New Server Chip from the EU: Barcelona Successfully Tests RISC-V and Intel-Based Chip

Europe is taking significant steps toward technological autonomy. The Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) has officially announced an experiment to create the TC1 server processor. 

The new chip stands out for its combination of the open RISC-V architecture and the advanced Intel 3 process technology.

Main Goal Is Reducing Import Dependency

The primary objective of the project was to reduce dependence on proprietary architectures (x86 or ARM) and Asian supply chains, which cannot be considered stable due to the geopolitical situation. 

Judging by the result, the developers have essentially shifted from a dependency on Taiwan's TSMC to a dependency on American Intel. Broadly speaking, this decision is seen as more stable, given the unpredictability of Taiwanese supplies in global turbulent conditions.

Technical Specifications of the Chip

The TC1 processor was originally designed for TSMC's 7nm process. After confirming the collaboration with Intel, the specifications were adapted for the Intel 3 process. 

The chip managed to exceed engineers' forecasts in terms of functionality: with a computing core area of 3.2 sq. mm, the processor accelerated to 1.25 GHz. The chip consists of three modules (Sargantana, Lagarto Ka, and Lagarto Ox) and supports modern standards such as PCI Express 5.0 and DDR5 memory. 

While there is no information on the mass production of the TC1 yet, the project served as an example that the EU can be technically independent.