The AMD CPU microarchitecture known as Zen 4 will be unveiled on September 27, 2022. It employs TSMC's 5 nm technology and is the Zen 3's replacement.
Zen 4 will be utilized in high-end mobile CPUs (codenamed "Dragon Range"), thin & light mobile processors (codenamed "Phoenix"), Epyc 7004 server processors, and Ryzen 7000 mainstream desktop processors (codenamed "Raphael") (codenamed "Genoa" and "Bergamo").
The new AMD Zen 4 architecture is available. And based on what we've seen thus far, it appears to be rather intriguing.
Alder Lake, Intel's 12th-Gen CPU series, was launched to the market in 2021. Raptor Lake, its 13th-Gen replacement, was introduced in October 2022.
A true rival emerged later in the form of the new Ryzen 7000 CPUs, although AMD had already debuted its Ryzen 7 5800X3D and all-new Ryzen 6000 laptop processors.
Here is all the information you want on AMD's Zen 4 CPUs and if they are worthwhile purchasing.
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AMD Zen 4 Ryzen 7000: Everything You Need to Know
1. The New AM5 Socket is Used by Zen 4 CPUs
The AM4 socket, which has been in use since 2016 (yes, it has had an abnormally lengthy career), is being phased out as one of the greatest changes brought about by Zen 4. AM5, a brand-new socket that marks the most significant revision to AMD CPU architecture to date, has taken its position.
The new AMD AM5 socket has two important components that you should be aware of.
The first is that AMD processors are switching to an LGA architecture comparable to Intel CPUs with AM5, leaving behind their familiar CPU pins. As a result, the bottom pins are switched out for contact pads, even though they truly belong in the motherboard socket.
AMD can fit more contact points into the Zen 4 CPUs thanks to the swap. As a result, AM5 is scaling up to 1,718, compared to AM4's 1,331 contacts, all the while maintaining the same chip size.
Thus, we arrive at our second point. According to AMD, consumers should be able to utilize their existing AM4 coolers on AM5 chips as it also reuses its mounting method because the chips are almost identical in size. Simply put, this implies that if you already have a reliable air cooler or AIO for your PC, you may use it again with your brand-new Ryzen 7000 system.
New Socket, New Motherboards
The answer is yes, in case you were wondering. You'll need a new motherboard that supports AMD's new AM5 socket because it is now being rolled out. For its new Ryzen 7000 CPUs, AMD offers brand-new X670, X670E, B650, and B650E chipsets.
You cannot install an AM5 CPU in an AM4 motherboard and you cannot install an earlier AM4 chip in an AM5 motherboard because AM5 has a fundamentally different socket than AM4.
AM4 provided wonderful intergenerational compatibility, but eventually, we must move on.
2. DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5.0 Are on Board
The Ryzen 5000 series desktop CPUs from the previous generation enable DDR4 RAM and PCI Express Gen 4.0 connection. But that was reported yesterday.
DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5.0 are supported by Intel's 12th-Gen CPUs, and Raptor Lake will continue to support them as expected. Even if such innovations are still in their infancy, the new Zen 4 CPUs are perfectly compatible with them.
In terms of memory, Zen 4 AMD CPUs only support DDR5 memory, in contrast to Intel processors. You will thus need to invest in DDR5, since buying a DDR4-compatible motherboard and RAM to save money won't be doable.
On Ryzen 7000 CPUs, PCI Express Gen 5.0 is well supported. However, your choice of motherboard will determine whether you can utilize it or not.
A B650E or X670E motherboard is the only option if you want complete PCIe Gen 5.0 capability; a normal motherboard is not an option. Your SSDs will be able to operate at Gen 5.0 rates as a result.
3. EXPO is AMD's Answer to XMP
Additionally, AMD is retaliating against Intel in different ways. While Intel XMP is the industry standard for memory overclocking, DDR5 provides AMD a chance to introduce its own technique to customers. Its correct response to XMP is EXPO, which uses Zen 4 processors.
A wide variety of DDR5 RAM sticks, including those from Corsair, ADATA, G.Skill, and Kingston, are supported by EXPO. Since memory overclocking is all it is, you should anticipate it to be approximately the same as XMP. Now, however, we have an internal AMD solution rather than depending on outside RAM overclocking technology.
4. 3D V-Cache may be in tow but will not launch
The introduction of AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU demonstrated the potential of the company's 3D V-Cache technology. The technique produces astounding benefits for gamers by enabling the chip to have a massive 96MB of L3 cache. The question of whether or not we have a 3D V-Cache then arises. The answer is now no, but it might change later.
Although there is no 3D V-Cache in Ryzen 7000 processors, this may change in the future, according to speculations. According to Twitter source Greymon55, production lines are now occupied with the 5800X3D, but 3D versions of Zen 4 chips may be available in 2023.
Even with Zen 4 chips on the market, some people believe that the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is still the greatest CPU money can buy for gaming due to the significant improvements brought about by 3D V-Cache.
Therefore, the possibilities of a Ryzen 7000 CPU with a 3D V-Cache are highly appealing. If you ask us, it won't be long before Ryzen 7000X3D CPUs appear on retail shelves.
Zen 4 Is a Significant Advance
The next significant AMD advancement has been anticipated for almost two years, and thus far, it appears like the nearly two-year wait will be worthwhile.
Ryzen 7000 and Zen 4 are excellent upgrades over Zen 3, enabling newer technologies and demonstrating AMD's willingness to try new things as long as it means dethroning Intel once more.
Zen 4 chips, ranging from the top-of-the-line Ryzen 9 7950X to the mid-range Ryzen 5 7600X with six cores and 12 threads, are already on the shelves of stores. You should include them in your upcoming gaming PC setup.