'AMD Zen' release date, news and update: CPU gets official name, specs list

The long-awaited AMD Zen graphics processing unit (GPU) gets its official name — Ryzen. AMD has also provided details on the specifications of the graphics card.

"The 'Zen' core at the heart of our Ryzen processors is the result of focused execution and thousands of engineering hours designing and delivering a next-level experience for high-end PC and workstation users," AMD President and CEO Dr. Lisa Su said via MS Power User.

"Ryzen processors with SenseMI technology represent the bold and determined spirit of innovation that drives everything we do at AMD," she went on to say about the AMD Zen.

The first chips that will use Ryzen are the Summit Ridge premium desktop chips, which will come with an eight-core, 16-thread central processing unit (CPU) with a base clock of 3.4GHz.

What the AMD Zen or Ryzen has in terms of clock speed is noticeably much lower than the Intel's latest desktop part — the i7-6700K — which boasts a base clock of 4GHz.

The AMD Zen's base clock makes it a better competitor for the Intel 8C/16T Broadwell-E processor, which only has a 3.2GHz.

However, Ars Technica points out that the AMD Zen is not left behind by Intel's newest releases as it is already reaching impressive clock speeds at under 100W thermal design power (TDP), compared to the abovementioned Intel chip's 140W TDP.

The AMD Zen will have 20MB of cache although there is no mention whether it is L2 and L3. It also introduces new technologies collectively known as SenseMI (Machine Intelligence).

These are namely Pure Power (for efficient power delivery), Precision Boost (adjusting clock speed instantly), Extended Frequency Range (enhances clock speed beyond typical range), Neural Net Prediction and Smart Prefetch (both for better CPU data shuffling).

The AMD Zen will be released during the first quarter of 2017 along with the AM4 chipset.