blog: notes about AMD and Intel CPUs

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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