Thursday, April 16th 2020
AMD Readies "Zen 2" Based Ryzen 3 Quad-core AM4 Processors
AMD is readying a new line of Ryzen 3 socket AM4 desktop processors to bolster its competitiveness against the upcoming 10th generation Core i3 processor family, according to OPN details unearthed by @momomo_us. The new line of processors are expected to be based on the "Matisse" MCM, configured with one "Zen 2" chiplet that has a quad-core CPU configuration. Within the chiplet, AMD appears to be achieving 4 cores by disabling one of the two CCXs completely, instead of taking the 2+2 core CCX configuration route. A single CCX with its 16 MB L3 cache, and 2 MB of L2 cache (4x 512 KB) add up to the processor's 18 MB "total cache."
Among the two SKUs existing are the Ryzen 3 3100 (OPN: 100-000000284) and the Ryzen 3 3300X (OPN: 100-000000159). Both are 4-core/8-thread parts with 18 MB total cache, and 65 W TDP. The 3100 is clocked up to 3.90 GHz, and the 3300X up to 4.30 GHz. It remains to be seen if AMD enables features like PCI-Express gen 4.0, and whether the 3100 has an unlocked multiplier. AMD's move to introduce Ryzen 3 "Matisse" parts appears to be necessitated by Intel's 10th gen Core i3. Intel is configuring its next value-segment chips to be 4-core/8-thread at price-points under $160. AMD has older generation Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 3 series parts at these prices, but is lacking on any current-gen product. One area where the 10th gen Core i3 one-ups Ryzen 3 "Matisse" is integrated graphics. Then again, Intel is likely to have "F" SKUs of Core i3 parts with disabled iGPUs, meant for gaming PCs. That's what AMD appears to be going after, to establish the next low-cost gaming PC king.
Source:
momomo_us (Twitter)
Among the two SKUs existing are the Ryzen 3 3100 (OPN: 100-000000284) and the Ryzen 3 3300X (OPN: 100-000000159). Both are 4-core/8-thread parts with 18 MB total cache, and 65 W TDP. The 3100 is clocked up to 3.90 GHz, and the 3300X up to 4.30 GHz. It remains to be seen if AMD enables features like PCI-Express gen 4.0, and whether the 3100 has an unlocked multiplier. AMD's move to introduce Ryzen 3 "Matisse" parts appears to be necessitated by Intel's 10th gen Core i3. Intel is configuring its next value-segment chips to be 4-core/8-thread at price-points under $160. AMD has older generation Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 3 series parts at these prices, but is lacking on any current-gen product. One area where the 10th gen Core i3 one-ups Ryzen 3 "Matisse" is integrated graphics. Then again, Intel is likely to have "F" SKUs of Core i3 parts with disabled iGPUs, meant for gaming PCs. That's what AMD appears to be going after, to establish the next low-cost gaming PC king.
22 Comments on AMD Readies "Zen 2" Based Ryzen 3 Quad-core AM4 Processors
AMD will get to that level at some point as their OEM portfolio grows. For now they're focused on these flashy campaigns when new product arrives - with nice slides and everything.
- Entry level gaming on very low budget - almost non-existent market, ppl low on money buy a cheap laptop;
- Home productivity - office, internet browsing - again, iGPU is a much better choice;
- Office computer - same as above.
The 3200G / 3400G make those useless, at similar price, and cheaper if you add the GPU to match.Who will want to pair a 4core CPU with anything like GTX1650 or Radeon 580? One must instead invest in the platform and think of GPU upgrade later because GPUs age much faster. My old PC (i5-4690K) passed thru 3 GPUs (Radeon 7700 -> GTX960 -> GTX1080). If i did get a lower, slightly cheaper platform (say, dual core i3), save $50, but need a new platform 4 years earlier. Now i'm a happy R7 3700X owner, and plan to replace my 1080 with RTX4700 or whatever AMD launch 3-4 years from now.
Anything below R5 3500 should be with iGPU, as years of successful sales with Intel's i3 and i5 have shown (in prebuilt home / enterprise PCs).
The 150 sq.mm. die size at 7nm is prohibitive as a low-cost solution.
I bet you don't know how much power each of your home devices use - even though measuring all of them would probably take less time that you've already spent praising Zen efficiency on this forum. :D
As for the particular CPU issue. Let's assume:
- Intel will take 20W more under load,
- PC used 3h a day, full load,
- 0.35 USD/kWh (around what you'd pay in Germany - AFAIK the most expensive electricity among developed countries)
20*3*31*0.00035 ~= 0.7 USD per monthI'm not sure where you're getting this idea from.
Cheap gaming desktops (i3, Pentium) are very popular.
The other niches you've mentioned - like office and home casual computing - absolutely no point in buying a dGPU. APUs all the way. Of course as soon as AMD launches anything with more than 4 cores.Simple. Someone who can't afford a more expensive GPU. Most of the planet isn't thinking about "upgrading" later on. They buy a cheap desktop that lasts them for 3+ years. They replace it.
As you can see I did use the word "invest". I despise how it's being used in this context. :D
Quads need to die.
If I had to choose between a reduced-cache, single CCX quad-core that may or may not be unlocked or a proper Zen+ hexa-core that will run at 4GHz+ on even a cheap AM4 board, I think I'd rather go with the older tech. Quad cores have had their day and really only deserve a spot in ultra-budget desktops, or for ultra low-power laptops.