The rumour mill for AMD's next-generation Zen 6 architecture is beginning to spin, with new reports emerging from a well-known source. Apparently, AMD has begun sampling its Zen 6-based desktop processors, codenamed “Medusa Ridge”, to its close industry partners. If the whispers are true, we could be looking at significant upgrades to both the core chiplets and the I/O die.

According to Yuri Bubliy (via Wccftech), also known as 1usmus, the creator of the Hydra tuning software, the new Zen 6 Core Complex Die (CCD) will be fabricated on TSMC’s N2 process node. This move to a much denser node is expected to give AMD the transistor budget needed to finally increase the core count per CCD. For several generations, AMD has stuck with an 8-core design for its primary CCDs. With Zen 6, sources indicate this could be boosted to 12 cores, accompanied by a proportionate increase in L3 cache to 48MB. It remains to be seen whether AMD will configure this as a single, monolithic 12-core complex or as a dual-CCX design with six cores each.

Perhaps just as significant is the rumoured overhaul of the client I/O die (cIOD). 1usmus claims that “Medusa Ridge” will feature a brand new cIOD built on a more modern EUV process, moving away from the 6nm die used in current Ryzen processors. The primary driver for this upgrade is said to be the memory controller.

The new cIOD will reportedly feature a redesigned dual memory controller architecture. While the platform will likely remain dual-channel DDR5, this new design is supposedly engineered to enable much higher memory clock speeds, allowing AMD to close the gap with Intel in memory frequency and bandwidth performance. For those who enjoy tweaking their systems, Bubliy notes that core boosting technologies like Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) and Curve Optimizer are expected to remain unchanged, suggesting that tools like Hydra should be compatible with little fuss.

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KitGuru says: Although we'll have to wait a year or so for these new desktop CPUs, the first reports show some promise.

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