AMD EPYC 7303P socket: SP3

What the EPYC 7303P is

The EPYC 7303P is the 16-core single socket Milan server part for SP3 launched on September 5, 2023. Sixteen Zen 3 cores with multithreading run at 2.4 GHz base and up to 3.4 GHz boost, backed by 16 MB of L2 and 64 MB of L3. Two CCDs with full 8 cores each plus the IOD form the package on TSMC 7 nm with a 130 W default. The P suffix locks single socket operation for right-sized virtualization hosts.

Balanced threads with single socket simplicity suit branch virtualization and storage nodes that need VMs without dual socket cost. Sixteen cores share 64 MB of L3 for guest locality, while 8 DDR4-3200 ECC channels feed up to 4 TB. One hundred twenty-eight Gen4 lanes serve networking and NVMe in one chassis. Power stays moderate for 1U single socket designs.

Buyers choose the P variant for single-socket value where growth stays in one socket. It matches the 7303 in clocks and cache but restricts to 1P operation at lower board cost. Workloads that exceed 16 cores step to higher Milan parts on the same SP3 base. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide is secondary to SP3 P-part board lists.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The 7303P fits SP3 on single socket server boards with LGA 4094 slide mounting. Dual socket operation is not supported, so the board list must name the P variant. Power delivery for 130 W continuous suits 1U single socket chassis.

SP3 boards wire 8 DDR4 channels with two DIMMs per channel for full capacity. BMC firmware covers fleet management. Confirm heatsink class for Milan thermals with the three-screw torque sequence.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

DDR4-3200 ECC RDIMM in 8 channels to 4 TB feeds 16 cores for virtualization duty. Primary slots first hold rated speed. ECC stays enabled for data-centre uptime. Validated kits at rated speed are required.

PCIe Gen4 gives 128 lanes in single socket for networking and NVMe. A 16-core node typically wires NICs plus NVMe arrays with lanes to spare. Cooling needs an SP3 server sink for 130 W with front-to-back flow.

Upgrade paths

On single socket SP3 the upward moves are higher-core Milan P parts where VM counts grow, without adding sockets. Memory growth to 8 channels and NIC additions often help more than cores. The 16-core point balances threads and power for branch hosts.

Outside Milan, Genoa on SP5 adds DDR5 and Gen5 lanes for larger fabrics. Most 7303P owners expand memory and IO on SP3 first.