According to the latest leak, AMD could pack up to 32 cores in each CCD (Core Chiplet Die) with its Zen 5c and Zen 6 architectures. This would push consumer desktop processors across the 16-core line soon.
AMD is rumoured to have buffed the core count for its next generation of processors. This improvement is the result of the continuing reduction in transistor sizes in addition to the brand’s size-optimised dense-core designs – referred to as Zen 4c/5c.
This combination of technologies supposedly allows Team Red to fit double the cores per CCD, i.e. double the total cores/threads per CPU. In other words, we could see Epyc server CPUs rocking 196 cores or more, with consumer desktop variants offering 32 cores instead of the 16 we’ve had for some time now.
Going beyond bigger numbers are better; this marks a noticeable jump over AMD’s current Zen 4c Bergamo Epyc CPUs, which max out at 128 cores / 256 threads. Even more compared to regular Zen 4 models from the Genoa family which tops at 96 cores / 192 threads. Moreover, the former used eight 16-core CCDs to achieve this count, whereas Zen 5c and Zen 6 would need only half of that – potentially opening the door for even higher core count CPUs.
While both Zen 5c and Zen 6 are rumoured to pack 16 cores per CCD (Core Chiplet Die) like Zen 4c, the latter uses 2 CCXs (Core CompleX), which adds some latency. Though seemingly identical at the high end, Zen 6 is said to be available in multiple variants, some of which are powered by a less dense design. As for the one chosen by AMD for its desktop Ryzen series, we are still in the dark.
AMD is expected to announce its Zen 5-based processors at Computex this June. The first batch of products should come before the end of the year. So, stay tuned.
