitsu-Monaka CPU, aligns with the vision of a carbon-neutral society. The broad range of AI applications, from healthcare to defense, underscores the transformative impact of accessible AI.”
