From 7688d600acf56d972a77aebe6a04935932ffc03a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Franck Cuny Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2021 14:19:24 -0800 Subject: blog: notes about AMD and Intel CPUs --- content/notes/making-sense-intel-amd-cpus.org | 120 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 120 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/notes/making-sense-intel-amd-cpus.org diff --git a/content/notes/making-sense-intel-amd-cpus.org b/content/notes/making-sense-intel-amd-cpus.org new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4b5541f --- /dev/null +++ b/content/notes/making-sense-intel-amd-cpus.org @@ -0,0 +1,120 @@ +#+TITLE: Making sense of Intel and AMD CPUs naming +#+DATE: <2021-12-29 Wed> +#+TAGS[]: amd intel cpu +#+toc: t + +* 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 [[https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/134594/intel-core-i712700k-processor-25m-cache-up-to-5-00-ghz.html][i7-12700K]] 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 | + +#+begin_quote +*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. +#+end_quote +*** Sockets/Chipsets +For the Alder Lake generation, the supported socket is the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1700][LGA_1700]]. + +For now the only supported chipset for Alder Lake is the [[https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/218833/intel-z690-chipset.html][z690]]. +*** Alder Lake (12th generation) +| model | p-cores | e-cores | GHz (base) | GHz (boosted) | PCIe lanes | memory support | TDP | +|------------+---------+---------+---------------+---------------+--------------------------+----------------+------| +| i9-12900K | 8 (16) | 8 | 3.2/2.4 | 5.1/3.9 | 16 PCIe 5.0 + 4 PCIe 4.0 | DDR5-4800 | 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 +- support PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 + +Alder lake is an hybrid architecture, featuring both P-cores (performance cores) and E-cores (efficient cores). P-cores are based on the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Cove][Golden Cove]] architecture, while the E-cores are based on the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracemont_(microarchitecture)][Gracemont]] architecture. + +This is a [[https://www.anandtech.com/show/16881/a-deep-dive-into-intels-alder-lake-microarchitectures/2][good article]] 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 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_(microarchitecture)][zen micro architecture]]. 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 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_SP3][SP3]] socket. The EPYC processor is chipset free. +** Threadripper +The threadripper is for high performance desktop. It uses the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_TR4][TR4]] socket. At the moment there's only one chipset that supports this process, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_chipsets#TR4_chipsets][X399]]. + +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 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM4][AM4 socket]]. The threadripper line uses different sockets. + +There are multiple [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM4#Chipsets][chipset]] 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 | memory support | TDP | +|---------------+---------+------------+---------------+------------+----------------+------| +| ryzen 5 5600x | 6 (12) | 3.7 | 4.6 | 24 | DDR4-3200 | 65W | +| ryzen 7 5800 | 8 (16) | 3.4 | 4.6 | 24 | DDR4-3200 | 65W | +| ryzen 7 5800x | 8 (16) | 3.8 | 4.7 | 24 | DDR4-3200 | 105W | +| ryzen 9 5900 | 12 (24) | 3.0 | 4.7 | 24 | DDR4-3200 | 65W | +| ryzen 9 5900x | 12 (24) | 3.7 | 4.8 | 24 | DDR4-3200 | 105W | +| ryzen 9 5950x | 16 (32) | 3.4 | 4.9 | 24 | DDR4-3200 | 105W | + +- support PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 (except for the G series) +- only support DDR4 -- cgit 1.4.1