AMD will introduce the Zen 3 architecture later this year, and everything seems to indicate that the Ryzen 9 4950X will be the next top-of-the-range processor from the Sunnyvale giant, a chip that will maintain, in principle, the MCM (multi-chip module) base that we saw in the Ryzen 3000 series processors, based on Zen 2.
If that information is confirmed, the Ryzen 9 4950X will repeat a configuration of 16 cores and 32 threads, spread over a total of two chiplets of eight cores each manufactured in 7nm process, and accompanied by an I / O chip that should maintain the 12nm process. The most important changes that Zen 3 will bring at the architecture level will be focused, in theory, on the IPC.
According to the latest data that I have been able to see in different sources and media, the Zen 3 architecture could improve the CPI by up to 20% compared to the Zen 2 architecture. If we put this in perspective the conclusion is clear, in case AMD reaches that huge improvement Intel will be in a very difficult position, since the CPI of its processors will be behind that of the Ryzen 4000, and there would be such a great distance that it could not be crossed even with an “extreme” frequency increase.
In case someone has gotten lost I leave you a quick summary. The IPC refers to the instructions per clock cycle and is an indication, together with the operating frequencies, of the raw performance of a processor. A processor with a higher IPC can perform much more than a processor with a lower IPC and a higher operating frequency. Remember, for example, the enormous difference between a Core i7 6700 and an FX 8350, to take an easy-to-understand example.
An engineering sample of the Ryzen 9 4950X approaches 5 GHz
Processors based on the Zen 3 architecture could be much more powerful than Intel’s Core processors even running at much lower frequencies, as long as that 20% rise in IPC is confirmed, but according to a recent leak AMD is doing its homework, and wants to push frequencies to the limit of its Ryzen 4000 processors.
Since VideoCardz they tell us that they have found indications of an engineering sample of the Ryzen 9 4950X, configured with 16 cores and 32 threads, which is capable of reaching a speed in turbo mode of 4.9 GHz. In normal mode it works at 3.7 GHz. It is important to note that turbo mode refers to the maximum frequency with a single active core.
We are not sure what frequencies that chip could maintain working with all active cores, but it is not unreasonable to think of values of 4.4 GHz or 4.5 GHz stable. Yes, it would still be behind the frequencies of up to 5.2 GHz reached by the overclocked Core 10 series processors, but if the increase in IPC is confirmed that Ryzen 9 4950X would be much more powerful than any current processor, and that difference of MHz would not be enough to cut distances.
I remind you that Zen 3 processors will be compatible with motherboards B450 and higher, although it will be necessary to make a BIOS update. To mount the most powerful models, like that Ryzen 9 4950X, we will need models with a good VRM and a cooling system capable of keeping temperatures under control.
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