They are coming, a new Zen octacore Summit Ridge engineering sample has been spotted. The engineering samples are internal test samples for qualification purposes. The new model that has been spotted was running 3.2 GHz on all eight cores and a boost towards 3500 MHz.
This is exciting news as these values are as fast or even faster opposed to what Intel offers, their 8-core 5960X and 10-core Core i7 6950X processor run a base clock of 3.0 GHz and a binned turbo towards 3.5 GHz. The first one costs 999 USD, the 6950X 1300 USD. If AMD can keep their IPC performance up-to snuff or at least close to Intel with prices in the rumored 300~400 USD range, then AMD might have struck gold here.
The information on this latest leak is based upon a user called DresdenBoy who has shared more reliable information in the past. The engineering sample processor spotted is tagged at product code number 1D3201A2M88F3_35/32_N which indeed indicates the clock frequencies and number of cores.
- 1 - Unknown sample type
- D - Desktop
- 32 - 3200 MHz Clock (don't know whether base or peak - given then inclusion of 35/32 later on, we could speculate 3.2 base, 3.5 boost)
- 01 - Single socket ?
- A2 - Unknown, assumed reference to socket type
- M - Not sure. Tradition would have it mean 638 pins. We know that can't be right.
- 8 - 8 Cores
- 8 - Unknown, traditionally ref to cache size
- F3 - Micro-architecture & Revision
Earlier on hardware partner MAXSUN also kind of confirmed the clock frequency range for AMD's next processors as they are quoting 3.15-3.30 GHz base clocks with 3.5 GHz boost clocks. On top of that they claim (highly speculative of course) the processors can be clocked to 4.2 GHz fairly easily with conventional cooling and up to 5 GHz with LN2. In the posted screenshots they mention that the top-end SKU can compete with the Intel 6850K.
The initial “Zen” CPU core will come to market first in an 8-core, 16-thread system-on-chip for desktops (=Summit Ridge). The "Summit Ridge" Zen family will feature a unified AM4 socket with its GPU-equipped "Bristol Ridge" APU counterparts, and feature DDR4 support and a an expected 95W TDP. We expect each Zen core will have four integer units, two address generation units and four floating point units, and the decoder can decode four instructions per clock cycle. L1 data cache size is 32 KiB and L2 cache size 512 KiB per core. 2 CCUs = 2x8MB (L3) + 8x512KB (L2) = 20MB.
Much like the competition AMD would be selling Summit Ridge in three segments, low-end, mid-range and high-end much like Intel's Core i3, i5 and i7 series. When you look at the slide it states SR7, SR5 and SR3, matching up with Summit Ridge (RS) and thus a performance segment denominator. We thing that the SR5 series will not have any form of hyper threading and/or perhaps be the 4-core models.
When you look at the left side of the slide you'll notice stuff like RMB1500. This relates to the price, this is renminbi (which may also be used for the yuan) is CNY. The currency is often abbreviated RMB, or indicated by the yuan sign ¥, now 1500 Chinese Yuan is roughly €200,- for likely the SR5 range.
There very likely will be an Sr7 model that remains unlocked released. It is expected that ZEN Summit Ridge based 8-core processors will launch in week 2 of January.
AMD Zen Octacore Summit Ridge engineering sample spotted at 3.2/3.5 GHz
