Latest AIDA64 update includes support for new-generation AMD Zen 6 and Intel Wildcat Lake CPUs, as identified in the latest release.
In the world of processor architecture, two upcoming developments have piqued the interest of tech enthusiasts and industry experts alike: AMD's Zen 6 and Intel's Wildcat Lake. Let's delve into what we know so far about these promising advancements.
**AMD's Zen 6 Architecture**
AMD's Zen 6 is expected to be a significant leap forward, with desktop variants rumoured to come in 12-core, 24-core, and 32-core configurations. Server versions, though not yet detailed in the same documents, are expected to feature up to an impressive 256 cores, marking a 33% increase compared to the current generation AMD EPYC Turin-based Zen 5c processors.
The manufacturing process for Zen 6 is anticipated to be TSMC's 3nm and possibly 2nm nodes, focusing on performance and efficiency gains. There are also rumours of a 240MB L3 cache for some Zen 6 CPUs, using 3D V-Cache (X3D) technology to significantly increase cache size. Zen 6 is rumoured to achieve clock speeds above 6.0 GHz, with some reports suggesting up to 7.0 GHz.
Zen 6 is expected to deliver 6-8% higher floating-point IPC compared to Zen 5, though these gains might vary across different workloads. Zen 6 will retain compatibility with the AM5 socket, ensuring seamless upgrades for users of existing Zen 5 systems.
**Intel's Wildcat Lake Architecture**
Intel's Wildcat Lake is rumoured to follow a hybrid design similar to Panther Lake and Lunar Lake, featuring a combination of Cougar Cove P-cores and Darmount E-cores. The design philosophy of Wildcat Lake is similar to Lunar Lake, with LPE cores housed in the SoC tile. If this is the case, Wildcat Lake will essentially be a hybrid version of Panther Lake and Lunar Lake.
Specific core counts for Wildcat Lake have not been detailed in the available reports. However, it is expected to follow Intel's strategy of using both performance and efficiency cores in the same chip.
In the software realm, AIDA64's latest version (7.70.7500) has implemented preliminary support for both AMD's Zen 6 and Intel's Wildcat Lake architectures. This software update also supports AMD's laptop APUs, such as Medusa Point, and Intel's Barlett Lake-S CPUs.
As these architectures are still in the rumour stage, it's essential to approach this information with a grain of salt. However, the potential improvements and innovations hint at an exciting future for processor technology. Stay tuned for more updates as these architectures develop!
These upcoming processor advancements, Zen 6 from AMD and Wildcat Lake from Intel, promise cutting-edge technology with AMD's Zen 6 anticipated to feature 12-core, 24-core, and 32-core desktop configurations, and a server variant boasting up to 256 cores. On the other hand, Intel's Wildcat Lake is rumored to sport both performance and efficiency cores, adopting a hybrid design similar to Panther Lake and Lunar Lake.
