The much-anticipated lineup of AMD’s Ryzen 9000 CPUs, codenamed “Granite Ridge” and featuring the Zen 5 core architecture, has been revealed, dropping intriguing details about the expected processor models and their accompanying motherboards. The new lineup reportedly includes the Ryzen 9 9950X, Ryzen 9 9900X, Ryzen 7 9700X, and Ryzen 5 9600X, each tailored to meet varying performance needs.
According to leaked details from a presentation deck by a motherboard manufacturer, AMD seems poised to introduce at least four new CPUs, which would comprise high-end models with up to 16 cores in the Ryzen 9 9950X, and the more standard 6-core offering with the Ryzen 5 9600X. These processors would scale from a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 65W to a robust 170W for the top-tier CPUs.
The upcoming Ryzen 9 models are expected to operate with a dual CCD (Core Complex Die) and a single IOD (I/O Die) configuration, whereas the more modest Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 5 processors would carry a single CCD alongside their IOD. This hardware setup lends itself to large cache sizes, with each CCD providing up to 32 MB of L3 cache.
Significant buzz surrounds the memory capabilities of these chips. The improvements to the processors’ Integrated Memory Controller (IMC) suggest that the new “Granite Ridge” series will natively support memory speeds up to 5600 MT/s and, with EXPO (EXtended Profiles for Overclocking) or XMP (Extreme Memory Profiles), could potentially push the boundaries, reaching up to 8000 MT/s. Additionally, the Infinity Fabric clock (FCLK), essential for CPU and memory communication, is reportedly capable of reaching 2400 MHz—up from the 2000 MHz limit found in the current Ryzen 7000 series.
In terms of PCIe support, the AMD Ryzen 9000 Desktop CPUs are expected to continue offering 16 PCIe Gen 5.0 lanes dedicated to discrete GPUs, complemented by 12 more lanes for M.2 storage and chipset interconnect, totaling 28 PCIe lanes.
Shifting focus to the chipset offerings, AMD seems set to provide a diverse range, highlighting several 800-series PCH (Platform Controller Hub) options. The series is tipped to include the X870E, X870, B850, and B840 chipsets, with all but the B840 enabling overclocking capabilities. These chipsets aim to serve different market segments, from Enthusiast Extreme with X870E, to Entry-Level with the B840, which is succeeding the A620 chipset.
The anticipated release window for these CPUs is creating a stir, with expectations of an unveiling during AMD’s Computex 2024 keynote. Rumors suggest a possible launch in July, which means more details should be forthcoming soon.
The leaked preliminary specs suggest that the Ryzen 9 9950X and Ryzen 9 9900X might share a 64 MB L3 cache size, while the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X could come with 32 MB. All models may potentially feature integrated graphics with 2 x RDNA 2 Compute Units, though exact clock speeds remain to be confirmed.
In conclusion, this leak paints an exciting picture for the AMD Ryzen 9000 “Granite Ridge” CPUs, promising considerable leaps in core counts, cache sizes, and memory speeds, which could translate to significant performance enhancements for users.
