There are several things that go into an excellent central processor to make it a popular base for things like cloud computing, gaming, and next-gen applications.
The best CPUs can balance things like speed, stability, and security for seamless performance and an architecture that is efficient and versatile. Basically, the CPU is at the heart of any custom computer build, and without a strong one, you can be left with a computer that lacks the performance and power that you need.
The Zen architecture, introduced by AMD in their Ryzen™CPU series in early 2017, immediately garnered recognition for delivering a clean sheet design that was a step beyond the prior architectures in use at the time.
A few of the advancements included:
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Ability to execute more instructions per cycle
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A redesigned cache system
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Support for quad-channel DDR4 RAM
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Compact chip design that allowed for scaling between laptops and small-form factor mini PCs up to high-end desktops and servers
The newest update to the Zen architecture by AMD, “Zen 2”, is hitting the streets in July of 2019 and it promises even more performance and additional benefits that make it perfect for custom computer builds. Zen 2 enables the 3rdgeneration of Ryzen™processors and that’s a big deal for gamers and developers alike.
What are the Benefits of AMD’s Zen 2 CPU?
Why should you get excited about Zen 2 and the third generation of Ryzen™processors? Here are some of the benefits that you’ll see from AMD’s updated Zen 2.
7nm CPU Architecture
One of the biggest advancements that Zen 2 brings to the table (ahead of Intel) is the use of 7nm CPU architecture. Currently 10 nm is used extensively and companies like competitor Intel have been working to scale down to the 7nm size.
The smaller transistor size means there is less power demand. They also tend to resist overheating better than larger chips and offer processing efficiency improvements. As these transistors have continued to get smaller, the shrinking process has become more complicated. The 10nm version was introduced in 2013, so it’s been a while since a smaller transistor has come out.
Increased Gaming Performance
The 3rdgeneration Ryzen™processor that’s enabled by Zen 2 offers some serious performance boosts for game playing. In fact, the next generation of Xbox will be using Zen 2 core processors.
Three factors that go into the increased gaming performance are:
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2x Last Level Cache (L3)
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Increased Effective CPU Frequency (the higher the frequency, the faster the processor)
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Approximately 15% IPC(inter process communication) uplift (meaning better data sharing without interference from other processes)
So, how much better will your Counter Strike game play be? According to AMD, Ryzen 7 3800X gaming performance over the previous version, Ryzen 7 2700X will be as follows:
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34% better for Counter Strike
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30% better for League of Legends
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22% better for PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
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21% better for Overwatch
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15% better for Dota 2
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11% better for Grand Theft Auto
Improved Data Transport Speeds via Higher Infinity Fabric Bandwidth
“Infinity Fabric” sounds like it should be the chest alongside the Invisibility Cloak, but it’s a HyperTransport technology used by AMD. Infinity Fabric is designed to offer high data transport speeds between CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.
It initially became available in 2017 along with the first Ryzen™processors and with Zen 2, it’s getting an upgrade to be twice as fast, increasing to 512-bit.
New TAGE Branch Predictor
Another component to CPU speed is the branch predictor, which makes an educated guess as to the outcome of a conditional CPU operation to prepare ahead of time for the most likely result.
TAGE is known as one of the most advanced branch predictors with a high accuracy rate. And the more accurate a branch predictor is, the faster your CPU operations will be.
Improved Energy Performance
With the smaller transistor size and other improvements for faster CPU communication comes improvements in energy performance. Zen 2 is expected to offer the same performance for up to half the power consumption.
AMD also notes a 75% performance per watt gain over the previous Zen generation and a 45% boost per watt over its competition.
Protections Against Spectre Vulnerability
AMD is adding additional protections to mitigate the well-known Spectre vulnerability. This is a vulnerability that impacts modern microprocessors that perform branch prediction and can result in hackers gaining access to private data.
The Zen 2 architecture has hardware mitigation against the Spectre V4 vulnerability, which takes the protection a step further from operating system-level. In addition, Zen 2 is inherently immune to:
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Meltdown
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Foreshadow
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Spectre V3a
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Lazy FPU
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Spoiler
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MDS
Get the Computer You Want with a Custom Build
You don’t have to just settle for an off-the-shelf computer. Pro Tech Guy can help you build the computer of your dreams. We do custom gaming builds, tiny desktop PCs, and standard desktop builds, all for a reasonable price.
What would you like to see in your dream computer? Tell us by calling 508-364-8189 or reaching out online.