AMD Announces 7nm Zen 2 Architecture
AMD Announces 7nm Zen 2 Architecture
If you'd ask computer component manufacturers what the current fad was, they'd say "7-nanometer tech". The next - or, by now, the latest - leap in compacting chips is the 7-nanometer milestone. Intel is working on their lineup, and soon AMD has announced their own. At the AMD Next Horizons event, we got our first look at a thinner future.
The newly announced Zen 2 architecture is built upon a new line of 7 nm and 7nm+ chips, which will also headline future Zen 3 and 4 architectures. Though at the event AMD only showed off a server chip from the Epyc line, this is a glimpse into what consumer grade Ryzen CPUs will be like next year.
If you'd ask computer component manufacturers what the current fad was, they'd say "7-nanometer tech". The next - or, by now, the latest - leap in compacting chips is the 7-nanometer milestone. Intel is working on their lineup, and soon AMD has announced their own. At the AMD Next Horizons event, we got our first look at a thinner future.
The newly announced Zen 2 architecture is built upon a new line of 7 nm and 7nm+ chips, which will also headline future Zen 3 and 4 architectures. Though at the event AMD only showed off a server chip from the Epyc line, this is a glimpse into what consumer grade Ryzen CPUs will be like next year.
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The 64-core/128-thread Epyc processor codenamed Rome isn't fit for gaming, but in 2019 we'll get new models that are. Rome uses a 14 nm I/O die that can carry up to 8 7nm chips, with 8-channel DDR4 memory and PCIe 4.0 support.
The multi-chip processor uses 7nm process technology for the 'Zen 2' CPU cores that benefit from the advanced process technology while leveraging a mature 14nm process technology for the input/output portion of the chip.
The result is much higher performance—more CPU cores at the same power, and more cost-effective manufacture than traditional monolithic chip designs.
AMD
As an average consumer, one of your main factors when looking at CPUs are clock speeds. Right now, we don't know anything about the clock on either Rome or future Zen 2 Ryzen chips. AMD managed to improve Vega by 25% with 7nm, and if similar percentages hold here, Ryzen <em>might</em> beat Intel at its race.
AMD has stated that Zen 2 should be a significant upgrade over contemporary Epyc. Computing performance per socket should be double of what current CPUs deliver, with 4x floating point performance. If we're looking at similar gains in the consumer market, 2019 might be one of the best years to upgrade your CPU - or switch if you are using Intel.
Recently, AMD revived the Athlon series of budget CPUs. Athlon was on a lengthy hiatus before being brought back to expand the CPU portfolio of the company. AMD is Intel's only meaningful competitor in the CPU sphere. While Intel is generally considered to deliver better performance at a premium, AMD is stereotypically the price-performance value king. We might soon see this balance upheaved. AMD could start delivering higher performance at better prices. That said, Intel is working on their 7nm CPUs, even if the 9th Gen won't be part of that leap.