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diff --git a/content/notes/making-sense-intel-amd-cpus.md b/content/notes/making-sense-intel-amd-cpus.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..22633af --- /dev/null +++ b/content/notes/making-sense-intel-amd-cpus.md @@ -0,0 +1,191 @@ +--- +title: Making sense of Intel and AMD CPUs naming +date: 2021-12-29 +tags: + - amd + - intel + - cpu +--- + +# Intel + +## Core + +The line up for the core family is i3, i5, i7 and i9. As of December +2021, the current generation is Alder Lake (12th generation). + +The brand modifiers are: + +- **i3**: laptops/low-end desktop +- **i5**: mainstream users +- **i7**: high-end users +- **i9**: enthusiast users + +How to read a SKU ? Let's use the +[i7-12700K](https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/134594/intel-core-i712700k-processor-25m-cache-up-to-5-00-ghz.html) +processor: + +- **i7**: high end users +- **12**: 12th generation +- **700**: SKU digits, usually assigned in the order the processors + are developed +- **K**: unlocked + +List of suffixes: + +| suffix | meaning | +|--------|----------------------------------------| +| G.. | integrated graphics | +| E | embedded | +| F | require discrete graphic card | +| H | high performance for mobile | +| HK | high performance for mobile / unlocked | +| K | unlocked | +| S | special edition | +| T | power optimized lifestyle | +| U | mobile power efficient | +| Y | mobile low power | +| X/XE | unlocked, high end | + +> **Unlocked,** what does that means ? A processor with the **K** suffix +> is made with the an unlocked clock multiplier. When used with some +> specific chipset, it's possible to overclock the processor. + +### Sockets/Chipsets + +For the Alder Lake generation, the supported socket is the +[LGA<sub>1700</sub>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1700). + +For now only supported chipset for Alder Lake are: + +| feature | [z690](https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/218833/intel-z690-chipset.html) | [h670](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/218831/intel-h670-chipset/specifications.html) | [b660](https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/218832/intel-b660-chipset.html) | [h610](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/218829/intel-h610-chipset/specifications.html) | +|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| +| P and E cores over clocking | yes | no | no | no | +| memory over clocking | yes | yes | yes | no | +| DMI 4 lanes | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | +| chipset PCIe 4.0 lanes | up to 12 | up to 12 | up to 6 | none | +| chipset PCIe 3.0 lanes | up to 16 | up to 12 | up to 8 | 8 | +| SATA 3.0 ports | up to 8 | up to 8 | 4 | 4 | + +### Alder Lake (12th generation) + +| model | p-cores | e-cores | GHz (base) | GHz (boosted) | TDP | +|------------|---------|---------|------------|---------------|------| +| i9-12900K | 8 (16) | 8 | 3.2/2.4 | 5.1/3.9 | 241W | +| i9-12900KF | 8 (16) | 8 | 3.2/2.4 | 5.1/3.9 | 241W | +| i7-12700K | 8 (16) | 4 | 3.6/2.7 | 4.9/3.8 | 190W | +| i7-12700KF | 8 (16) | 4 | 3.6/2.7 | 4.9/3.8 | 190W | +| i5-12600K | 6 (12) | 4 | 3.7/2.8 | 4.9/3.6 | 150W | +| i5-12600KF | 6 (12) | 4 | 3.7/2.8 | 4.9/3.6 | 150W | + +- support DDR4 and DDR5 (up to DDR5-4800) +- support PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 (16 PCIe 5.0 and 4 PCIe 4.0) + +The socket used is the [LGA +1700](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1700). + +Alder lake is an hybrid architecture, featuring both P-cores +(performance cores) and E-cores (efficient cores). P-cores are based on +the [Golden Cove](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Cove) +architecture, while the E-cores are based on the +[Gracemont](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracemont_(microarchitecture)) +architecture. + +This is a [good +article](https://www.anandtech.com/show/16881/a-deep-dive-into-intels-alder-lake-microarchitectures/2) +to read about this model. Inside the processor there's a microcontroller +that monitors what each thread is doing. This can be used by the OS +scheduler to hint on which core a thread should be scheduled on (between +performance or efficiency). + +As of December 2021 this is not yet properly supported by the Linux +kernel. + +## Xeon + +Xeon is the brand of Intel processor designed for non-consumer servers +and workstations. The most recent generations are: + +- Skylake (2017) +- Cascade lake (2019) +- Cooper lake (2020) + +The following brand identifiers are used: + +- platinium +- gold +- silver +- bronze + +# AMD + +## Ryzen + +There are multiple generation for this brand of processors. They are +based on the [zen micro +architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_(microarchitecture)). +The current (as of December 2021) generation is Ryzen 5000. + +The brand modifiers are: + +- ryzen 3: entry level +- ryzen 5: mainstream +- ryzen 9: high end performance +- ryzen 9:enthusiast + +List of suffixes: + +| suffix | meaning | +|--------|--------------------------------------------| +| X | high performance | +| G | integrated graphics | +| T | power optimized lifecycle | +| S | low power desktop with integrated graphics | +| H | high performance mobile | +| U | standard mobile | +| M | low power mobile | + +## EPYC + +EPYC is the AMD brand of processors for the server market, based on the +zen architecture. They use the +[SP3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_SP3) socket. The EPYC +processor is chipset free. + +## Threadripper + +The threadripper is for high performance desktop. It uses the +[TR4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_TR4) socket. At the moment +there's only one chipset that supports this process, the +[X399](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_chipsets#TR4_chipsets). + +The threadripper based on zen3 architecture is not yet released, but +it's expected to hit the market in the first half of Q1 2022. + +## Sockets/Chipsets + +The majority of these processors use the [AM4 +socket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM4). The threadripper line +uses different sockets. + +There are multiple +[chipset](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM4#Chipsets) for the AM4 +socket. The more advanced ones are the B550 and the X570. + +The threadripper processors use the TR4, sTRX4 and sWRX8 sockets. + +## Zen 3 + +Zen 3 was released in November 2020. + +| model | cores | GHz (base) | GHz (boosted) | PCIe lanes | TDP | +|---------------|---------|------------|---------------|------------|------| +| ryzen 5 5600x | 6 (12) | 3.7 | 4.6 | 24 | 65W | +| ryzen 7 5800 | 8 (16) | 3.4 | 4.6 | 24 | 65W | +| ryzen 7 5800x | 8 (16) | 3.8 | 4.7 | 24 | 105W | +| ryzen 9 5900 | 12 (24) | 3.0 | 4.7 | 24 | 65W | +| ryzen 9 5900x | 12 (24) | 3.7 | 4.8 | 24 | 105W | +| ryzen 9 5950x | 16 (32) | 3.4 | 4.9 | 24 | 105W | + +- support PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 (except for the G series) +- only support DDR4 (up to DDR4-3200) |