CPUs

AMD’s Ryzen 4000 Desktop CPUs Will Leverage TSMC’s 7nm Node; 4th Gen Mobile Processors May Use 5nm

In response to a report from Digitimes, rumors broke out speculating that AMD’s Ryzen 4000 desktop CPUs (Vermeer) would be based on TSMC’s 5nm node. However, I’m sorry to inform you that that’s not quite true. The 4th Gen Ryzen and Milan CPUs will be fabbed on TSMC’s 7nm+ (not EUV) process, rather than the newer 5nm. The rumor seemed unlikely from the very beginning itself as sampling for Milan had already started with a launch expected by the end of the year. That wouldn’t have been possible if the chips were yet to be fabbed. TSMC’s 5nm chips are yet to undergo mass production, with a target of H2 2020.

However, on the bright side, Dr. Su indicated in an interview at the 36th ASD conference that the 4th Gen Ryzen mobile chips will be the ones to leverage the 5nm process. While she didn’t directly say it, she hinted at the possibility by clarifying that the mobile chips will be the first to undergo the transition to the smaller node (in this case the 5nm).

Till now, AMD has launched the mobile processors after the desktop counterparts. But that’s mainly because the former is OEM-centric with Intel holding a monopoly. However, with the launch of Renoir that has already started changing in AMD’s favor. In the future, like Intel, team Red should also be able to launch the low-power notebook processors ahead of the mainstream desktop parts. What I basically mean is that the mobile processors (Ryzen 5000 mobile APUs) will most likely use TSMC’s 5nm process, and not the 4000 series desktop lineup.

Areej Syed

Processors, PC gaming, and the past. I have been writing about computer hardware for over seven years with more than 5000 published articles. Started off during engineering college and haven't stopped since. Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Divinity, Torment, Baldur's Gate and so much more... Contact: areejs12@hardwaretimes.com.
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