Subj : AMD Megapod set to face Nvidia's Superpod with a 256-GPU rack ful
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Wed Sep 10 2025 22:15:08

AMD Megapod set to face Nvidia's Superpod with a 256-GPU rack full of 
Instinct MI500 chips

Date:
Wed, 10 Sep 2025 21:10:00 +0000

Description:
AMDs planned MegaPod may feature 256 MI500 GPUs in a three-rack design, 
targeting high-performance computing against Nvidias SuperPod.

FULL STORY
======================================================================AMD 
MegaPod design emphasizes raw GPU count and interconnect efficiency Nvidias 
packaging method complicates direct comparisons with AMDs approach Three 
racks will form the backbone of AMDs MegaPod, and each compute tray may 
combine Verano CPUs with MI500 accelerators 

AMD appears to be preparing a new large-scale computing system aimed at 
high-performance computing. 

According to industry analysis, the so-called "MegaPod" is projected to house 
a large number of accelerators, positioning it as a direct response to 
Nvidias established "SuperPod." 

The first signs of its design point to an emphasis on raw GPU count and 
interconnect efficiency, although exact details remain speculative. A system 
with 256 MI500 chips 

Reports suggest that AMD will arrange the MegaPod across three separate 
racks. 

The two outer racks are expected to hold 32 compute trays each, while the 
central rack will contain 18 trays for networking switches. 

Within each compute tray, a single Verano CPU may be paired with four 
Instinct MI500 GPUs. 

This layout would deliver 32 CPUs and 128 GPUs per rack , producing a total 
of 64 CPUs and 256 GPUs for the entire system. 

The proposed design, sometimes referred to as "UAL256," reflects AMDs intent 
to expand capacity in ways meant to outmatch competitors. 

The comparison between AMDs MegaPod and Nvidias SuperPod is not 
straightforward. 

On paper, the AMD system would offer 256 physical or logical GPU packages, 
while Nvidias Kyber VR300 NVL576 lists only 144. 

However, Nvidias architecture organizes four GPUs per package, yielding 576 
GPUs overall. 

AMDs reliance on single-GPU packages means its structure may appear larger in 
physical package count but not necessarily in total core density. 

This complicates any attempt to declare one system as superior. For now, the 
MegaPod looks positioned more as a counterbalance than a clear leap ahead. 

The central rack of the projected system is designed for switching 
infrastructure. 

Analysts expect AMDs new Vulcano network cards, derived from the Pensando 
line, to be deployed here. 

The use of these cards could determine whether the MegaPod can deliver enough 
bandwidth to make full use of its GPU-heavy configuration. 

While the physical layout of racks and trays seems straightforward, network 
latency and throughput will play as critical a role as raw GPU numbers. 

The system is expected toward the end of 2027, placing it on the same 
development horizon as other major HPC installations and large-scale data 
centers , including the German Herder supercomputer. 

AMD has acknowledged plans to combine Verano CPUs, MI500 accelerators, and 
Pensando Vulcano network cards, but exact details of the MegaPod remain 
unverified. 

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======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/amd-megapod-set-to-face-nvidias-superpod-with-a-
256-gpu-rack-full-with-instinct-mi500-chips


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