AMD formalizes Zen 4c cores on Ryzen for more efficiency

It was a well-kept open secret on which AMD has just lifted the veil. The processor designer has been using two types of Zen 4 cores for several weeks to improve the performance of its Ryzen when the power envelope is less than 15 W.

Hearts are good!

Using Zen 4c cores allows AMD to gain density, as Zen 4c cores take up 35% less surface area than a traditional Zen 4. Ultimately, it will therefore be possible for AMD to place more Zen 4c cores on a given surface area than Zen 4 cores. This reduction in occupancy allows Zen 4cs, according to AMD, to offer more performance with low performance envelopes. power. However, Zen 4 cores remain more efficient beyond an envelope of 20 W, in particular thanks to their propensity to increase in frequency. AMD thus combines Zen 4 and Zen 4c cores in order to benefit from the best of both worlds and obtain more versatile processors.

Zen 4c are not discounted Zen 4 cores

AMD would however like to point out that the Zen 4c cores have exactly the same characteristics as the Zen 4 cores. The number of instructions per cycle (IPC) is strictly identical, the type of instructions supported is the same, multithreading support is present and it is not necessary for the operating system to assign tasks according to cores with a “Scheduler”. AMD therefore takes the opportunity to make fun of Intel which uses completely different E-cores and P-cores.

The first processors to officially benefit from Zen 4c cores are the Ryzen 7545U and Ryzen 7440. The first is equipped with two Zen 4 cores and four Zen 4c cores. The second uses a single Zen 4 core and three Zen 4C cores. Unofficially, AMD admits to having already used Zen 4c cores on the Ryzen Z1 which equips Asus’ ROG Ally, without knowing the proportions.

If the use of Zen 4C cores makes it possible to obtain more versatile processors, and in particular to offer processors with more cores on entry-level configurations, this also allows AMD to engrave more cores on the same surface , therefore reducing costs. Let’s hope that with its Zen 4c, AMD will finally manage to meet the demand for its APUs, which are very rare on the shelves.