Condor Computing’s Cuzco, a High-Perf RISC-V Design at Hot Chip 2025 - ServeTheHome

Abstract

Condor Computing is set to unveil "Cuzco," a new high-performance processor design based on the open RISC-V instruction set architecture. This crucial development targets the demanding high-end computing sector, signaling growing maturity in the RISC-V ecosystem. The detailed microarchitecture and performance metrics of Cuzco are slated for presentation at the prestigious Hot Chip 2025 conference.

Report

Key Highlights

• Design Originator: Condor Computing is the company developing the new processor.
• Product Name: The high-performance processor design is named Cuzco.
• Target ISA: The design is built upon the open RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture.
• Performance Segment: Cuzco is explicitly categorized as a "High-Perf" (High-Performance) design, suggesting targets like server, data center, or demanding desktop applications.
• Public Unveiling: The architectural details are scheduled to be formally presented at the Hot Chip 2025 conference, confirming its technical relevance to the industry.

Technical Details

• Architectural Implications: Due to its high-performance designation, Cuzco is expected to feature advanced microarchitectural elements, likely including wide issue, deep out-of-order execution pipelines, and sophisticated memory/cache management systems.
• RISC-V Extensions: As a modern high-end core, it is highly probable that Cuzco fully implements the necessary standard extensions (e.g., V for vector, B for bit manipulation, or specific application extensions) required for modern server workloads.
• Hot Chip Focus: The presentation at Hot Chip suggests that Condor will focus heavily on microarchitectural novelty, power efficiency relative to performance (PPA), and system-level integration (e.g., coherence fabrics, I/O interfaces), though specific core counts and process nodes remain undisclosed until the presentation.

Implications

• Validation of High-End RISC-V: The introduction of Cuzco at a prominent forum like Hot Chip provides significant validation that the RISC-V ISA is now capable of supporting and attracting investment for complex, high-performance computing designs, moving beyond its traditional embedded focus.
• Increased Architectural Competition: Condor Computing’s entry into the high-performance space intensifies competition with established proprietary architectures (x86 and ARM) in critical markets such as servers and artificial intelligence processing.
• Ecosystem Maturation: The development signifies the robustness of the RISC-V toolchains and IP ecosystem, proving that it can successfully support the development and implementation of highly complex, ground-up designs intended for demanding performance targets.
• Future Market Potential: A successful launch of Cuzco could accelerate the adoption of RISC-V in data centers and HPC, providing a true open-source high-performance alternative to proprietary silicon.