KitGuru KitGuru.net – Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards
UPDATE: The original story stated that it described an implementation of an AMD microprocessor based on “Zen” micro-architecture. In fact, the story describes one “Zen” core.
Although there are a lot of rumours about AMD’s next-generation code-named “Zen” microprocessors, there are not a lot of official or even semi-official details about the chips. On Monday an alleged AMD employee posted what appears to be a slide from AMD’s presentation containing a block diagram of one “Zen” microprocessor core.
The block diagram, which details a core of AMD’s “Summit Ridge” microprocessor, reveals that the execution unit will have six integer pipelines as well as two non-shared 256-bit floating point units (FPUs). Previously it was reported that the “Summit Ridge” chip has eight cores, dual-channel DDR4 memory controller as well as 95W thermal design power. The image was published in Planet3DNow.de forums by an anonymous poster.
At present AMD’s FPU features two 128-bit FMAC (fused multiply–add capability) pipelines that can be unified into one large 256-bit-wide unit if one of the integer cores dispatches an AVX instruction. While this approach technically works for AVX and floating-point operations, it is not very efficient: AVX execution is dramatically slower on AMD’s chips compared to Intel’s chips.
Two 256-bit FPUs mean that AMD’s future microprocessors based on “Zen” micro-architecture will significantly improve performance in applications that use floating point units as well as heavily rely on AVX instructions. Moreover, theoretically, two 256-bit FPUs could support 512-bit AVX instructions.
AMD did not comment on the news-story.
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: It looks like AMD plans to reveal the first official set of details about “Zen” at its financial analyst day next week. It is very likely that in addition to basic things about the new processors, the company will also disclose more details about the CPUs. Given the fact that AMD should already have the first working samples of “Summit Ridge”, it is possible that AMD will also demonstrate the chips in action.
I want an 8 core with 65w TDP. Whether is unlocked or locked is not something that I care. I think a 65w AMD 8 core would sell quite well in the office/mainstream market. I always expected an improved kabini with 8 cores and dual channel ddr3. I hope Zen makes a better 8 core than Bulldozer. Anyone knows whats gonna be the socket for Zen cpus?
Most probably FM3 since AM4 was dropped as a socket since they eliminated FX chips out of future evolution.
let’s hope amd will be back on track with zen.
We need more power in lower prices, and to get that we need some competition on x86 space
AMD chips never start out super cheap.. They start out at Intel prices and then when they dont sell they reduce the price..
You miss the point here.
Since amd is not very competitive to intel now (i7 and above intel plays alone) they can not do what you say.
They drop the price on top FX cpus to challenge i5, following that intel does not sell i5 very high to be competitive, same with i3 and lower.
but with i7 and above intel charge as much as she please, because there is no competition for those CPUs.
So if AMD come back with a new cpu that can play at i7 tier, intel will have to lower the prices to be competitive.
Isn’t zen suppose to go with smt like intel? Then would this be 8 cores, 16 threads. Monster cpu.
It would be amazing if these new CPUs were to be backwards compatible with FM2+, it would make since because it would leave so many people on a dead end socket. I assume that that may not be possible because of the difference in size? 32nm vs 16nm?
Zen is totally different architecture so its highly unlike. Still Zambezzi and Piledriver FX chips will finally have proper use with DX12 so I’m not in a hurry to upgrade my FX-8350.
Where’s the lvl 3 cache?
No more budget?
The socket is incompatible for it’s smaller cpu
Correct.
The diagram is showing one core. The level 3 cache (8 MB) is shared between four cores.
AM4 is the new socket.
> “… could support 512-bit AVX instructions.”
It would make sense to do so as Intel plans on making that an expensive feature only available on premium Chips.