While we have already heard a lot of information regarding AMD's upcoming Zen CPU architecture, there are a few other details that have surfaced lately, including further details about the quad-core unit that module that will be a key part of the Zen-based CPU.

Unlike Bulldozer architecture, where a module shared certain parts, the new Zen quad-core unit, named as the CPU-Complex (CCX) will each have its dedicated 512KB of L2 cache and share 8MB of L3 cache.

According to a leaked slide coming from Heise.de, each core can access every cache with the same average latency, which means that each CCX has four independent CPU cores.

Upcoming Summit Ridge AM4 desktop CPU will pack two CCX units, ending up with a total of eight cores. These CCX units will share a dual-channel DDR4 memory controller, chipset and integrated PCI-Express root complex.

First AM4 Zen-based APUs, codename Bristol Ridge, will have a single CCX unit and a GPU in the place of the second CCX, allowing AMD to use the same AM4 platform for both CPUs and APUs.

AMD's new Zen architecture is quite impressive and if the 40% IPC increase lines up with the real-world performance, AMD might finally have a horse for a race with Intel.





Source: via Techpowerup.com.