Just ahead of CES 2018, AMD has detailed a whole bunch of stuff that will be coming out this year, covering everything from 2nd-gen Ryzen processors and desktop Ryzen APUs, to new Ryzen Mobile APUs and even discrete mobile Vega GPUs.
You’ll probably want to hear about 2nd-generation Ryzen desktop CPUs first, which AMD briefly mentioned during their event. Although we didn’t receive all the details on processor SKUs, performance improvements or pricing, but we did get a launch window: April 2018. 2nd-gen Ryzen will be built on a 12nm process using the Zen+ architecture, which includes minor optimizations to first-gen Zen. AMD did say these new chips will feature higher clock speeds and new boost technologies; both Precision Boost 2 and XFR 2. They also hinted at double digit performance gains, though they weren’t exactly specific on any claims.
As AMD promised earlier, 2nd-gen Ryzen will be fully compatible with existing 300-series chipsets, although it will launch alongside new 400-series chipsets. All the key features of 2nd-gen Ryzen will be supported on both platforms, though the 400-series chipset will supposedly allow greater performance, lower power and some new feature additions. Most of the improvements to the 400-series chipsets involve better memory support and greater scope for overclocking, at least from what AMD has said so far.
Further in the future, AMD said the Zen 2 architecture, designed for 7nm, is now complete and on-track for release probably next year, with Zen 3 also on track.
That’s all we have on 2nd-gen Ryzen right now, so clearly AMD will be releasing more information closer to its April 2018 launch date.
The product line AMD was more willing to talk about is desktop Ryzen APUs, codenamed Raven Ridge. You’ll be able to buy an AM4-compatible Ryzen processor with integrated Vega graphics as soon as February 12. In fact, two models will be available at that date: the Ryzen 5 2400G and the Ryzen 3 2200G.