AMD 2nd Gen Ryzen Desktop Processors

It feels like only yesterday that AMD restored competition to the CPU marketplace with the launch of its award-winning Ryzen processors, yet here we are, just over 12 months later, and the chip giant is following-up with a second-generation successor.

The new range, productised as 2nd Gen Ryzen, arrives in four unique flavours; Ryzen 7 2700X, Ryzen 7 2700, Ryzen 5 2600X and Ryzen 5 2600. In this TekSpek we'll provide an overview of where the chips slot in, what's new, and how performance has evolved over the course of the past year.

There's no better way to compare specifications than with a detailed table of the Ryzen line-up, and the numbers immediately reveal that AMD's 2nd Gen parts are a case of evolution rather than revolution.

2nd Gen Upgrades

This time around, the pertinent upgrades are threefold; a new 12nm GlobalFoundries manufacturing process, higher peak frequencies aided by Precision Boost 2, and memory optimisations that include support for faster DDR4. Logical improvements, and though each independently may seem predictable, the combination of faster speeds and lower latencies should result in a good chip made better.

According to AMD, 12nm enables the transistors to run faster at the same voltage, thereby offering a 10-15 per cent performance uplift compared to 14nm across the clock spectrum. Putting that into perspective, the Ryzen 7 2700X offers a further 300MHz of frequency headroom over last year's 1800X courtesy of a 4.3GHz Turbo Clock. Such gains are to be expected, even though there are no meaningful die-area savings from the nominal shrink, but AMD makes the most of the heightened clock speeds by broadening the usefulness of Precision Boost.

Whereas 1st Gen Ryzen CPUs were able to monitor power and temperature to determine the highest frequency for up to two cores, 2nd Gen Ryzen goes a step further. Designed to keep frequency as high as possible, for as long as possible, on as many cores as possible, Precision Boost 2 ultimately allows the latest Ryzen parts to boost higher when many threads are tasked with work, particularly if you have good cooling in place.

Frequency gains serve as the major attraction, yet there are noteworthy improvements to memory. In addition to official support for DDR4-2933, AMD has reworked the cache and DRAM latencies to offer spritely access for latency-sensitive tasks. The firm's engineers claim a 13 per cent improvement in L1 cache latency, 34 per cent for L2, 16 per cent for L3, and 11 per cent for DRAM latency, all of which aids IPC (instructions per clock) and bodes well for gaming.

Good news all round, and by utilising the existing AM4 form factor, the quartet of new chips serve as slot-in upgrades on existing motherboards as well as a new range of offerings powered by an optimised X470 chipset supporting emerging technologies such as Precision Boost Overdrive and StoreMi. Expect good motherboard availability, as well as the extra maturity you would come to expect from a 2nd Gen platform, and AMD continues to emphasise value for money, with prices starting at $199 and $299 for the six- and eight-core chips, respectively.

Performance

What exactly do the on-paper specifications mean in terms of real-world performance? Benchmarks from leading review sites have shown that while heightened frequencies and memory optimisations have helped Ryzen IPC, the 2nd Gen chips continue to trail Intel competitors in terms of raw single-thread speed.

Ryzen's major attraction has always been its ability to offer best-in-class multi-threaded performance and the 2nd Gen parts raise the bar even higher, with Ryzen 7 2700X claiming an 11 per cent advantage over its 1800X predecessor. Ideal for the serious multi-taskers out there.

As before, performance Ryzen parts do not include onboard graphics, making a discrete card a requirement. When paired with a GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, as depicted by the above graph, the results make for a stellar gaming platform.

Benchmarks at lower resolutions often reveal Intel to be superior, but crank up the resolution and the onus switches to the graphics card, making it almost impossible to tell the difference between the high-end CPUs, all of which make an excellent base for a modern gaming rig.

Summary

AMD Ryzen continues to go from strength to strength. Bolstering the appeal in 2018, 2nd Gen parts have arrived touting higher frequencies achieved through a combination of a 12nm manufacturing process and Precision Boost 2. Factor memory optimisations into the equation, as well as an evolved X470 chipset, and you have a mature platform that serves as a stand-out choice for content creators and multi-taskers who require many-core credentials at an affordable price point.

2nd Gen AMD Ryzen processors are available to purchase right here at Scan Computers.