AMD's Exciting Plans for 2018 - Ryzen 2, Threadripper 2 & Beyond!

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. AMD's Plan to Compete with Intel
3. The Evolution of AMD Processors
4. The Zen Plus Architecture
5. Zen Plus CPUs and Their Features
6. The Future of AMD Processors
7. Ryzen CPUs and Motherboards
8. Price Cuts and New APU Additions
9. The State of AMD Graphics
10. The Transition to 7nm Manufacturing
11. Future Architecture Updates
12. Expectations for Lower-End Vega Cards
13. AMD Mobile GPUs
14. Conclusion

AMD's Plan to Compete with Intel

In recent years, AMD has made significant strides in the processor market, especially with its Ryzen and Threadripper architectures. These processors have provided a compelling alternative to Intel's offerings, and the company aims to build on this success in the future. At CES 2018, AMD unveiled its plans to surpass Intel in the short to mid-term by focusing on improving its manufacturing processes and delivering better performance with each new cycle.

The Evolution of AMD Processors

One of the primary challenges AMD faced over the past decade was Intel's manufacturing process superiority. While Intel moved from 22nm to 14nm lithography, AMD was stuck on the 28nm process until 2014. This put AMD at a disadvantage in terms of power consumption, heat generation, and die size. However, with the introduction of the Ryzen architecture, AMD transitioned to a more efficient 14nm process. In 2018, AMD plans to move to the 12nm node for both desktop and mobile processors, while Intel will stick to its refreshed 14nm technology until the launch of Canon Lake on the 10nm process. AMD is even looking ahead to the 7nm process for 2019, demonstrating its commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance.

The Zen Plus Architecture

The Zen Plus architecture marks an important milestone in AMD's processor strategy. It represents a refinement of the existing Zen architecture, making key optimizations that result in up to 10% better performance. The CPUs based on Zen Plus are currently in the sampling phase and will be launching in April 2018. While there won't be any fundamental changes to the overall architecture until the Zen 2 architecture arrives in 2019, Zen Plus will serve as a refreshed design capable of achieving higher sustained clock speeds. The Zen 3 architecture is also already in the design stages, further emphasizing AMD's commitment to rapid innovation.

Zen Plus CPUs and Their Features

The Zen Plus CPUs will be part of the Ryzen 2000 series and will be compatible with current motherboards. This means that users can upgrade their processors without having to invest in a new motherboard. AMD is ensuring that its customers have a smooth transition to the new CPUs, as well as access to new features and improved performance. Additionally, AMD has plans to refresh the Threadripper lineup with Zen Plus in the Second half of 2018, making it an even more powerful and compelling option for enthusiasts and professionals.

The Future of AMD Processors

AMD's roadmap for the future is ambitious and exciting. The company aims to deliver a rapid rollout of new Zen-based processor architectures. With each generation, AMD plans to offer significant performance improvements, surpassing the typical 7 to 8% yearly increase. This will be achieved through a combination of optimized designs, refined manufacturing processes, and enhanced features. AMD also plans to launch a new series of desktop APUs that combine Ryzen processors with Vega integrated graphics units, further expanding its product portfolio and catering to a wide range of users.

Ryzen CPUs and Motherboards

One of the advantages of choosing AMD processors is the compatibility they offer. The current Ryzen processors are fully compatible with existing motherboards, ensuring that users can benefit from performance upgrades without having to invest in a new platform. However, with the launch of the Zen Plus-based Ryzen CPUs, AMD is also introducing a new series of motherboards that will provide additional features and improvements. These new motherboards will complement the second generation of Ryzen processors and offer users an even better experience.

Price Cuts and New APU Additions

To prepare for the arrival of the new processors, AMD has implemented price cuts across its lineup. The flagship AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X, for example, has received a $100 price reduction, making it even more appealing to enthusiasts and professionals. Additionally, AMD has introduced two new APUs, the Ryzen 5 2400G and Ryzen 3 3200G, which replace the previous Ryzen 5 1400 and Ryzen 3 1200 models. These APUs combine Ryzen cores with Vega integrated graphics, providing an affordable and capable solution for budget-conscious users.

The State of AMD Graphics

While AMD has made significant progress in the processor market, its graphics division has faced challenges in competing with NVIDIA. However, AMD is actively working on improving its graphics offerings. There are plans for the Vega architecture to transition to a 7nm manufacturing process in 2018. Although it is unclear whether current gaming cards will benefit from this refresh, AMD already has 7nm Vega-based GPUs for use in its Radeon Instinct MI-25 cards, which are designed for deep learning algorithms. The consumer-focused changes are more likely to come with the upcoming Navi architecture in 2019 and a brand new architecture in 2020, both of which should leverage the 7nm manufacturing process to provide optimized performance.

The Transition to 7nm Manufacturing

AMD's transition to smaller manufacturing nodes is a key strategy to stay competitive and deliver better performance and efficiency. Moving to a 7nm process offers several benefits, including increased transistor density, lower power consumption, and potentially higher clock speeds. While details about AMD's plans for 7nm desktop GPUs are scarce, it is expected that this process will primarily impact AMD's mobile GPUs and data center offerings initially.

Future Architecture Updates

Beyond the 7nm manufacturing process, AMD has ambitious plans for future architecture updates. The Navi architecture, planned for release in 2019, is expected to bring significant improvements to AMD's consumer graphics cards. With optimizations and refinements, Navi aims to provide better performance per watt, further narrowing the gap with NVIDIA's offerings. Looking even further ahead, AMD plans to introduce a brand new architecture in 2020. Utilizing the 7nm manufacturing process, this new architecture has the potential to redefine the high-performance computing landscape.

Expectations for Lower-End Vega Cards

While AMD's high-end Vega 56 and 64 variants have been available for some time, the lower-end Vega cards have yet to be released. Enthusiasts and budget-conscious users have been eagerly awaiting these cards as they are positioned to compete with NVIDIA's GTX 1060 and GTX 1050. Unfortunately, information about the specifications and official launch dates for these lower-end Vega cards is scarce. However, it is hoped that AMD will address this gap in its product lineup soon, giving users more options and better price-to-performance ratios in the mid-range segment.

AMD Mobile GPUs

Another area where AMD has plans for expansion is the mobile GPU market. By leveraging its Vega architecture, AMD is developing dedicated notebook GPUs that have the potential to compete with NVIDIA's offerings. While details about these mobile GPUs are limited, it is anticipated that they will eventually form the basis of lower-end desktop variants. AMD has showcased some notebooks with these GPUs at CES, and their availability is expected before the second quarter of 2018. The inclusion of HBM2 memory in some designs suggests that these mobile GPUs will offer a balance between performance and power efficiency.

Conclusion

In summary, AMD's processor division had a stellar year in 2017, and the company is determined to maintain this Momentum in the coming years. The Zen Plus architecture and the future Zen-based processors demonstrate AMD's commitment to innovation and performance. By leveraging refined manufacturing processes and introducing new features, AMD aims to compete effectively with Intel and offer customers a compelling alternative. Additionally, the developments in AMD's graphics division, including the transition to 7nm manufacturing and the upcoming Navi architecture, further highlight the company's dedication to delivering superior products. As an AMD enthusiast or consumer, there is much to look forward to in the near future.

Highlights:

• AMD plans to match or surpass Intel in the short to mid-term future
• Ryzen processors and Threadripper challenge Intel's offerings
• Zen Plus architecture offers up to 10% better performance
• Zen Plus CPUs to be launched in April 2018, with Zen 2 and Zen 3 in the pipeline
• Upcoming Ryzen APUs combine Ryzen processors with Vega integrated graphics
• AMD's transition to smaller manufacturing nodes, from 28nm to 7nm
• Future architecture updates, including Navi in 2019 and a new architecture in 2020
• Expectations for lower-end Vega cards to compete with NVIDIA's mid-range offerings
• Expansion of AMD's mobile GPU market with dedicated notebook GPUs
• Overall, AMD is focused on innovation, performance, and providing a compelling alternative to Intel and NVIDIA.

FAQ:

Q: Will older motherboards be compatible with the new second-generation Ryzen processors? A: Yes, AMD ensures compatibility with existing motherboards, allowing users to upgrade without needing to buy a new motherboard.

Q: What improvements can we expect from the Zen Plus architecture? A: The Zen Plus architecture offers up to 10% better performance than its predecessor, primarily through optimizations and refined manufacturing processes.

Q: When will the lower-end Vega cards be released? A: AMD has not provided specific launch dates for the lower-end Vega cards. However, users can anticipate their release to fill the gap in AMD's product lineup in the mid-range segment.

Q: What is AMD's strategy for graphics improvements? A: AMD plans to transition to a 7nm manufacturing process and introduce new architectures, such as Navi in 2019, to deliver better performance and compete with NVIDIA's offerings.

Q: Are there any updates on AMD's mobile GPU market? A: AMD is developing dedicated notebook GPUs based on the Vega architecture. These GPUs are expected to eventually morph into lower-end desktop variants, providing competition to NVIDIA's mid-range options.