A fresh leak from Moore’s Law is Dead has revealed key details about AMD’s Zen 7 architecture, and it looks like a major step forward. From increased cache sizes and stronger power efficiency to a potential 32-core desktop CPU, it could reshape AMD’s entire lineup across desktops, laptops, and servers.
Zen 7 desktop CPUs may pack up to 448 MB of 3D V-cache
It, internally codenamed Grimlock Ridge, will launch with two main chiplet designs. The higher-end Silverton chiplet packs 16 full Zen 7 cores, 32 MB of L2, and 64 MB of L3 cache, plus support for a massive 160 MB 3D V-cache tile per CCD. If AMD opts for a dual-CCD design, we could see a 32-core chip with up to 448 MB of total 3D V-cache. That kind of capacity would dwarf what’s currently found in even AMD’s highest-end gaming CPUs.
Meanwhile, Silverking cuts that spec in half with 8 cores and no 3D V-cache support. This variant is expected in more mainstream CPUs where thermals and power draw matter more than cache-heavy performance.
Zen 7 laptop chips mix core types for better efficiency
For laptops, AMD appears to be going all-in on hybrid architecture. The Grimlock Point and Grimlock Halo platforms will use combinations of Zen 7 and Zen 7C (dense) cores, along with new Zen 7 Low Power cores.
Here’s the rumored breakdown:
- Grimlock Point: 4 Zen 7 cores + 8 Zen 7C cores
- Grimlock Halo: 8 Zen 7 cores + 12 Zen 7C cores
- Unknown number of Low Power cores included in both
This design mimics earlier Strix and Medusa chips but adds more efficiency for thin-and-light systems. Early data suggests major performance-per-watt improvements, especially at ultra-low power levels—ideal for handhelds and ultraportables.
Performance uplift beats Zen 6 across the board
According to the leak, Zen 7 will outperform Zen 6 by notable margins:
- Single-threaded performance: up to 20% improvement
- Multi-core performance: up to 67% uplift
- IPC gains: ~8% (not final)
- Non-gaming workload boost: 16–20% over Zen 6
Efficiency gains are especially impressive on laptops. Zen 7 mobile chips could deliver:
- +36% perf/watt at 3W
- +32% at 7W
- +25% at 12W
- +17% at 22W
That’s a meaningful boost in real-world usage for gaming laptops, ultra-thin notebooks, and devices like the rumored Ryzen Z4 Extreme.
Zen 7 moving to TSMC’s A16 process node
The Zen 7 CCDs are reportedly being built on TSMC’s A16 node, pushing AMD further into cutting-edge process territory. This marks a shift from previous expectations tied to the N2P or N2X nodes.
It’s desktop chips will likely launch under the Ryzen 13,000 series umbrella, with potential models like the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 showing off the architecture’s full dual-CCD and 3D V-cache potential.
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