AMD ‘Raven Ridge’: Mainstream APU with ‘Zen’ cores due in 2017

Advanced Micro Devices will release microprocessors based on “Zen” cores only for high-end desktop computers next year. Mainstream PCs will get the company’s new micro-architecture in 2017, when the company rolls-out its “Raven Ridge” accelerated processing units, according to a media report.

Next year AMD will offer its “Bristol Ridge” accelerated processing units for mainstream PCs with up to four “Excavator” cores and Radeon graphics with GCN 1.2 architecture. The chip will be based on the “Carrizo” architecture, but will run at higher clock-rates and will this feature considerably higher thermal design power. Since AMD’s “Bristol Ridge” will essentially use current-gen technologies, it will offer 10 – 15 per cent performance improvement compared to existing “Kaveri” APUs in the best case scenario.

AMD will release considerably more advanced “Raven Ridge” APU in 2017, according to AMD’s roadmap, which was revealed by BenchLife. Nothing particular is known about the chip right now, except the fact that it will be based on “Zen” micro-architecture and will thus offer considerably – by around 40 per cent – higher performance compared to existing APUs at the same clock-rates.

AMD’s “Summit Ridge”, “Bristol Ridge” and “Raven Ridge” processors will all use AM4 form-factor (previously known as FM3) and DDR4 memory. Platforms for the new central processing units and accelerated processing units will be based on the code-named “Promontory” chipsets.

It is noteworthy that according to the published slide AMD does not have plans to introduce microprocessors based on the “Zen+” micro-architecture in 2017.

AMD did not comment on the news-story.

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KitGuru Says: Since “Raven Ridge” chips will likely ship only in mid-2017 – two years from now – AMD’s positions in the market of mainstream microprocessors will not change. Even though Intel Corp. decided not to release its 10nm chips in 2016, even its 14nm code-named “Kaby Lake” offering will remain very competitive against AMD’s APUs.

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