AMD set to release first Zen-based microprocessors in late 2016 document
AMDs first Zen-based central processing units code-named Summit Ridge will only become available in October, 2016, according to AMD 2016 desktop platform schedule* published by Benchlife. The confidential document was presented to AMDs partners on the 27th of March, 2015, and may contain certain inaccuracies. For example, the document calls AMDs forthcoming desktop socket as FM3, whereas AMDs official name revealed in May is AM4.
AMD expects to send the first engineering samples (ES) of the Summit Ridge central processing units to its partners in April, 2016. Engineering samples are usually fully-functional A1 revision chips that may run at lower clock-rates than the final products.
The A2 production candidate (PC) Summit Ridge processors that run at designated clock-rates and support all features are expected to ship to AMDs partners in July, 2016. By September, 2016, AMD will ship A2 revision production ready (PR) processors with all the markings on them. The first central processing units featuring Zen cores will be introduced in October, 2016.
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Based on unofficial information, AMDs Summit Ridge processor has up to eight Zen cores with 512KB level two cache per core, up to 16MB of unified level-three cache, a dual-channel DDR4 memory controller, integrated PCI Express 3.0 x16 bus to connect to graphics cards, built-in PCIe 3.0 x4 port with NVMe and SATA support to connect storage devices and other input/output technologies. The CPUs are expected to be made using 14nm FinFET process technology (14LPP) at GlobalFoundries.