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#+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
|
