AMD's Zen 4 CPUs Will Use a 'Highly Optimized' 5nm Process, But Don't Be Blinded by Node Numbers
AMD’s Zen 4 CPUs will use a ‘highly optimized’ 5nm process, but don’t be blinded by node numbers.
AMD is promising to deliver a 5nm node with its upcoming chips.
Smaller doesn't mean better, GPU or CPU process technology is one of the key aspects of its design.
That is the reason why they are not going for the 3mn or 4mn yet.
Companies have a never-ending desire to move to ever smaller nodes.
Smaller nodes will typically output less heat and deliver better power efficiency.
Smaller dies mean more chips can be put into wafer.
Sometimes smaller nodes can end up requiring more power and running hotter.
One company’s mode is not always directly comparable to another’s. A bleeding edge node simply can’t compete with a mature one.
The 5nm node is the most advanced process in widespread use. In late 2020 Apple released its first 5nm products.
Adopting a bleeding edge process technology that uses 125W or a lot more is not the same as a mature one that consumes 15W.
They are already prototyping 3nm products, with mass production expected later in 2022.
Technology roadmaps are all about making the right choices and right junctures and their 5nm technology is highly optimized for high-performance computing.
Their 5nm process choices are best tailored to suit its own products. Zen 4 needs to be tuned for desktop, enterprise and mobile applications.
Intel calls its 10nm node ‘Intel 7’, it’s transistor density is as good as smaller 7nm nodes.
Core i9 12900 KS can reach 5.5 GHz out of the box but it takes a lot of power to get there.