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AMD Computing Roadmap 2020 by Mark Papermaster

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At AMD Financial Analyst Day 2020, Mark Papermaster unveiled the AMD computing roadmap for 2020 and beyond. Check it out!

 

Mark Papermaster : AMD CTO & EVP (Technology & Engineering)

Mark Papermaster is chief technology officer and executive vice president of Technology and Engineering at AMD and is responsible for corporate technical direction, product development including system-on-chip (SOC) methodology, microprocessor design, I/O and memory and advanced research.

He led the re-design of engineering processes at AMD and the development of the award-winning “Zen” high-performance x86 CPU family, high-performance GPUs and the company’s modular design approach, Infinity Fabric. He also oversees Information Technology that delivers AMD’s compute infrastructure and services.

 

AMD Computing Roadmap 2020 by Mark Papermaster

During AMD Financial Analyst Day 2020, Mark Papermaster unveiled the AMD computing roadmap for 2020 and beyond in his presentation – Future of High Performance.

Here are the key points from Mark Papermaster’s presentation :

  • AMD plans to introduce the first processors based on its next-generation 7nm Zen 3 core in late 2020.
  • The Zen 4 core is currently in design and is targeted to use advanced 5nm process technology.
  • AMD unveiled plans to expand its chiplet and die stacking leadership, including new X3D packaging that combines chiplets and hybrid 2.5D and 3D die stacking to deliver more than a 10x increase in bandwidth density.
  • AMD announced its upcoming 3rd Generation AMD Infinity Architecture with optimized CPU and GPU memory coherency that can enable significant performance improvements and simplify the software programming required for accelerated computing solutions by allowing the CPU and GPU to seamlessly and coherently share the same memory.
  • AMD is building on its strong product security portfolio with expanded features. AMD announced it joined the Confidential Computing Consortium, a group of leading hardware and software companies working to close gaps to protect data through its entire lifecycle.

 

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AMD Financial Analyst Day 2020 : What You Need To Know!

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AMD just concluded their 2020 Financial Analyst Day, revealing plans for the next-generation CPU and GPU roadmaps, as well as the investments they are making to drive future products!

Here is a summary of what was revealed at the AMD Financial Analyst Day 2020!

 

AMD Financial Analyst Day 2020 : The Full Briefing!

Most people cannot make it to AMD Financial Analyst Day 2020, so if you want to watch it all – here’s the full 3 hour-long presentation!

 

AMD Financial Analyst Day 2020 : What You Need To Know!

And here is a summary of what AMD revealed in their Financial Analyst 2020 presentation :

Computing Technology Updates

  • AMD plans to introduce the first processors based on its next-generation Zen 3 core in late 2020.
  • The Zen 4 core is currently in design and is targeted to use advanced 5nm process technology.
  • AMD unveiled plans to expand its chiplet and die stacking leadership, including new X3D packaging that combines chiplets and hybrid 2.5D and 3D die stacking to deliver more than a 10x increase in bandwidth density.
  • AMD announced its upcoming 3rd Generation AMD Infinity Architecture with optimized CPU and GPU memory coherency that can enable significant performance improvements and simplify the software programming required for accelerated computing solutions by allowing the CPU and GPU to seamlessly and coherently share the same memory.
  • AMD is building on its strong product security portfolio with expanded features. AMD announced it joined the Confidential Computing Consortium, a group of leading hardware and software companies working to close gaps to protect data through its entire lifecycle.

Graphics Technology Updates

  • The AMD Radeon DNA (AMD RDNA) architecture was designed for gaming and is currently powering the award-winning AMD Radeon RX 5000 series GPUs.

  • The next-generation AMD RDNA 2 architecture is planned to deliver a 50% performance-per-watt improvement over the first-generation AMD RDNA architecture. It will support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, variable rate shading (VRS) and other advanced features. The first AMD RDNA 2-based products are expected to launch in late 2020.
  • AMD unveiled its new AMD Compute DNA (AMD CDNA) architecture, designed to accelerate data center compute workloads. The first-generation AMD CDNA architecture, planned to launch later this year, includes 2nd Generation AMD Infinity Architecture to enhance GPU to GPU connectivity and is optimized for machine learning and high-performance computing applications. The follow-up AMD CDNA 2 architecture will support 3rd Generation AMD Infinity Architecture to enable next generation exascale-class supercomputers.
  • Expanding on previous generations of the ROCm open source software platform for the data center, AMD plans to introduce ROCm 4.0 later this year as a complete software solution for high-performance computing exascale systems and machine learning workloads.

Data Center Market Updates

  • AMD is powering the future of exascale computing with its CPU, GPU, interconnects and software products, including the recently announced El Capitan supercomputer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Expected to come online in 2023, El Capitan is expected to deliver more than 2 exaFLOPs of double-precision performance, making it more powerful than today’s 200 fastest supercomputers combined.

  • AMD is continuing to gain traction with its 2nd Generation AMD EPYC processors in enterprise, cloud and HPC markets based on delivering performance leadership and TCO advantages across the most important enterprise and cloud workloads. In 2020 we expect more than 150 AMD EPYC processor-powered cloud instances and 140 server platforms to be available.

  • AMD is unlocking accelerated computing with new technologies including AMD CDNA architecture, 3rd Generation Infinity Architecture and the ROCm 4.0 software platform, all of which will support the AMD-powered Frontier and El Capitan supercomputers.

Computing Market Updates

  • Since 2017, AMD has nearly doubled both client unit shipments and market share, built off a broad portfolio of performance-leading desktop, high-end desktop (HEDT) and notebook processors.
  • AMD expects to grow its performance leadership with the ramp of its 7nm Zen 2-based 3rd Generation AMD Ryzen processors designed specifically for desktops and notebooks across the consumer and commercial segments

  • AMD is on track to bring increased performance to the gaming, content creation and productivity markets when it delivers the first Zen 3-based AMD Ryzen product in 2020.

Graphics Market Updates

  • AMD partners with world-class brands to bring AMD Radeon graphics to more than 500 million gamers on the most popular devices, with the opportunity to address 2.5 billion gamers worldwide.
  • With Microsoft and Sony, AMD has established long-term relationships to continue market leadership as the number one silicon provider for game consoles.
  • AMD plans to deliver a full stack of high-performance, AMD RDNA architecture-powered graphics products to further expand the AMD Radeon install base.
  • AMD RDNA 2-based Navi 2X GPUs will bring uncompromised 4K gaming, new features including hardware-based ray tracing support and a significant performance uplift.

COVID-19 Statement

AMD expects the impact from COVID-19 in the first quarter to be modest, potentially resulting in revenue coming in at the lower end of the guidance of approximately $1.8 billion, plus or minus $50 million. Full year 2020 financial guidance remains unchanged.

 

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AMD CPUs Are Also Vulnerable To Spectre 2 Exploit Rev. 2.0

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AMD updated their security advisory, confirming that their CPUs are also vulnerable to the Spectre 2 exploit. We updated our article Everything On The Intel, AMD & ARM CPU Bug, but it looks like many AMD fanboys still insist that AMD processors are only affected by Spectre 1. So let us burst their bubble and update them on what AMD actually said about this “issue”.

Updated @ 2018-01-15 : Added two new sections addressing the criticisms of the AMD and Intel fanboys.

Originally posted @ 2018-01-13

 

AMD CPUs Are Also Vulnerable To Spectre 2 Exploit

When AMD first released their security advisory on the Meltdown and Spectre exploits, they stated that, “Differences in AMD architecture mean there is a near zero risk of exploitation of this variant.”

Just over a week later, on 11 January 2018, Mark Papermaster, AMD Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, posted an update of their assessment, stating that “GPZ Variant 2 (Branch Target Injection or Spectre) is applicable to AMD processors.”

He clarified that while AMD believes that their “processor architectures make it difficult to exploit Variant 2“, they have defined “a combination of processor microcode updates and OS patches” to mitigate the Spectre 2 threat.

You can read more about the Spectre and Meltdown exploits in Everything On The Intel, AMD & ARM CPU Bug.

 

Why Is Spectre 2 Important?

This development is significant, because Spectre 2 is the more problematic exploit of the two. Mainly because any efforts to reduce its risks significantly reduces performance.

According to Microsoft, only Spectre 2 mitigation patches have a significant performance impact. Their initial performance tests show that Spectre 1 and Meltdown mitigation patches have minimal or small performance impact, and are unlikely to be noticed by users.

 

What Is AMD Doing About Spectre 2?

AMD has already defined the “additional steps” that consists of processor microcode updates and operating system patches that will mitigate the threat of Spectre 2 to their affected processors.

They will make the microcode updates available for the Ryzen and EPYC processors this week, with microcode updates for older processors in the coming weeks.

Notably, Mark said that they would be OPTIONAL. This ties in with their assessment that it would be difficult (albeit not impossible) to exploit Variant 2 in an AMD processor. So AMD users will get the option of NOT applying these microcode updates, at least while no actual Spectre threat exists in the real world.

Linux vendors have started to roll out Spectre 2 patches, while Microsoft will be releasing Spectre 2 patches for Windows shortly.

 

AMD Fanboys Are Missing The Big Picture

Many AMD fanboys say that we are biased against AMD, because that the risk of a Spectre 2 exploit is small or “virtually non-existent”.

We love the AMD Ryzen just like you do, and find their performance-value proposition incredibly refreshing. In fact, we even wrote an article crediting The Ryzen Effect for creating better Intel processors.

What we reported is no different from the official statement by Mark Papermaster – the AMD CPUs are vulnerable to Spectre 2. But you are all missing the big picture.

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The point here isn’t to rub our collective noses in some kind of childish Intel vs. AMD fanboy war, it’s to point out that these Spectre 2 patches will have a significant performance impact.

Because there is no real world exploit of both Meltdown and Spectre, and because AMD’s microarchitecture is more robust against the Spectre 2 vulnerability, there is arguably no real need to apply the Spectre 2 patches.

That’s why we specifically pointed out that “Mark said that they would be OPTIONAL“, so you should have the option of “NOT applying these microcode updates“.

You guys would have realised that if you actually read the article, instead of just stopping at the title.

 

Intel Fanboys Should Stop Throwing Stones

Some Intel fanboys are using this article as evidence that “AMD got caught lying” or “AMD CPUs are just as bad”. Well, let us address those claims.

  1. AMD did not lie – In their original disclosure, they stated very clearly that “there is a near zero risk” of a Spectre 2 exploit working on an AMD CPU. We specifically mentioned and underlined that in the original article to stress that AMD was already aware that their CPUs are somewhat vulnerable to Spectre 2.
  2. AMD CPUs are far less at risk – Even with this upgraded risk assessment, AMD CPUs are still much less vulnerable to Spectre 2 than Intel CPUs, and they are completely impervious to the Meltdown exploit. Because they are less vulnerable, AMD users have the option of not applying Spectre 2 patches that can have a significant performance impact.

 

Meltdown + Spectre Reading Suggestions

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The Complete AMD Ryzen “Summit Ridge” Tech Briefing

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The AMD Tech Summit held in Sonoma, California from Dec 7-9, 2016 was not only very exclusive, it was highly secretive. The second major announcement we have been allowed to reveal is the new AMD Ryzen desktop CPU, formerly known as Summit Ridge.

Like our Radeon Instinct article, we will not only share what AMD revealed during the AMD Tech Summit at Sonoma, we will bring it to you in our videos. It will be as if you were there with us! Enjoy! 🙂

 

The AMD Ryzen Tech Briefing Summarised

For those who just want the quick low-down on the AMD Ryzen desktop processor, here are the key takeaway points :

  • The AMD Zen “Summit Ridge” processor is officially branded as the AMD Ryzen processor.
  • The first AMD Ryzen “Summit Ridge” processors will officially launch in Q1, 2017.
  • The AMD Zen-based server processor, codenamed Naples, will launch in Q2, 2017.
  • The AMD Zen-based notebook APU, codenamed Raven Ridge, will launch in H2, 2017.
  • The top Ryzen “Summit Ridge” processor SKU will have a 3.4 GHz base clock, or better. Its boost clock was not revealed.
  • The Ryzen “Summit Ridge” processors will have 8 cores and process 16 threads simultaneously.
  • The Ryzen “Summit Ridge” processors will have a 4 MB L2 cache and a 16 MB L3 cache.
  • The Ryzen “Summit Ridge” processors will feature the AMD Infinity Fabric network-centric interconnect technology.
  • The AMD Ryzen “Summit Ridge” processors will feature the AMD SenseMI sensing and adaptive technologies like :
    • Pure Power, which uses real-time sensors to support a closed-loop control through Infinity Fabric.
    • Precision Boost, which allows for fine-grained frequency control in 25 MHz increments.
    • Extended Frequency Range (XFR), that is fully automated and permits frequencies above the Precision Boost limits.
    • Neural Net Prediction, which anticipates future decisions, preloads instructions and chooses the best processing path.
    • Smart Prefetch algorithms have been greatly improved.
  • Preliminary benchmarks of the AMD Ryzen (3.4 GHz, no boost) showed that it was slightly faster than the Intel Core i7-6900K (3.2 GHz base, 3.7 GHz boost).
  • At idle, the total power consumption of the 3.4 GHz Ryzen system was about 13.5 W (12.67%) less than a Core i7-6900K system.
  • At full load, the total power consumption of the 3.4 GHz Ryzen system was about 3.8 W (1.98%) less than a Core i7-6900K system.

In the subsequent pages, we will give you the full low-down on the AMD Ryzen desktop processor, with the following presentations by AMD :

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We also prepared the complete video and slides of the AMD Ryzen tech briefing for your perusal :

Next Page > AMD Summit Ridge Tech Update, Performance, Infinity Fabric & SenseMI

 

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The AMD Summit Ridge Technology Update

Jim Anderson, SVP and GM of the AMD Computing and Graphics division, kicked off the session with an update on the AMD Summit Ridge desktop processor.

The key takeaway points :
  • The first AMD Summit Ridge processors will officially launch in Q1, 2017.
  • The AMD Zen-based server processor, codenamed Naples, will launch in Q2, 2017.
  • The AMD Zen-based notebook APU, codenamed Raven Ridge, will launch in H2, 2017.
  • The top AMD Summit Ridge processor SKU will have a 3.4 GHz base clock, or better. Its boost clock was not revealed.
  • The AMD Summit Ridge processors will have a 4 MB L2 cache and a 16 MB L3 cache.

 

The AMD Summit Ridge CPU’s Performance

The AMD Ryzen “Summit Ridge” processor may not be ready for primetime but how does it currently perform? John Taylor, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Marketing at AMD, compared the performance of an AMD Ryzen processor running at 3.4 GHz (without boost) against the Intel Core i7-6900K running at the stock speed of 3.2 GHz (3.7 GHz boost).

The key takeaway point :
  • The AMD Ryzen running at 3.4 GHz is slightly faster than the Intel Core i7-6900K in this Handbrake benchmark.
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The Infinity Fabric & SenseMI Technologies

These technologies built into the AMD Ryzen processors are new revelations by AMD. Mark Papermaster, Senior Vice President & CTO of AMD explains what they are.

The key takeaway points about the AMD SenseMI sensing and adaptive technologies :
  • Pure Power uses real-time sensors to support a closed-loop control through Infinity Fabric.
  • Precision Boost allows for fine-grained frequency control in 25 MHz increments.
  • Extended Frequency Range (XFR) is fully automated and permits frequencies above the Precision Boost limits.
  • Neural Net Prediction anticipates future decisions, preloads instructions and chooses the best processing path.
  • Smart Prefetch algorithms have been greatly improved.

Next Page > Introducing AMD Ryzen, Performance & Power Efficiency, Closing Remarks

 

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Introducing AMD Ryzen

AMD President & CEO Dr. Lisa Su finally revealed that the AMD Zen processor will henceforth be known as the AMD Ryzen processor.

The key takeaway point :
  • The AMD Zen “Summit Ridge” processor is officially branded as the AMD Ryzen processor.

 

AMD Ryzen Performance & Power Efficiency Demo

Dr. Lisa Su then showed off a Blender 3D demonstration of the 3.4 GHz AMD Ryzen’s performance and power efficiency, compared to the Intel Core i7-6900K running at the stock speed of 3.2 GHz (3.7 GHz boost).

The key takeaway points :
  • The AMD Ryzen (3.4 GHz, no boost) was a fraction faster than the Intel Core i7-6900K (3.2 GHz base, 3.7 GHz boost).
  • At idle, the total power consumption of the 3.4 GHz Ryzen system was about 13.5 W (12.67%) less than a Core i7-6900K system.
  • At full load, the total power consumption of the 3.4 GHz Ryzen system was about 3.8 W (1.98%) less than a Core i7-6900K system.
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Closing Remarks On The AMD Ryzen Desktop CPU

In her closing remarks on the AMD Ryzen processor, Dr. Lisa Su also touched on the newly-launched Radeon Instinct, the upcoming AMD Vega GPU and Naples server processor.

The key takeaway points :
  • The AMD Vega GPU will launch in H1 2016 in both Gaming and Compute applications.
  • The first AMD Ryzen “Summit Ridge” processors will officially launch in Q1, 2017.
  • The AMD Zen-based server processor, codenamed Naples, will launch in Q2, 2017.
  • The AMD Zen-based notebook APU, codenamed Raven Ridge, will launch in H2, 2017.

Next Page > The Complete AMD Ryzen Tech Briefing Video & Slides

 

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The Complete AMD Ryzen “Summit Ridge” Tech Briefing

This is the complete AMD Ryzen “Summit Ridge” tech briefing.

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The Complete AMD Ryzen “Summit Ridge” Tech Briefing Slides

Here are the presentation slides from the AMD Ryzen “Summit Ridge” tech briefing for your perusal.

 

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