Zen (first generation)

Zen is the first iteration in the <a href="/facts/Zen_(microarchitecture)/AjBvqDT7">Zen family</a> of computer processor <a href="/facts/Microarchitecture/NFRd4NUL">microarchitectures</a> from <a href="/facts/AMD/CB1G7QTb">AMD</a>. It was first used with their <a href="/facts/Ryzen/0hKNcAra">Ryzen</a> series of CPUs in February 2017. The first Zen-based preview system was demonstrated at <a href="/facts/Electronic_Entertainment_Expo_2016/nwfYN4hE">E3 2016</a>, and first substantially detailed at an event hosted a block away from the <a href="/facts/Intel_Developer_Forum/vIoThJxk">Intel Developer Forum</a> 2016. The first Zen-based CPUs, codenamed "Summit Ridge", reached the market in early March 2017, Zen-derived <a href="/facts/Epyc/5d30N0BK">Epyc</a> server processors launched in June 2017 and Zen-based <a href="/facts/AMD_Accelerated_Processing_Unit/hdApEUQw">APUs</a> arrived in November 2017.
Zen is a clean sheet design that differs from AMD's previous long-standing <a href="/facts/Bulldozer_(microarchitecture)/fUPzoGrd">Bulldozer architecture</a>. Zen-based processors use a <a href="/facts/14_nanometer/lQYsD92n">14 nm</a> <a href="/facts/FinFET/xox63kP7">FinFET</a> process, are reportedly more energy efficient, and can execute significantly more <a href="/facts/Instructions_per_cycle/nHl8f6Ho">instructions per cycle</a>. <a href="/facts/Simultaneous_multithreading/bk8ec9yn">SMT</a> has been introduced, allowing each core to run two threads. The cache system has also been redesigned, making the L1 cache <a href="/facts/Write-back_cache/gmJYN8wm">write-back</a>. Zen processors use three different sockets: desktop Ryzen chips use the <a href="/facts/Socket_AM4/MuNKCgeF">AM4 socket</a>, bringing <a href="/facts/DDR4_SDRAM/70r37baX">DDR4</a> support; the high-end desktop Zen-based Threadripper chips support quad-channel DDR4 memory and offer 64 PCIe 3.0 lanes (vs 24 lanes), using the <a href="/facts/Socket_TR4/ETTnjzH3">TR4 socket</a>; and Epyc server processors offer 128 PCIe 3.0 lanes and octa-channel DDR4 using the <a href="/facts/Socket_SP3/2SCApC28">SP3 socket</a>.
Zen is based on a <a href="/facts/System_on_a_chip/1RVvVe6N">SoC</a> design. The memory controller and the PCIe, SATA, and USB controllers are incorporated into the same <a href="/facts/Integrated_circuit/fjn6vg7C">chip(s)</a> as the processor cores. This has advantages in bandwidth and power, at the expense of chip complexity and die area. This SoC design allows the Zen microarchitecture to scale from laptops and small-form factor mini PCs to high-end desktops and servers.
By 2020, 260 million Zen cores have already been shipped by AMD.

Zen (first generation) open-in-new

Zen (first generation)