#+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