AMD Zen-based 8-core Desktop CPU Arrives in 2016, on Socket FM3

[btarunr]

In what is a confirmation that AMD has killed socket AM3+ and its 3-chip platform, a leaked slide that's part of a larger press-deck addressing investors, tells us that the company is planning to launch a high-performance desktop processor targeting enthusiasts, based on its next-generation "Zen" architecture, in 2016. Our older articles detail the Zen CPU core design, and the way in which AMD will build multi-core CPUs with it. This processor will be codenamed "Summit Ridge," and will be a CPU, and not an APU as previously reported. In AMD-speak, what sets a CPU apart from an APU is its lack of integrated graphics.

AMD "Summit Ridge" will be an 8-core CPU built on the 14 nanometer silicon fab process. It will feature eight "Zen" cores, with 512 KB of L2 cache per core, 16 MB of L3 cache, with 8 MB shared between two sets of four cores, each; a dual-channel integrated memory controller that likely supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory types; and an integrated PCI-Express gen 3.0 root complex, with a total of 22 lanes. We can deduce this from the fact that "Summit Ridge" will be built in the same upcoming socket FM3 package, which the company's "Bristol Ridge" Zen-based APU will be built on. "Summit Ridge" will hence be more competitive with Intel's 6th generation Core "Skylake" processors, such as the i7-6700K and i5-6600K, than the company's "Broadwell-E" HEDT platform.



The mainstream APU based on Zen, codenamed "Bristol Ridge," features four Zen cores, 512 KB of L2 cache, 8 MB of shared L3 cache, an integrated GPU based on AMD's "Greenland" class stream processors, and a similar uncore loadout as "Summit Ridge."

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[hojnikb]

Well, AM1 died quickly...

 

[bobalazs]

If the tendency remains, this will drag behind core i's.

 

[Kyrios74]

Can socket FM3 read both SummitRidge & BrisotlRidge CPU on the same motherboard?

 

[btarunr]

Can socket FM3 read both SummitRidge & BrisotlRidge CPU on the same motherboard?

Yes, but the display connectors won't work with Summit Ridge (no integrated graphics).

 

[hojnikb]

Actually, it does. As you can see from the slides, there will only be BGA parts, no socketed ones.

So much from future upgradeability.

 

[Dragonsmonk]

Well, AM1 died quickly...

Unfortunately so - however, they seem to go back to SOC only. Wish they would improve on the concept of AM1...

 

[Frick]

Unfortunately so - however, they seem to go back to SOC only. Wish they would improve on the concept of AM1...

Thiiiiiis a million times. Imagine an AM1 nanoITX board...

 

[FordGT90Concept]

8-core, 16 thread? I wish I could wait until 2016 to upgrade now because AMD hath piqued my interest.

14nm could actually prove to be competitive with Intel. If they can pull it off, this might be the big break AMD desperately needs. I can't help but think maybe Sony, Microsoft, and now even Nintendo switching to AMD may have made this possible.

 

[RejZoR]

8 core, 16 thread CPU, well I'm interested in that. I'd like to have AMD once again in my PC and this just might be it.

 

[NC37]

8-core, 16 thread? I wish I could wait until 2016 to upgrade now because AMD hath piqued my interest.

14nm could actually prove to be competitive with Intel. If they can pull it off, this might be the big break AMD desperately needs. I can't help but think maybe Sony, Microsoft, and now even Nintendo switching to AMD may have made this possible.

It did. Consoles shifting from triple core to 8 + needing to function optimally to counter their weak CPUs, does have an effect. Already seeing it with GTAV. I expect more titles to do similar, especially after Win 10/DX12.

But even more, AMD's pushes towards multicore seem to be paying off. With DX12 and Windows 10 showing boosts. AMD was just years early. Intel had IPC till they were blue in the face but they did nothing but quad core outside of server/workstation CPUs. While AMD flopped about pushing higher. Course they kinda had to. They don't have the strength Intel has. All they could do was build the foundations and prep for a time when it would matter.

However, had they stayed the course with BD, I doubt they'd be looking very well for next year. No doubt Intel is going to have something to counter. I don't think they'd take 8 core/16 thread competition lying down. But damn if AMD is good on price...holy video encode Batman!

 

[WhoDecidedThat]

The mainstream desktop chips are SoCs and they share the same socket with the high performance GPU-less FX chips. Does this spell the end of southbridge/chipset? If so how does it affect motherboard manufacturers?

 

[The Von Matrices]

14nm could actually prove to be competitive with Intel. If they can pull it off, this might be the big break AMD desperately needs.

Unfortunately, I tend to be pessimistic about AMD, who has had trouble meeting launch dates time and time again. Remember that this is AMD first 14nm product, and it intended to compete with Intel's second generation 14nm product. AMD has a lot more opportunities for delays than Intel due to AMD using an unproven fabrication process. If AMD doesn't meet its launch schedule, then the company will find itself competing against Cannonlake/10nm, which makes it ever so harder for the CPU to succeed.

 

[Naito]

I'm not much of an AMD guy, but I can't help but be a little excited.

 

[$ReaPeR$]

i hope this is as good as it looks..

 

[btarunr]

Actually, it does. As you can see from the slides, there will only be BGA parts, no socketed ones.

So much from future upgradeability.

Actually, it doesn't. You're looking at the second slide, which covers notebook APUs. The first one shows the desktop lineup. FM3 is an FCPGA socket.

 

[hojnikb]

Actually, it doesn't. You're looking at the second slide, which covers notebook APUs. The first one shows the desktop lineup. FM3 is an FCPGA socket.

Look closer. You'll see that basilisk is FT4 BGA only

 

[Frick]

Actually, it doesn't. You're looking at the second slide, which covers notebook APUs. The first one shows the desktop lineup. FM3 is an FCPGA socket.

Look closer. You'll see that basilisk is FT4 BGA only

You're speaking about different things dudes.

Looks like there will only be one APU for FM3.

 

[btarunr]

Look closer. You'll see that basilisk is FT4 BGA only

Who is talking about Basilisk? I was replying to post #4 on whether you can use Summit Ridge and Bristol Ridge on the same motherboard,

 

[mroofie]

8 core, 16 thread CPU, well I'm interested in that. I'd like to have AMD once again in my PC and this just might be it.

Rumor only
Might not happen

 

[Frick]

Rumor only
Might not happen

The first leak (or whatever it was) spoke about SMT, and not having SMT sounds pretty daft in this age.

 

[RejZoR]

I'm hoping it will be a 8 core 16 thread one...

 

[hojnikb]

I'm hoping it will be a 8 core 16 thread one...

Why stop there ?
32 core 64 thread monstaaaa

 

[Captain_Tom]

Why stop there ?
32 core 64 thread monstaaaa

Ya know I love AMD, but that picture always makes me laugh lol. Both the Y and X axis are "Cores".

 

[Frick]