AMD "Zen 6" to Retain Socket AM5 for Desktops, 2026-27 Product Launches

[btarunr]

The desktop version of AMD's next-generation "Zen 6" microarchitecture will retain Socket AM5, Kepler_L2, a reliable source with hardware leaks, revealed. What's more interesting is the rumor that the current "Zen 5" will remain AMD's mainstay for the entirety of 2025, and possibly even most of 2026, at least for the desktop platform. AMD will be banking heavily on the recently announced Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and its high core-count siblings, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and possible 9900X3D, to see the company through for 2025 against Intel. The 9800X3D posted significantly higher gaming performance than Intel, and the 9950X3D is expected to be at least faster than the 7950X3D at gaming, which means its gaming performance, coupled with multithreaded application performance from its 16-core/32-thread count should be the face of AMD's desktop processor lineup for at least the next year.

It wouldn't be off-character for AMD to launch "Zen 6" on AM5, and not refresh the platform. The company had launched three microarchitectures (Zen thru Zen 3) on Socket AM4. With "Zen 6," AMD has the opportunity to not just increase IPC, but also core-counts per CCD, cache sizes, a new foundry node such as 3 nm, and probably even introduce features such as hybrid architecture and an NPU to the desktop platform, which means it could at least update the current 6 nm client I/O die (cIOD) while retaining AM5. A new cIOD could give AMD the much-needed opportunity to update the DDR5 memory controllers to support higher memory frequencies. The Kepler_L2 leak predicts a "late-2026 or early-2027" launch for desktop "Zen 6" processors. In the meantime, Intel is expected to ramp "Arrow Lake-S" on Socket LGA1851, and debut the "Panther Lake" microarchitecture on LGA1851 in 2025-26.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[thesmokingman]

I swear, their timings of these announcements is whacked. Right on the heels of the current release... hello?

 

[wNotyarD]

In the meantime, Intel is expected to ramp "Arrow Lake-S" on Socket LGA1851, and debut the "Panther Lake" microarchitecture on LGA1851 in 2025-26.

Someone correct me if I am mistaken, but isn't Panther Lake supposed to be a mobile uarch, successor to Lunar Lake? And, therefore, not on any LGA socket?

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

I swear, their timings of these announcements is whacked. Right on the heels of the current release... hello?

It's not really an announcement. It's called a leak in the news story, but it is as likely speculation as anything.

 

[freeagent]

Its probably their way of saying, go on, buy that board for 950 beaver bucks.. plus tax.. it will last you a few years..

 

[R0H1T]

That doesn't sound right, didn't AMD claim (announce?) shorter gaps between major launches some time back so the next one is ~2.5 years

 

[john_]

26-27.... I guess CPU news will become a little boring after the middle of 25. We only expect a few strong APUs from AMD and Panther Lake from Intel.

I swear, their timings of these announcements is whacked. Right on the heels of the current release... hello?

They say "Next product for you it will take ages. Just pay the $480 for the X3D and relax. Don't wait further.".

 

[Frick]

I swear, their timings of these announcements is whacked. Right on the heels of the current release... hello?

It basically says that the 9800x3d will be the fastest gaming CPU for at least two years. It's all rumours, but that wouldn't be unwelcome for the people buying them.

 

[john_]

That doesn't sound right, didn't AMD claim (announce?) shorter gaps between major launches some time back so the next one is ~2.5 years

We'll get a few refreshes and a few APUs in between. And don't forget that we also have NPUs now. Next product could be a desktop Zen 5 CPU with an NPU unit or a mobile Zen 5 APU with a faster NPU unit.

 

[freeagent]

And AM4 will probably get something else from the garbage bin

 

[R0H1T]

Next product could be a desktop Zen 5 CPU with an NPU unit or a mobile Zen 5 APU with a faster NPU unit.

Well they're releasing Halo at least H1 next year, which could also come in for desktops if there's enough demand kinda like the z1(phoenix 2) ~

AMD Ryzen 5 8500G Review - Zen 4 + Zen 4c Tested

The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G is a highly affordable Socket AM5 processor. It features the Phoenix 2 core, which combines the Zen 4 and Zen 4c architecture, for improved energy efficiency. In our review we test gaming performance with both integrated graphics and a discrete graphics card.

www.techpowerup.com

 

[Tom Yum]

That doesn't sound right, didn't AMD claim (announce?) shorter gaps between major launches some time back so the next one is ~2.5 years

Zen 4 was released Sep 2022, Zen 5 was released Aug 2024, just shy of two years later. A mid-late 2026 release for Zen 6 would be consistent for AMD.

 

[ffolekram]

Say those six letters out loud please, "AMD YES"
I'd presume AM5 gonna remain the most advanced socket for AMD until 2027 (Since Zen4 was launched sometime back in 2022, and 5year promise from AMD seems very likely)

 

[_roman_]

26-27.... I guess CPU news will become a little boring after the middle of 25. We only expect a few strong APUs from AMD and Panther Lake from Intel.

Do you really expect every year a new processor?

I consider the 9800X3D already a 2025 processor. At the point many customers will be able to buy it around the end of year 2024. Money at the end of the year should be well spend for a computer and not for something else.

I do expect a 16 core X3d 9000 Series processor.

 

[Chaitanya]

Zen 4 was released Sep 2022, Zen 5 was released Aug 2024, just shy of two years later. A mid-late 2026 release for Zen 6 would be consistent for AMD.

Just like GPUs, CPUs also have slowly moved to 2 year upgrade cycle.

 

[GoldenX]

Good news.
Hopefully the next chipset releases aren't degraded to PCIe 2.0 or something.

 

[Tigerfox]

Everything else would have been a surprise, given AMDs statements regarding AM5s longevity in the past. However, I hope they release new chipsts together with Zen6 like they did with X570/B550 to catch up to Intel. As of now, AM5 seriously lacks in PCIe-lanes.

I will monitor 9800X3D price and only grab one if it gets cheap enough. I don't really need the performance, but now I still can sell my 7800X3D for a decent amount of money, which will be less when there is a 11800X3D.

 

[FoulOnWhite]

Nice. Time to buy me a AM5 board i think. Good thing i stuck to the 12700k as it's time to catch another bus

 

[Tigerfox]

@FoulOnWhite : The sensible thing to do would be to upgrade to 14700K/14900K/14900KS. Even though 285K is slower than 14900K in games, prices might drop. I would avoid used CPUs, though.

Despite 7800X3D and 9800X3D being much faster in games, you would get much more bang for the bucks with just upgrading the CPU instead of changing the mainboard, too.

 

[_roman_]

AM5 seriously lacks in PCIe-lanes

On the other hand you have a certain forum topic where someone asked if someone is using any pcie 1x slot. I changed my thoughts after I read that post yesterday.

There are so many small mainboards without any or fewer expansion slots.

USB 4 will also move away certain expansion cards from the mainboard. (consider that also with thunderbolt)

People can still buy X670 / E mainboards with more PCIE lanes and less USB 4

AMD could think about gluing three Input/Output chips on the mainboard instead of two in the form of e.g. X670. The drawback is the interconnection bandwidth between the chips but you could basically have more expansion cards.

 

[LittleBro]

If AMD really wants for AM5 to live till the end of 2027, with release of Zen 6 they really should:
- make a proper IOD, add native support for CUDIMMS and higher clocks, decrease DDR5 latencies, significantly improve memory controller bandwidth;
- upgrade CPU <> chipset interconnection to PCIe Gen 5 x4;
- make USB 4.0 support chipset-bound, don't hang it onto CPU lanes and stop crippling CPU-bound PCIe lanes;
- add at least 2 more cores per CCD while retaining similar CCD TDP to 8 cores per CCD;
- bring back PCIe ports, since they are versatile, specify for motherboard makers to have more than just two expansion slots (1x PCIe 5.0 x16 + 2x PCIe 4.0 x4 + 1x PCIe 4.0 x 4 is ideal);
- lower native SATA ports, 2 are enough, I'd even prefer motherboards with no SATA support at all (PCIe ports can be converted into SATA ports with adaptor).

EDIT:
- make sure the mainstream mobos for Zen 6 are cheaper!

 

[Midiamp]

With AM4 still getting processor release in 2024, safe to assume AMD will support AM5 even well after AM6 is introduced.

 

[Wirko]

- upgrade CPU <> chipset interconnection to PCIe Gen 5 x4;

This, absolutely.

- make USB 4.0 support chipset-bound, don't hang it onto CPU lanes and stop crippling CPU-bound PCIe lanes;

It seems that AMD isn't so strict with that, and some motherboards have those 4 lanes shared with M.2 (MSI X870 Tomahawk at least).

Other points you've listed would be welcome but aren't really related to socket change. AMD could make each of them better or worse with either AM5 or AM6.

Also, bifurcation on CPU-bound lanes. I was expecting to see more flexibility in Zen 5 ... then they announced that the IOD would be reused. Two-lane PCIe slots and M.2 sockets would be usable for many purposes if running at Gen 5 speeds, or even at Gen 4 speeds.

 

[TumbleGeorge]

If they make a new cIOd, it will definitely arrive with new motherboards with a new south bridge as well. Because there is likely to be a different number or new version of the PCIe connectivity, between the new cIOd and the south bridge, to increase the communication speed. Hopefully the new motherboards with the new chipset will include enough improvements. I hope the socket AM5 has enough unused contact pads.

 

[StimpsonJCat]

AM6 will be a great step up from high-end AM4, with a big +-50% perf uptick, and two more major architecture upgrades to look forward to, as well as decent DDR5 support, quad channel if we're really lucky.

AM6 will be what AM5 was hyped to be.