Microsoft unveils Azure Cobalt 200 CPU, in-house chip targets higher performance and deeper integration — Arm-based chip is equipped with 132 cores and manufactured using TSMC's 3nm process

Microsoft has introduced the Azure Cobalt 200 CPU, an in-house chip with 132 Arm-based cores manufactured using TSMC's 3nm process. This new processor is designed to enhance performance across Azure's general-purpose compute tiers and is described as Microsoft's most efficient data center CPU to date. The Cobalt 200 features customized memory encryption support and hardware accelerators for compression and cryptography tasks, improving performance and efficiency. Microsoft's move towards custom design with the Cobalt 200 signifies a shift towards tighter vertical control over power, performance, and cost in Azure's infrastructure, positioning the chip as a significant upgrade for cloud services like web front ends, microservices, and CPU-bound AI inference.