AMD's Zen 5 CPU core architecture might be shaping up to be a huge upgrade over the existing Zen 4 core as per a new rumor.
Hardware Insider States >40% Core-To-Core Performance Improvement For AMD's Zen 5 CPU Core Versus Zen 4
The new information comes from hardware insider, @Kepler_L2, who has a good track record when it comes to CPU architectures. According to his recent post at the Anandtech tech forum, spotted by 3DCenter, it looks like we are in for a major treat with the upcoming AMD Zen 5 core architecture which is expected to launch in the second half of 2024 in various CPU families for desktops, laptops and servers.
Kepler states that core-for-core, AMD's Zen 5 core is more than 40% faster than Zen 4. He states that this performance is achieved in the SPEC benchmark but doesn't explicitly state if the figures are based on integer or floating-point metrics. Considering that Integer-based performance helps more since more applications use it, it will be great for both single and multi-threaded workloads.
Core for core Zen5 is >40% faster than Zen4 in SPEC.
If true, then this will be a major leap for AMD in a single generation. It will also be reminiscent of AMD's original goal for the first-generation Zen (1) core architecture which was set to offer 40% higher IPC than Excavator but ended up achieving far more than that when it launched with an amazing >52% IPC improvement.
Not a whole lot about AMD's Zen 5 core architecture is known at the moment but from what the company has officially stated, it will offer:
- Enhanced performance and efficiency
- Re-pipelined front-end and wide issue
- Integrated AI and Machine Learning optimizations
As for the products, AMD is expected to introduce its Zen 5 core architecture in at least three CPU families. First up, we are looking at the desktop "Granite Ridge" family which will target the current AM5 platforms with upgraded specs.
We recently got to see two new SKUs, a 6 and 8 core, within a leak. Next up, we are expecting AMD's Strix Point APUs for mobility platforms which will incorporate the Zen 5 CPU, RDNA 3+ GPU, and an upgraded NPU (3x AI TOPs). AMD will also super-charge its EPYC lineup with the new Zen 5 and Zen 5C cores, offering up to 128 and 192 cores, respectively.
It's a full-fledged Zen 5 lineup that users should anticipate in 2H 2024 and this is just the beginning of the Zen 5 journey. As the architecture matures, we are going to see improved offerings in 3D V-Cache, Threadripper, and even faster variants so stay tuned for more information in the coming months. AMD's CEO, Lisa Su, will be delivering the opening keynote of Computex 24 so we can expect loads of Zen 5, AI PC and Ryzen talk during the event.
AMD Mainstream Desktop CPU Generations Comparison:
| AMD CPU Family | Codename | Processor Process | Processors Cores/Threads (Max) | TDPs (Max) | Platform | Platform Chipset | Memory Support | PCIe Support | Launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 1000 | Summit Ridge | 14nm (Zen 1) | 8/16 | 95W | AM4 | 300-Series | DDR4-2677 | Gen 3.0 | 2017 |
| Ryzen 2000 | Pinnacle Ridge | 12nm (Zen +) | 8/16 | 105W | AM4 | 400-Series | DDR4-2933 | Gen 3.0 | 2018 |
| Ryzen 3000 | Matisse | 7nm (Zen 2) | 16/32 | 105W | AM4 | 500-Series | DDR4-3200 | Gen 4.0 | 2019 |
| Ryzen 5000 | Vermeer | 7nm (Zen 3) | 16/32 | 105W | AM4 | 500-Series | DDR4-3200 | Gen 4.0 | 2020 |
| Ryzen 5000 3D | Warhol? | 7nm (Zen 3D) | 8/16 | 105W | AM4 | 500-Series | DDR4-3200 | Gen 4.0 | 2022 |
| Ryzen 7000 | Raphael | 5nm (Zen 4) | 16/32 | 170W | AM5 | 600-Series | DDR5-5200 | Gen 5.0 | 2022 |
| Ryzen 7000 3D | Raphael | 5nm (Zen 4) | 16/32 | 120W | AM5 | 600-Series | DDR5-5200 | Gen 5.0 | 2023 |
| Ryzen 9000 | Granite Ridge | 3nm (Zen 5) | 16/32 | TBA | AM5 | 800-Series | DDR5-5600+ | Gen 5.0 | 2024 |
