AMD has presented its latest Ryzen 9000 series processors, utilizing the Zen 5 microarchitecture, during Computex 2024. The CPUs are substantially more powerful than the Zen 4-powered Ryzen 7000 series and will be available in July 2024.
Enhancements in Zen 5 Architecture
The Ryzen 9000 lineup introduces four new models, headlined by the Ryzen 9 9950X, equipped with 16 cores and achieving a top boost frequency of 5.7 GHz. Additional models offer options with 6, 8, and 12 cores, all classified as X-series chips, denoting adjustable multipliers and elevated power consumption and clock rates. According to AMD, Zen 5 boasts a 16% increase in instructions per cycle (IPC) for desktop tasks, while retaining boost frequencies similar to those in the Ryzen 7000 line.
Zen 5 features multiple architectural improvements, including a refined branch predictor for better accuracy, broader pipelines, and SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) units for enhanced data processing, along with a more extensive out-of-order instruction window to increase parallelism. These tweaks are aimed at delivering marked performance enhancements in benchmarks such as CineBench and Blender, particularly in tasks that leverage the AVX-512 instruction set.
Platform and Compatibility
The Ryzen 9000 processors will continue utilizing the AM5 socket, ensuring compatibility with current AM5 motherboards. AMD has also rolled out two new high-performance chipsets, the X870E and X870, which support USB 4.0, PCIe 5.0 for graphics and NVMe storage, along with higher AMD EXPO memory profiles. The updated chipsets are based on the ASMedia Promontory 21 controller found in the X670/B650 series, but now come with features like Wi-Fi 7 support.
These processors are fabricated using TSMC’s N4 process for the core complex dies (CCDs) and the N6 process for the I/O die (IOD). The Ryzen 9000 series is compatible with DDR5 memory, supporting speeds up to JEDEC DDR5-5600 for in-warranty setups.
Performance and Market Position
The Ryzen 9 9950X targets Intel’s 14th Gen Core i9-14900K, with internal benchmarks from AMD indicating that their new flagship chip outpaces Intel’s Raptor Lake Refresh by an average of 11% in gaming performance and 21% in productivity tasks. Performance in AI and AVX-512 workloads is reported to be twice as high.
The Zen 5 series also includes the 6-core Ryzen 5 9600X and the 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X, retaining the core counts of their predecessors but offering reduced thermal design power (30% to 40% lower). These gains are attributed to architectural changes and the use of TSMC’s 4nm process technology.
Extended AM4 Platform Support
AMD has also upgraded its AM4 platform with two new Ryzen 5000XT models. The leading Ryzen 9 5900XT comes with an increased core count, adding four more cores compared to its predecessor, aligning with the high-performance demands of the Zen 3 architecture. The Ryzen 9 5900XT offers 16 cores and 32 threads, distinguishing it from the previous 12-core Ryzen 9 5900X and matching the higher-end Ryzen 9 5950X in core count. The Ryzen 7 5800XT receives a 100 MHz boost to its peak clock speed, bringing it to 4.8 GHz, plus an included Wraith Prism cooler.
Future-Proofing with AM5 Platform
AMD is extending AM5 platform support until at least 2027. The new X870 and X870E chipsets elevate memory overclocking capabilities and enhance PCIe 5.0 support for storage and GPUs. These motherboards will also feature USB 4 with a 60 Gbps interface.
AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series is set to rival Intel’s Raptor Lake Refresh chips and upcoming Arrow Lake processors, showcasing a 16% IPC boost and up to 40% TDP reduction for certain lower-tier models. Both the new Ryzen 5000XT and Ryzen 9000 processors are scheduled for release in July 2024.