AMD could go all-in on V-Cache with Zen 6 Ryzen – 240MB L3 Cache possible
Zen 6 Ryzen IPC gains and V-Cache Specs Leak – Big changes for gamers!
AMD’s Zen 6 CPU architecture is shaping up to deliver one of AMD’s largest generational leaps to date. If the latest rumours are anything to go by, PC enthusiasts can expect higher clock speeds (above 6 GHz), faster memory support, and other major architectural changes. Now, it looks like Zen 6 will also feature larger X3D V-Cache chiplets, which can be stacked to boost cache sizes further.
IPC Gains
Based on a new report from Moore’s Law is Dead, an AMD source has claimed that AMD’s Zen 6 CPU cores can deliver 6-8% higher FP (Floating-Point) IPC than Zen 5. Note that these IPC gains are specific to floating-point workloads, not generic workloads. That means that AMD’s IPC gains could be higher (or lower) when other workloads are accounted for.
Zen 6 V-Cache Improvements
With Zen 6, AMD is reportedly using 96MB L3 Cache chiplets, which are significantly larger than the 64MB V-Cache chiplets used with Zen 3, Zen 4, and Zen 5. This move makes sense, as AMD is also reportedly increasing its per-CCD core counts from 8 cores to 12 cores. That’s a 50% increase. With this in mind, it makes sense that AMD’s V-Cache chiplets are also increasing in size/capacity.
Note that AMD has also reportedly experimented with 2-high stacks of X3D cache chiplets with Zen 6. This means that AMD could stack two of these chiplets to add 192MB of extra L3 cache onto a Zen 6 CCD. Using this tech, AMD can create a 12-core Zen 6 CPU with 240MB of L3 cache [48MB (CCD) + 96MB (V-Cache Chiplet 1) + 96MB (V-Cache Chiplet 2)].
(AMD Zen 6 IPC and X3D Cache Claims – via Moore’s Law is Dead)
Note that AMD can reportedly create 12-core Zen 6 chips with 240MB of L3 Cache. That doesn’t mean they will. AMD will likely test 1-stack and 2-stack X3D designs to determine if the performance benefits of additional cache are worth the increased manufacturing costs. Remember, even with one cache chiplet, AMD’s Zen 6 X3D chips will feature 50% more cores and 50% more cache than their predecessors. Those are already HUGE gains. Unless AMD sees significant performance gains with additional L3 Cache, AMD could stick to single cache stacks with its next-generation Ryzen X3D CPUs.
You can join the discussion on AMD’s rumoured multi-stack V-Cache for Zen 6 Ryzen on the OC3D Forums.
