Friday, May 19th 2017
AMD Talks Improved Ryzen Memory Support, Ryzen 3, and Game Optimization
AMD, in an interview with Forbes, confirmed that it is working to improve DDR4 memory support of its Ryzen series processors, to enable higher memory clocks. AMD Ryzen users find it difficult to get DDR4 memory clocks to run above 3000 MHz reliably. With memory clock being linked with the chip's Infinity Fabric clock (the interconnect between two CCX units on the "Summit Ridge" silicon), the performance incentives for higher memory clocks are just that much more.
AMD confirmed that its AGESA update for May improves DDR4 memory compatibility, although it also stressed on the need for motherboard manufacturers to improve their board designs in the future, with more PCB layers and better copper traces between the DIMM slots and the SoC socket. The company assures that more updates to AGESA are in the pipeline, and would improve performance of Ryzen processors at various levels. The AGESA updates are dispensed through motherboard vendors as BIOS updates.
The company also talked at length about game optimization, and how it has a dedicated team tasked to work with game studios on improving game performance on Ryzen processors, particularly at lower resolutions such as 1080p. At 1080p, today's games begin to get CPU-limited, and this is one area where Ryzen processors are losing ground to Intel Core processors. AMD has already worked with Oxide Games to improve Ryzen machines' performance with "Ashes of the Singularity," and is working to improve 1080p performance of other titles such as "Total War: Warhammer" and "DOTA 2." AMD also credits the recent Ryzen-balanced power plan, introduced through a chipset driver update, to improve performance in games by another 5-10 percent, which hands power-management from the OS over to CPU silicon-level Precision Boost features.
AMD also dispelled some misconceptions about the 20°C temperature offset noticed with Ryzen "X" series processors (eg: 1800X, 1600X). The Ryzen Master software places a 20°C temperature offset, which had some enthusiasts thinking that the "X" series processors have a lower throttling temperature. AMD clarified that the temperature offset never affected thermal throttling on these processors, and that it has updated Ryzen Master software to show the correct temperature.
AMD touched upon the lack of mini-ITX socket AM4 motherboards. While acknowledging the market successes of the recent mini-ITX motherboards by BIOSTAR, which are based on the X370 and B350 chipsets, AMD hinted that the broader availability of mini-ITX motherboards could be linked to its upcoming X300 chipset. Given that the mini-ITX form-factor mandates fewer expansion slots, onboard devices, and storage connectivity, the form-factor can make do with the SATA and USB ports put out directly by socket AM4 Ryzen processors, given that they are full-fledged SoCs. The X300 chipset lacks bandwidth-heavy downstream connectivity of its own, and only has the low-bandwidth machinery to keep the platform running. It also has extremely low thermal and power requirements that make it perfect for mini-ITX.
Lastly, AMD talked about the roll-out of its cost-effective Ryzen 3-series processors. The company is looking to launch quad-core and perhaps even dual-core Ryzen 3-series processors based on the "Summit Ridge" silicon, by Q3-2017 (after June). Ryzen 3 quad-core chips differ from Ryzen 5 series quad-core chips such as the Ryzen 5 1400, in that they lack SMT. Find the full interview in the link below.
Source:
Forbes
AMD confirmed that its AGESA update for May improves DDR4 memory compatibility, although it also stressed on the need for motherboard manufacturers to improve their board designs in the future, with more PCB layers and better copper traces between the DIMM slots and the SoC socket. The company assures that more updates to AGESA are in the pipeline, and would improve performance of Ryzen processors at various levels. The AGESA updates are dispensed through motherboard vendors as BIOS updates.
The company also talked at length about game optimization, and how it has a dedicated team tasked to work with game studios on improving game performance on Ryzen processors, particularly at lower resolutions such as 1080p. At 1080p, today's games begin to get CPU-limited, and this is one area where Ryzen processors are losing ground to Intel Core processors. AMD has already worked with Oxide Games to improve Ryzen machines' performance with "Ashes of the Singularity," and is working to improve 1080p performance of other titles such as "Total War: Warhammer" and "DOTA 2." AMD also credits the recent Ryzen-balanced power plan, introduced through a chipset driver update, to improve performance in games by another 5-10 percent, which hands power-management from the OS over to CPU silicon-level Precision Boost features.
AMD also dispelled some misconceptions about the 20°C temperature offset noticed with Ryzen "X" series processors (eg: 1800X, 1600X). The Ryzen Master software places a 20°C temperature offset, which had some enthusiasts thinking that the "X" series processors have a lower throttling temperature. AMD clarified that the temperature offset never affected thermal throttling on these processors, and that it has updated Ryzen Master software to show the correct temperature.
AMD touched upon the lack of mini-ITX socket AM4 motherboards. While acknowledging the market successes of the recent mini-ITX motherboards by BIOSTAR, which are based on the X370 and B350 chipsets, AMD hinted that the broader availability of mini-ITX motherboards could be linked to its upcoming X300 chipset. Given that the mini-ITX form-factor mandates fewer expansion slots, onboard devices, and storage connectivity, the form-factor can make do with the SATA and USB ports put out directly by socket AM4 Ryzen processors, given that they are full-fledged SoCs. The X300 chipset lacks bandwidth-heavy downstream connectivity of its own, and only has the low-bandwidth machinery to keep the platform running. It also has extremely low thermal and power requirements that make it perfect for mini-ITX.
Lastly, AMD talked about the roll-out of its cost-effective Ryzen 3-series processors. The company is looking to launch quad-core and perhaps even dual-core Ryzen 3-series processors based on the "Summit Ridge" silicon, by Q3-2017 (after June). Ryzen 3 quad-core chips differ from Ryzen 5 series quad-core chips such as the Ryzen 5 1400, in that they lack SMT. Find the full interview in the link below.
74 Comments on AMD Talks Improved Ryzen Memory Support, Ryzen 3, and Game Optimization
For office computer to have to buy a dedicated graphic card is a big disadvantage.
If you want 65$ cpu, buy an used 2600K and get BETTER performance.
Ryzen 3ghz = 3.5 ghz G4560 in single core performance, more cache, better memory performance, faster cache +++ :)
Just be happy that AMD messed up the entire intel lineup\product stack so we will get better products cause Intel still has the better CPU designs, however now with a very small margin!
Comparing the performance based on numbers that we've seen here (I don't want to go into details and look for better estimations), let's assume that:
- Intel has 20% better single-thread performance,
- HT gives 30% of what a normal core does,
- 4 real cores are 100% faster than 2 real cores (not true)
we arrive at a result that R3 4C/4T is 28% faster than i3 2C/4T in full load.
That's not very impressive considering the lack of IGP.
Keep in mind this is the lowest price level AMD has in the Ryzen lineup. In this case a need to buy a GPU card - even the cheapest one - significantly impacts the platform price.
And while Ryzen 3 is the cheapest Ryzen planned (at this point), Kaby Lake lineup goes way down to cheap Pentiums and Celerons (the cheapest one is ~$50). And they all have an IGP...
That would also leave a gap for the APU (it has to be more expensive than an IGP-less Ryzen counterpart, but at the same time cheaper than competing i3.
However, it has to be said that early leaks mentioned $120 for R3 and they were quite accurate for Ryzen 5 models:
www.techpowerup.com/230916/pricing-of-entire-amd-ryzen-lineup-revealed
Moreover, the cheapest GPU card you can buy today is AFAIK a GT210 for $30 and it's performance is really not enough for entertainment (it can struggle with 1080p video...).
A more sensible GT730 is $50 already (GT1030/RX550 >$70)...
While adding $50 to a Ryzen 7 gives you a great value productivity PC, I really don't see a point of a Ryzen 3 + RX550 combo.
And I don't think many gamers will pair R3 with a more expensive GPU. What for? Upgrade to a Ryzen 5 hardly changes the cost of gaming-oriented rig anyway...
Honestly, I'm surprised AMD is still planning to release the R3. I though they'll scrap it and cover the sub-$150 segment with APUs.
also
"AMD confirmed that its AGESA update for May improves DDR4 memory compatibility, although it also stressed on the need for motherboard manufacturers to improve their board designs in the future, with more PCB layers and better copper traces between the DIMM slots and the SoC socket."
I know this is a tough call here, where we talk about $200 keyboards, but remember that some people spend $300 on their desktops (for this price you can even get a keyboard and mouse in the bundle :)).
$50 can be surprisingly significant - especially when you really don't get anything special in return. Most people will be totally happy with the IGP in Pentiums.
Still early days and a promising start regardless.
If you are on a tight budget and only want to light game I wouldn't recommend you buy an i3, I'd say go buy any used PC. It isn't worth it to overpay for Intel's latest that does zero for you only to be locked into a platform with no upgrade path and low performance. If you absolutely had to the G4560 is a FAR better choice than any current i3 as you get similar performance for half the price. Of course it's likely that AMD will have an answer either with it's R3 lineup or it's new APUs featuring Radeon graphics, which are far better than intel's.