Is AMD Zen 5 worth buying?

Techquickie

25 Jun 202404:16

Summary

TLDRAMD's upcoming Zen 5 processors promise a 16% performance increase over Zen 4, with enhanced branch prediction and official support for DDR5 5600 memory speeds. The new x870 chipset offers faster lanes and USB 4.0 support. Zen 5 laptops, branded as Ryzen AI, will feature integrated neural processing units (NPUs) for AI tasks, supporting up to 50 trillion operations per second. While the performance boost is notable, the necessity of upgrading from Zen 4 is debatable, especially considering the current lukewarm reception to AI features on desktops and laptops.

Takeaways

🚀 Zen 5 is set to release in July, and AMD claims a 16% improvement in instructions per clock (IPC) over Zen 4.
⚡ Zen 5 will have similar clock speeds to Ryzen 7000 but with improved performance, especially in applications like Blender.
🔧 Improvements in branch prediction and higher memory support (up to DDR5-5600) contribute to better CPU efficiency.
🖥️ Zen 5 will also introduce new chipsets, including the X870 and X870+ with more PCI Express lanes and standard USB 4.0 and Wi-Fi 7 support.
🔋 Zen 5 desktop CPUs will maintain similar core counts as Zen 4 but have lower power consumption due to a smaller process node.
💻 On the mobile side, AMD introduces Ryzen AI chips with integrated neural processing units (NPUs), designed to handle AI workloads and Windows co-pilot features.
📱 Ryzen AI's NPUs will support up to 50 trillion operations per second (TOPS), making them over three times more powerful than Ryzen 8000 NPUs.
⚙️ AI-focused CPUs are becoming more important as both Qualcomm and Intel shift their focus toward AI-enabled processors.
🛠️ While Zen 5 offers incremental performance gains, it may not be a must-buy for those who recently upgraded to Zen 4, as Zen 4 already supported standards like PCIe 5.0 and USB 4.
🤔 The overall market response to AI in CPUs is mixed, as there is no urgent need for NPUs in many consumer laptops and desktops yet.

Q & A

When is the AMD Zen 5 expected to be released?
-AMD Zen 5 is expected to be released in July.
What is the claimed performance increase of Zen 5 over Zen 4?
-AMD claims a 16% performance increase in terms of instructions per clock cycle for Zen 5 over Zen 4.
Which application saw the most dramatic performance improvement in AMD's internal testing?
-Blender was one of the programs that benefited most dramatically in AMD's internal testing.
What is the new official support for higher memory speeds in Zen 5?
-Zen 5 officially supports RAM speeds up to JEDEC DDR5 5600, up from the 5200 speed supported by Zen 4.
What are the new chipsets announced by AMD for Zen 5?
-AMD has announced the X870 and X870E chipsets for Zen 5, with the main difference being that the latter has a few more usable PCI Express Lanes.
What additional features will be standard on both new Zen 5 chipsets?
-Both new chipsets will have standard USB 4.0 support and support for Wi-Fi 7.
What will be the branding of the first couple of Zen 5 mobile CPUs?
-The first couple of Zen 5 mobile CPUs will be branded as Ryzen AI.
What is the significance of the Ryzen AI branding for mobile CPUs?
-The Ryzen AI branding signifies that these CPUs will have integrated neural processing units (NPUs) to compete with AI-focused chips from Qualcomm and Intel.
How powerful are the NPUs in the Ryzen AI CPUs compared to the Ryzen 8000 series?
-The NPUs in the Ryzen AI CPUs will support up to 50 trillion operations per second (TOPS), making them over three times as powerful as the NPUs in the Ryzen 8000 series.
What are the core counts of the high-end mobile chips available at launch?
-At launch, there will be two high-end mobile chips available, one with 12 cores and another with 10 cores.
What is the recommendation for purchasing Zen 5 chips or laptops with Zen 5 included?
-While you get a nice performance bump, Zen 5 chips or laptops are not an absolute must-buy if you've recently upgraded, especially considering the general attitude toward AI and the lack of compelling use cases for local NPUs.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 AMD Zen 5: Performance and Features Overview

The script discusses the upcoming AMD Zen 5 processor, which is set to release in July. It is anticipated to offer a 16% increase in instructions per clock cycle over the Zen 4, potentially leading to a similar average performance boost. The script highlights that while the performance gains will vary by application, programs like Blender have seen significant improvements in AMD's internal testing. Zen 5 also introduces support for higher memory speeds, up to DDR5 5600, and comes with new chipsets like the x870, offering more PCIe lanes and standard USB 4.0 support. The launch lineup is expected to mirror previous series with similar core counts but lower TDPs, except for the high-end 950X. The script also mentions a new feature on the laptop side, integration of neural processing units (NPUs) in mobile CPUs, which will be branded as Ryzen AI. These NPUs are designed to compete with AI-focused chips from Qualcomm and Intel, offering up to 50 trillion operations per second, a substantial increase from the Ryzen 8000 series. The script concludes by questioning whether Zen 5 is a must-buy, suggesting that while there are performance improvements, they may not be significant enough for those who recently upgraded, especially considering the current lukewarm reception to AI features and the fact that AI tasks often run efficiently on GPUs.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Zen 4

Zen 4 refers to the fourth generation of AMD's Zen microarchitecture, which is a set of design principles used in AMD's x86-64 processors. The script mentions that Zen 4 was recently released and transitioned to LGA sockets. It sets the stage for discussing the upcoming Zen 5, illustrating the rapid pace of technological advancement in CPUs.

💡Zen 5

Zen 5 is the anticipated fifth generation of AMD's processor microarchitecture. The script discusses its imminent release and the excitement it generates among tech enthusiasts. It's central to the video's theme as it represents the next leap in CPU performance and technology.

💡LGA sockets

LGA (Land Grid Array) sockets are a type of CPU socket used in computers where the contacts are on the motherboard and the CPU has pins. The script mentions AMD's transition to LGA sockets with Zen 4, indicating a change in the physical interface for CPUs, which can affect compatibility and upgrade paths for consumers.

💡IPC

IPC stands for Instructions Per Clock, a measure of a CPU's efficiency in executing instructions. The script states that Zen 5 is expected to have a 16% increase in IPC over Zen 4, which directly relates to the performance improvements discussed in the video.

💡DDR5

DDR5 refers to the fifth generation of Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory, a type of volatile memory used in computers. The script mentions that Zen 5 will officially support higher memory speeds, including DDR5 5600, which is a significant upgrade from the DDR5 5200 supported by Zen 4.

💡Chipset

A chipset is a set of microchips that manage data and instructions between the CPU, memory, and peripherals. The script discusses the new chipsets, x870 and x870E, which will accompany Zen 5, highlighting their increased PCI Express Lanes and other improvements.

💡PCI Express

PCI Express is a high-speed serial computer expansion standard used for computer hardware devices. The script mentions that the new chipsets for Zen 5 will have more usable PCI Express Lanes, which can enhance the performance of connected devices like graphics cards and SSDs.

💡USB 4.0

USB 4.0 is a version of the Universal Serial Bus standard, offering increased data transfer rates and compatibility with Thunderbolt 3. The script states that USB 4.0 support is standard on the new chipsets for Zen 5, indicating a move towards faster and more versatile connectivity.

💡Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi 7, also known as IEEE 802.11be, is a future wireless networking standard that promises faster speeds and better performance. The script mentions that Zen 5 will support Wi-Fi 7, suggesting that AMD is future-proofing their CPUs with the latest wireless technology.

💡NPU

NPU stands for Neural Processing Unit, a type of processor designed specifically for artificial intelligence tasks. The script discusses that Zen 5 mobile CPUs will have integrated NPU, capable of performing up to 50 trillion operations per second, positioning them as competitors to Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips and Intel's AI-focused chips.

💡Windows Co-pilot

Windows Co-pilot is a feature that Microsoft is developing to provide AI-powered assistance within Windows. The script mentions that Zen 5's NPU will officially support Windows Co-pilot, including the controversial 'Windows Recall' function, indicating a convergence of AI and traditional computing platforms.

Highlights

AMD's Zen 5 release is scheduled for July.

Zen 5 promises a 16% performance increase over Zen 4 in instructions per clock cycle.

Performance gains are expected to be similar to Ryzen 7000 series CPUs.

Better branch prediction contributes to the IPC improvements in Zen 5.

Zen 5 officially supports higher memory speeds, up to DDR5 5600.

New chipsets, x870 and x870E, are announced with increased PCIe lanes.

USB 4.0 support is standard on both new AMD chipsets.

Wi-Fi 7 support is included in the launch lineup.

The core counts for Zen 5 are similar to previous generations but with lower TDPs.

Zen 5 laptops will feature a new branding called 'Ryzen AI'.

Ryzen AI CPUs integrate neural processing units (NPUs) for AI operations.

NPUs in Ryzen AI can perform up to 50 trillion operations per second.

Zen 5 mobile chips will compete with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips and Intel's AI-focused chips.

Two high-end mobile chips with 12 and 10 cores will be available at launch.

Zen 5 may not be a must-buy if you recently upgraded due to Zen 4's optional support for newer standards.

AI features on x86 systems are a focus for Zen 5, including potential support for Windows Co-Pilot.

Microsoft's Co-Pilot Plus is expected to get GPU support in the future.

Laptops are more energy-efficient for AI tasks when running on NPUs compared to GPUs.

The general attitude toward AI on desktops and laptops is currently negative due to a lack of compelling use cases.